FLUKE Ti3 Thermal Imaging Camera

[Chanc3]

Hello Everyone

I've been asked to take a look at a FLUKE TiR3 thermal imaging camera as I have a bit of experience repairing/refurbishing them. The initial fault report stated that a burning smell was present in the camera after attempting to turn it on. Upon taking it apart to assess the damage, it looks like a component has blow. I have attached an image of said component, as I am having difficulty identifying what it is due to it being burnt and cracked.

I believe it says:

107 (could be 407)
16R
921

Does anyone with more electrical experience know what this component is called and if it would be possible to replace it? In the meantime I am waiting for a quote back from FLUKE, however I expect it to be very costly.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Looks like a tantalum cap

[tec5c]

Looks like a tantalum cap

+1

Quite hard to read from the photo, but I'd say it's 107 which is 100uF.
16 = rated voltage, R = grade indicator, which I think R is low esr, surge robust.

921 is date code.

...if it would be possible to replace it? In the meantime I am waiting

Granted you have a soldering iron/hot air gun etc, yes.

[Chanc3]

Looks like a tantalum cap

+1

Quite hard to read from the photo, but I'd say it's 107 which is 100uF.
16 = rated voltage, R = grade indicator, which I think R is low esr, surge robust.

921 is date code.

...if it would be possible to replace it? In the meantime I am waiting

Granted you have a soldering iron/hot air gun etc, yes.

It's hard to read in general!

OK, so 100uF makes sense. From reading into Tantalum caps, it could be 16K which would be 16V and K = KEMET code?

It's 7.5mm x 4.5mm which makes it a type D I think?

Now that I know what I've looking for, I found the same cap elsewhere on the PCB - turns out it is beige in colour, not black!

Have ordered some, so will see if it fixes it! Fingers crossed other components are not at fault.

[retiredcaps]

1) Q6 and Q20 are marked 4967.  If I'm correct, it looks like a p-channel Vishay 1.8V mosfet.

http://www.vishay.com/docs/70813/70813.pdf

You might want to see if the mosfet is shorted between S1-G1, S1-D1, G1-D1, S2-G2, S2-D2 and G2-D2.

2) L14, an inductor, looks like it might be cracked in the photo?

[nctnico]

Tantalums tend to release their magic smoke all by themselves for no good reason so you have a good chance the tantalum is the only broken component.

[Fraser]

Hi Chanc3,

Any chance of some pictures of this cameras PCB, especially the lens and microbolometer. I have never seen inside a Fluke TIC and do not even know if Fluke are the OEM or whether it is contracted out to a TIC manufacturer.

With regard to the Tantalum Cap, as others have stated, these tend to self destruct without any provocation and cam often just be replaced. Check any PCB tracks that run underneath for damage and be aware that the pads to which the cap is soldered can be very fragile due to the overheating that has occurred. Hot air or a desoldering tweezer are the least risk removal methods.

Tantalum caps can also burn up due to over voltage so it would be worth checking that the voltage across it is within its rating. Some OEM's sail close to the wind with the voltages across such caps and they fail as a result.

Fraser

[Chanc3]

It lives! Was a bit fiddly removing and replacing the cap, but it now works a treat! My heart sunk when I first tested it, but it turns out the battery was dead! Phew!

Thanks for everyones' help - couldn't have done it without you!

@ Fraser

Alas I only got to work on the main body of the camera, not where the detector and lens is located. It does look like it runs on Windows CE however and I have a copy of the files that I found on the internal SD card!

I've taken a picture of one side of the PCB for you - see attached. All I have I'm afraid!

[eigiman]

Hi, do you have a copy of the files on the SD card by any chance? I am trying to resurrect a TIR2 without an SD card…
Thank you!

[dcmxx]

Hi, i also have a TIR2 that is currently not working.

I pulled the sd card and copied the files that I attach here. I don't know it they work or not. As the camera just shows the splash screen an then turns off, but that might be hardware related problem