Flir E4 Thermal imaging camera teardown

[CarpeTemperatus]

Ok, here's the finished and perfectly fitting/working lens adjustment tool I 3d printed this morning. Mark II model for better finger grip. Just looks weird in the pics since it was printed with the plastic that was loaded (clear).

Also attached is a zip with sketchup file, STL file and Makerbot Replicator 2 print file.

Enjoy and feel free to tweak the sketchup file for your own fingers

cheers,
george.

Thanks for this .stl, George.  It didn't read into my CAD system quite right and I had a 3D printer report the same problem.  So I re-created your design, added some knurling around the big end, and made a smoother .stl which printed up fine (attached).  Brian Devitus in Seattle did the printing for me (find him on makexyz.com).  For $10 including Priority Mail postage he printed one unit, I got it the day after I sent him the file, and it works perfectly.  He used white ABS plastic which is just fine for this application.  I'm now able to focus down to 3"!

[chasis]

So I can honestly say that I have read through the majority of the thread before I even purchased my e4 and as Murphy's law would suggest, my problem with the upgrade seems to be unique. I've come to the party a little late and my camera has version 1.22.0 and the model number E4 1.1L.

After having some problems getting the camera to connect with my computer, I tried a host of solutions offered here and finally got a network connection through the 192.168.0.2 host. The problem now is the password 3vlig doesn't work. Both FileZilla and WinSCP give me a bad password error when I try to connect.

Did Flir change the password as a way to prevent any further hacking? Any help would be appreciated.

[Fraser]

Partial Serial No. ? Calibration date ?

Have you checked your cameras calibration date against my list on page 2 of the 'E4 Useful information thread' ? This should give you an idea whether your camera is a new release of just part of the standard batch that others have been able to modify.

[max-bit]

if the problem is just the password?
Do you have a response to "ping" the device?

[Rainer]

You can try a "reset to factory" with your TIC and then try to connect with Telnet.

[VR2XGI]

Mike,

Thank You for your video , I want to buy a E4 

73 de VR2XGI

[Brickmaster]

Anyone care to share their opinions on the reporting software?  Is Flir+ worth the investment or is there another that might be better?

[emptech]

I wish I  could answer your question about the flir tools +.  I had the eval version loaded but before I had a chance to
really use it, it timed out.  I noticed there are various dealers selling it at various prices, less than flir's list price.  I
am not convinced it is worth the money, I think it is a little pricey.  I think if you took the output of the free flir
tools, used some pdf to word converters, photoshop, and other programs, you could do the same thing, but
would not have a direct route to the end result.

I think it is like the er - e8 thing.  You are actually getting an e8 just don't know it, there are probably more
cost effect programs out there, or work-arounds.

Jim

[miguelvp]

Well the consumer grade IPhoney Flir One is around the corner at under $350. I still won't get one even if they are way cool
http://www.flir.com/flirone/

[ixfd64]

Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but I wonder if the Ex series will drop in price once the FLIR One goes gold.

[chasis]

if the problem is just the password?
Do you have a response to "ping" the device?

No, there was no response to the ping during my troubles...

To aurora:
Serial #639204xx
FW:1.22.0
Calibration:3-24-14

UPDATE:
Based on many of the other posts discussing connectivity issues, I was pretty sure it was just some network issue or the fact that Windows sucks and is secretly trying to slowly consume my soul. After rebooting both the camera and computer, deleting and re-installing Flir drivers, and fiddling with network settings, FileZilla managed to get a connection. What was weird is that during the file transfers, FileZilla repeatedly hung up for 3-4 seconds every couple seconds. It was not like the video someone posted showing the update where everything transfers in a matter of seconds.

But it worked and I didn't make a paperweight and the images are great! Thanks to all the contributors to this project.

[Teledog]

Tried the "TIConfig" utility..not sure if the resolution worked..maybe?..
( had to set the IP to 192.168.1.2)
Tried the menu upgrade & got;
"error uploading package: the remote server returned an error (550) file unavailable (e.g., file not found, no access)."
Now it's in a never ending boot loop.
{Edit}  tried uploading the backup files, takes a while, but eventually get the same 550 error}

V1.21 1.1

Is it bricked?

Recovery? ( yes, I did a backup of the flashFS & flashBFS directories..it "seemed" to work to zip files with the TIconfig util,.. but again, the upload gives a 550 error)
Help?.. 

[Marphy]

Is it bricked?

I guess you are still having device access via USB. So no, your device most probably is not bricked and we will solve the issue.

After some research I was able to reproduce a problem with the package upload and hopefully fixed it with version 0.2.0.

Please download the new version and follow these steps:

• Run TIConfig and make a new full backup.
• Open the new full backup package in TIConfig (goto the Backup folder, select the latest Root backup, click open).
• Click on the copy icon above the directory structure. This will copy the directory structure into the clipboard in text form.
• Send me a PM with the copied dir structure.

Hope to hear from you 

[FoxholeAtheist]

Hi Marphy,

Having the same "endless boot loop" problem.  I sent you a PM with my E4 directory structure.   Thanks for your work!

[FoxholeAtheist]

Hi Freak,

Just for giggles, I tried using that tool to generate a new cfc file, then uploaded it to the camera.  Still stuck in a loop on startup.

For future reference, how long should a cold-start take?

[FoxholeAtheist]

Success!!!

So, it turns out that somehow, using Marphy's tool, there was an extra "FlashFS" directory where it shouldn't be.  I deleted it, and the E8 version appears to be working, with MSX and everything!

Thanks to Marphy and Freak_Ge.... Freak's post in another thread mentioned that there can be no other files BEFORE conf.cfc in the directory, and that led me to the answer.

[mrflibble]

Remember to remove the battery (and obviously remove usb cable, duh ) to make sure you get a cold boot.

Ah, you already fixed it.  The ever popular "I'll just copy 345987634 folders over there and see what happens" approach. 

[FoxholeAtheist]

So, turns out my inept fumbling was the right answer!  Just got an email from Marphy that the directory I noticed was indeed the problem.

Now, having used TIConfig (with a minor hiccup), I have the E8 resolution and the expanded menu working perfectly.

 

[Podrick]

I also had this never ending boot loop problem when tried to upgrade with TIConfig. After Marphy's help I managed to delete these extra directorys and got camera working again. I used this new 0.2 version of TIConfig after this and everything went fine. Got menu and resolution upgraded.

[Teledog]

Marphy gave me the "fix" file also.
And yes, the odd 550 hiccup , tried a couple of times/reboot, etc. , but it now works! 

Time to go look for critters in the garage!

Again, Thank You Marphy! 

[scientist]

bump

[tjb1]

I made a new 20mm lens holder that uses quite a bit less material and the camera is almost fully unobstructed (if you wanted to use it) - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:299482

[mucek]

Just decided to trade my E40 for E4 and hack it for higher resolution ... I use thermal camera mostly for checking electronics prototypes (electronic developer) and higher resolution means way more than E40 "fancy" issues (WLAN ...)

I have few questions:
- Camera (E4) that I will get has some older firmware installed (1.19.?). Shall I first update it to 1.22 from FLIR webpage and then apply steps, described on https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/?

- To get all the features (like MSX, PiP ...) is it enough just to hack it to E8 like described, or shall I make some more? (I don't need functions, described as Taucher's menu)

- Are there any different versions of Ex models (I mean from hardware view - is there any older/newer series with different options) - I am asking this, because for E40bx there are 2 models, where newer has MSX and some other features that the old one doesn't have (and can't be obtained by firmware update).


MANY thanks and greetings from Slovenia,
Gregor

[emptech]

Why did you decide to give up your e40 for an e4?  You can up the resolution on your e40 just like the e4.
You have now lost your sd memory card, your wi-fi access and your blu-tooth.  The e40 also has a better,
focus-able lens too.  My e40 even shows "e60" in the settings screen, only place it doesn't show e60 is on
the housing itself.  My e40 does not have MSX, but I'm told I can do that in post, flir tools or something.

The only thing I haven't played with on my e40 is changing menus.  My zoom levels are now 1, 2, 4, 8x.

Jim

[mikeselectricstuff]

- Camera (E4) that I will get has some older firmware installed (1.19.?). Shall I first update it to 1.22

There is no reason to upgrade, and good reasons not to.

- Are there any different versions of Ex models (I mean from hardware view - is there any older/newer series with different options)

Not as far as we know.

BTW, has anyone opened a recent 1.22 model?