Flir E4 Thermal imaging camera review

[Fraser]

No worries 

I should clarify that the UK Agent (PASS) provided some of the free gifts in thanks for my honest feedback on the product. I think they were genuinely pleased that someone took the time and effort to provide such. I appeared to be the first to do so but I know Mike bought from them as well and he may have provided comment before me ?

EDIT: some waffle removed

[mikeselectricstuff]

No worries 

I should clarify that the UK Agent (PASS) provided some of the free gifts in thanks for my honest feedback on the product. I think they were genuinely pleased that someone took the time and effort to provide such. I appeared to be the first to do so but I know Mike bought from them as well and he may have provided comment before me ?

EDIT: some waffle removed

They did offer me a case but Flir had beaten them to it.

[wilheldp]

Did the extra battery come from FLIR or Pass?  I'd like to have an extra battery, and I'd provide honest feedback in exchange for one.  The rest of the stuff I could give or take.

[Fraser]

Battery and charger came from PASS after I agreed to be 'interviewed' on the E4 product for a forthcoming review.

I tried to claim a free battery and charger as part of a USA promotion, but they declined to process the claim. Not unexpected but 'if you don't try you don't get'. You just had to buy an E4 in a certain period of time from an Official FLIR agent to be eligible.....but only applicable in USA    Maybe you meet the criteria ?

[pomonabill221]

Well I sent a somewhat detailed email of what I liked and what I did not like, including the micro usb connector, lack of tripod and/or lanyard, and a couple of other things... we'll see what happens!

[wilheldp]

Battery and charger came from PASS after I agreed to be 'interviewed' on the E4 product for a forthcoming review.

I tried to claim a free battery and charger as part of a USA promotion, but they declined to process the claim. Not unexpected but 'if you don't try you don't get'. You just had to buy an E4 in a certain period of time from an Official FLIR agent to be eligible.....but only applicable in USA    Maybe you meet the criteria ?

I can't find anything about that promotion.  Is it already over?  I think Tequipment is an authorized reseller, and I'm in the USA...but I just bought the camera recently.

[Fraser]

Here is the offer:

http://www.flir.com/thermography/americas/us/view/?id=62227

I went for the >$1200 spend Ex complete kit as my receipted payment in the UK was GBP900.

I suspect you paid less than $1200 so will miss out on the very nice Ex kit that had many useful bits included    You could get yourself a nice electronic Borescope though 

[wilheldp]

Awesome.  Thanks for the link, Aurora.  You are correct that I don't qualify for the accessory pack.  I think I'd rather have the laser distance meter over the borescope (have access to a borescope at work, and limited need for one).

[Fraser]

What was your receipted spend ? If you look at the offer, you need to have spent $1200 or more for the Ex kit.

[wilheldp]

It was US$935.  I know I don't qualify for the kit, but I'm not going to turn down a free piece of equipment. 

[Fraser]

This evening I replaced the KB Electronic speed controller on my 'new' (to me) Warco 7X12 Mini Lathe. I fitted a new USA made KB controller board that was provided with it by the seller. Out of interest I checked the temperature profile of the KB controller to see what got hot when the lathe was running. I could immediately see that a power resistor used to drop approx. 180VDC to 22VDC was running at 142 Degrees Celsius  It is designed to operate like that by KB and is deliberately fitted in PCB stand-off tubes to ensure air flow around it. I don't like to see those sorts of temperatures on a PCB though so I will be taking some action to correct matters and increase air flow within the controller housing. I also looked at the external gearbox, motor and head stock bearings to spot any unusual thermal activity. All was well in those areas.

The E4 made this such a simple and safe task and gave me immediate sight of a potential long term reliability issue. Highly recommended to anyone who needs a quick and easy view of temperature profiles at a safe working distance 

UPDATE: Having slept on the matter, I am now convinced that my E4 has identified a previously undiscovered fault in my lathes speed controller. The resistor that is reaching 142 Degrees Celsius is not rated for such temperatures, so something is very wrong. Most likely an excessive current draw through it. But thats another story   

The lesson here is how useful, and quick, the E4 was in visually identifying areas of thermal stress on the PCB. It has likely saved my new controller board from self destruction in the very near future.

[SeanB]

If the resistor is a 5W ceramic unit it probably will survive that. I have seen them running at 200C for decades in TV sets, and even Tak had some that needed a special silver loaded solder to solder them in, as they ran at over 300C surface temperature. Only issue at that heat is the board failing, and that the surface of the resistor now is no longer regarded as an insulator. Myself I replace them if possible with a 10W version, did that in a industrial controller when replacing the 1W resistor they had installed there ( reputable EU manufacturer) which had cooked itself off the board. Was fun fitting it in the small case as well, but now it runs barely warm.

[pomonabill221]

Forgot to update about a user review...
I sent an email to the address on the card in the box, and received a soft case, sent FedEx standard overnight!!!  That must have cost a pretty penny!
I appreciate the offer and sent a thank you email... after all it probably didn't cost Flir much, but a thank you just shows the appreciation.

[Fraser]

The soft case appears to be a favourite 'Thank You' gift from FLIR. It is useful and well made, so not a bad freebie really. The RRP from FLIR agents is $40. I was given the Exx case (RRP $60) by PASS and later bought a new Ex case for GBP17 from an online supplier. In my case I prefer the Exx case as it provides easy insertion and extraction of the camera due to the extra space at the front of the unit.

So it is still worth providing feedback to FLIR.... I am pleased that they are a company that encourages such customer interaction as it will hopefully assist them in improving the product.

[pomonabill221]

Yes, I did appreciate the case and it is well made!
It is a little "smallish" for the E4 though...but still is useful.

The feedback I would imagine does help Flir so they can "improve" their product.  There are alot of companies that could care less how people feel about their products, and when a company shows their appreciation with a nice "gift", that shows that they care.
Andy and I had a couple of nice email exchanges about my "complaints" and he told me why they decided to do the things they did.
Nice!