Author Topic: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue  (Read 14074 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #25 on: June 01, 2018, 05:19:56 pm »
Well, my guess is that all CompactPro's are more or less that inaccurate. I think I will not send it back so that they send me a replacement that is than in their +/-5°C range from their statement above... that two degrees... And I dont see any other cam for that price range worth here in germany, I could live with simply adding the offset in my head  ;D
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Online Fraser

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13148
  • Country: gb
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #26 on: June 01, 2018, 05:25:04 pm »
The accuracy figures for a thermal camera are 'worst case' rather than nominal. It is your decision of course, but 7C error in 27C ambient is, quite frankly, terrible. The Seek cameras are capable of much better performance. It sounds like a calibration error or issue with the cameras ambient temperature sensor. If you are content with it though. No worries :)

Fraser

If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 

Offline DaneLaw

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 407
  • Country: dk
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #27 on: June 02, 2018, 04:09:06 am »
Fraser' do you really take this as an class-reference mark?
Quote
I just did a quick test on my room wall with my cheapo PIR-thermometer (which has ε 0.95 hardcoded). It measured 27°C.

-an el cheapo PIR thermometer with hardcoded 0.95 ε
Don't get me wrong I adore el'cheapo PIR thermometers, got a bunch of them myself and some of them cost sub 10bucks delivered and use them for all sorts of stuff, not least in the kitchen, but they are all over the place inaccuracy, would be a shame to set a single el cheapo as a reference-class and set the world in motion with returns to seller etc. if you haven't concluded there in fact are a problem,.

Anyway, the measurement I have made with Compact pro often tend to be 3 to 5 degrees lower, if I am at some distance and above 60degree, up close like +/-1 a meter, its usually a degree or two off.
But that seems to be the norm with many mobile thermal-attachments, as mentioned the highly praised and superb Thermp App TH and a 2000 USD device was massive -14% (43*) off at 50 degree in MJlortons video and that was around a meter in distance.. it did afterwards perform way better readinga higher in degree like 120 and 200degree... if you seek accuracy, and something there is reliable all over the spectre and at numerous distances' then it's likely not the mobile versions there are the obvious choice.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2018, 04:21:45 am by DaneLaw »
 

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #28 on: June 02, 2018, 05:09:20 am »
and set the world in motion with returns to seller etc. if you haven't concluded there in fact are a problem
That was not my intention and I surely dont want anyone mislead to send their Seek product back just because of my posts here ;) As I am confessed above I am totally new to this and I got a wrong idea by datasheet and sensitiviy 0f <70mK. That maybe induced something like a very high precission generally to all thermal imagers.. But as I read that also ThermApp tends to have +/-3°C I get an idea whats nomal in that field... But Seek really should make a statement in their datasheets on temperature accuracy.

(Can someone pls short explain what the "<70mK" (0.07°C?) expresses? Is this something like the minimum noticeable difference in temp. reading? )

EDIT:
And as I learn the peculiarities of my device in different situations/enviroments I think I can compensate for those inaccuracy
if I know after 5mins readings get stable and if I have to add 3 or 7 degree to the value to get close to the "real" temp doesnt make a big deal for me.
EDIT2:
I did some more "measurements" against my wall and the actual offset is -6.2°C after 5min... I noticed during the current heat period the we have here that my wall has quite the same temp like the air in my room, both where exactly 26.6°C, wall measured with my PIR, Air measured with BMP280, both PIR and Seek had same distance and were perpendicular to the wall, whereby I dont noticed a big change in temp with the angle to the wall +/- ~45°...

« Last Edit: June 02, 2018, 05:36:18 am by pauledd »
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Online Fraser

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13148
  • Country: gb
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #29 on: June 02, 2018, 08:51:42 am »
To clarify,

I made no mention of trusting a cheap IR thermometer. My comments referred to a proven 7C measurement error. How that error is measured is another matter completely.

With regard to the Therm App error etc .... this appears to suggest that the Therm App is just a gadget for making pretty pictures rather than a measurement device. A case of horses for courses.

I am spoilt by owning high quality thermal imaging cameras that are intended for thermography and produce excellent results. I tested my FLIR Exx series against a 30C scene and it was within 0.2C of my calibrated Black Body Thermal Reference. I am fortunate to own such test references but a common accuracy test remains the boiling water and melting ice water bath tests.

Fraser
« Last Edit: June 02, 2018, 08:58:34 am by Fraser »
If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 
The following users thanked this post: carpin

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #30 on: June 11, 2018, 03:33:01 pm »
I decided to send my CompactPro back (Amazon), after all... got another one for replacement. But I think I did not got a brand new device. On the box there where fingerprints.. The camera itself seems to work, temperature is off +2 to 3°C with a cold start. After 5 minutes its only +1°C off. But I noticed a strange gradient sometimes that was not so noticeable on my old device. But I cannot see it everytime. If I turn off/on the cam while hold it against an even tempered surface the gradient is completely gone, maybe that's some weird issue how the software calibrates the first series of images... and if I am not mistaken its slightly more noisy...
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Online Fraser

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13148
  • Country: gb
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #31 on: June 11, 2018, 04:27:01 pm »
Amazon are normally great about returns. Just contact them and state that the replacement appears used and more noisy, with a gradient issue. Send the replacement back and get another 👍🙂
If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #32 on: June 11, 2018, 07:24:30 pm »
Yes I will try, but currently I cannot select the option for a replacement, just for refund, maybe because my first camera is still on its route back to amazon.. they were quite fast in sending me the second camera... will wait until the 1st device arrives and check the options again...

Meanwhile I took a video of the gradient...
https://youtu.be/o8PwrdLJRmk
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Online Fraser

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13148
  • Country: gb
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #33 on: June 11, 2018, 07:52:16 pm »
I find Amazon staff are very helpful if you speak to their customer services department. It would be worth lodging your 'complaint' with them and agreeing the way forward. They can then place a note on your file.

Fraser
If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #34 on: June 12, 2018, 05:48:31 am »
I just chatted with them and  they'll  send me a second replacement, hopefully unopened flawless device. Otherwise I declare the experiment Seek Thermal as failed...
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #35 on: June 14, 2018, 03:31:28 pm »
Just got the 3rd cam. New device, no gradient, temperature off ~-2 to -3°C and stable over time. I will keep it.  :clap:
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Online Fraser

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13148
  • Country: gb
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #36 on: June 14, 2018, 09:41:21 pm »
Excellent news :)

Fraser
If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 

Offline DaneLaw

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 407
  • Country: dk
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #37 on: June 15, 2018, 06:53:53 am »
if it's this surrounding glorie gradient halo.

I also got that on mine (IOS FF) from time to time..in some shots it's very protruding and in others, it's not there.
it varies a lot from one situation to the next and same with the amount of noise and I have tried to sense a red line in what does what, and also making good degree-separation by putting stuff in the freezer etc and it does help to some extent particularly on the amount of noise.

But this surrounding halo-gradient noise, there almost look like you in a sauna, on some situations its there and on other there's nothing, so I'm left with the feeling its the situation or palette or a mixture of both there takes center' but topnudge that Amaon have resend an edition your happy with and thats certainly a huge gain to have this choice, in regards to fx second hand
-make some great shots and share them in thermal gallery... its an noisy little fellow, but from time to time you can really get that relative high-res hence price' to shine..

btw are there any thorough reviews of these Seek pro, and review there actually going to town and checking spec-performance and accuracy and NETD and spot ratio etc etc.? (the spec is one thing and often inflated but still)
 

Offline pauledd

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: de
  • Riesige Gepanzerte Luftschiffe
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #38 on: June 15, 2018, 10:58:25 am »
almost look like you in a sauna, on some situations its there and on other there's nothing
I have that too, even with the new device but much less than the previous ones... I cant get rid of the thought that would have something to do with the calibration or flatfield like substraction because the "sauna" stays (burns in) to some extend over a series of images but then changes intensity/distribution if the shutter clicks once again, and sometimes totaly disappears if you hold the cam towards an even surface while the next shutter action starts, I am sure those people who wrote all the win/linux software for the seek devices can tell much more what might the cause of this. I really dont think its the sensor itself... :-//
human being - without Windows® - excuse my bad english
 

Offline ThermallyFrigid

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 222
  • Country: us
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #39 on: February 11, 2020, 04:29:38 am »
Just got the 3rd cam. New device, no gradient, temperature off ~-2 to -3°C and stable over time. I will keep it.  :clap:

Just stumbled back to this thread.....
Like I said a few posts back.....it's hit or miss.

If one isn't so great....return it and try again.   Just got a new ShotPRO.....
 

Offline edubz

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 37
  • Country: us
Re: Seek Compact Pro temperature readout issue
« Reply #40 on: July 25, 2021, 11:32:21 pm »
I realize this is an old thread but I just received a SEEK Thermal Compact PRO and wanted to post this for anyone who comes along later.

Buying from SEEK is a real game of Hit or Miss.    Too often you miss.   Meaning you will get a unit with issues.

I bought two.  The first one was horrible in situations with low temperature differential where everything was close to the same temp or where there was not much heat.
The screen was basically noting but noise.  Couldn't make out a THING.   BUT....where the temp was above 80 or so, BEAUTIFUL images.

On the other one, there is more noise in the images ALWAYS.   It's just not as sharp and clear.   HOWEVER, with the 2nd one, I CAN see things better where there is low temperature differential or lower temps.   Instead of totally unusable in those situations, it's marginally usable. 

 However, the 2nd one is shutting off CONSTANTLY.   It's driving me nuts.   

My conclusion is in the world of Thermal Imaging, you get a Toy for under $1000.   Anything you get for under $1000 will be kinda sorta useful and kinda fun, but seriously lacking in quality.

I have a 30 day return on this 2nd one and I'm seriously about to pack it back up but will give it a few more days since I have 30.

If you buy one, just be aware it really is a cool toy and you can actually do some stuff with it, but so far, they all seem to have at least one or more of a basketful of inherent potential problems.


had my seek thermal for about 1 week and now its showing the tempature outside is -23 f when its 80, and I cant see anything.

I dont know, is this because its so small? Im returning it to amazon

do thermal cameras break easy or its just seek products that are bad?
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf