18  Working with color alarms and isotherms

18.1  Color alarms

18.1.1  General

By using color alarms (isotherms)‎,‎ anomalies can easily be discovered in an infrared image. The isotherm command applies a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature above,‎ below,‎ or between the set temperature levels. The camera also features isotherm types that are specific to the building trade: condensation and insulation alarms.
You can make the camera trigger the following types of color alarms:
  • Above alarm: This will apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature above the specified temperature level.
  • Below alarm: This will apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature below the specified temperature level.
  • Interval alarm: This will apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature between two specified temperature levels.
  • Condensation alarm: Triggers when the camera detects a surface where the relative humidity exceeds a preset value.
  • Insulation alarm: Triggers when there is an insulation deficiency in a wall.

18.1.2  Image examples

This table explains the different color alarms (isotherms)‎.

Color alarm

Image
Above alarm
Graphic
Below alarm
Graphic
Interval alarm
Graphic
Condensation alarm
Graphic
Insulation alarm
Graphic

18.2  Setting up above,‎ below,‎ and interval alarms

Follow this procedure:

Push the joystick to display the menu system.

Use the joystick to go to icon (Color)‎.

Push the joystick to display a submenu. Use the joystick to select the type of alarm:

  • icon (Above alarm)‎
  • icon (Below alarm)‎
  • icon (Interval alarm)‎

Push the joystick. The threshold temperature is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

To change the threshold temperature,‎ do the following:

  • For the Interval alarm,‎ move the joystick left/right to select the low/high-temperature value.
  • Move the joystick up/down to change the threshold temperature.

18.3  Building isotherms

18.3.1  About the Condensation alarm

To detect areas with potential moisture problems,‎ you can use the Condensation alarm. You can set the relative humidity above which the isotherm will colorize the image.

18.3.2  About the Insulation alarm

The Insulation alarm can detect areas where there may be an insulation deficiency in the building. It will trigger when the insulation level (which is called the thermal index in the camera)‎ falls below a preset value of the energy leakage through a wall.
Different building codes recommend different values for the insulation level,‎ but typical values are 60–80% for new buildings. Refer to your national building code for recommendations.

18.3.3  Setting up condensation and insulation alarms

Follow this procedure:

Push the joystick to display the menu system.

Use the joystick to go to icon (Color)‎.

Push the joystick to display a submenu. Use the joystick to select the type of alarm:

  • icon (Condensation alarm)‎
  • icon (Insulation alarm)‎

Push the joystick. This displays a dialog box where you can define the settings for the alarm.

For the Condensation alarm,‎ the following parameters can be set:

  • Atmospheric temperature: The current atmospheric temperature.
  • Relative humidity: The current relative humidity.
  • Relative humidity limit: The relative humidity level at which you want the alarm to be triggered. A relative humidity of 100% means that water vapor condenses from the air as liquid water (= dewpoint)‎. A relative humidity of about 70% or above can cause mold.

For the Insulation alarm,‎ the following parameters can be set:

  • Indoor temperature: The current indoor temperature.
  • Outdoor temperature: The current outdoor temperature.
  • Thermal index: The insulation level,‎ an integer between 0 and 100.

Push the joystick. This closes the dialog box.