7  Operation

7.1  Charging the battery

7.1.1  Charging the battery using the FLIR‎ power supply

    Follow this procedure:
  1. Connect the power supply to a wall outlet.
  2. Connect the power supply cable to the USB connector on the camera.

7.1.2  Charging the battery using the FLIR‎ stand-alone battery charger.

    Follow this procedure:
  1. Connect the stand-alone battery charger to a wall outlet.
  2. Remove the battery from the camera.
    Graphic
  3. Put the battery into the stand-alone battery charger.

7.1.3  Charging the battery using a USB cable

    Follow this procedure:
  1. Connect the camera to a computer using a USB cable.

7.2  Turning on and turning off the camera

  • Push the Graphic button to turn on the camera.
  • Push and hold the Graphic button for less than 5 seconds to put the camera in standby mode. The camera then automatically turns off after 48 hours.
  • Push and hold the Graphic button for more than 10 seconds to turn off the camera.

7.3  Saving an image

You can save multiple images to the internal camera memory.
Approximately 500 images can be saved to the internal camera memory.
The naming convention for images is FLIRxxxx.jpg , where xxxx is a unique counter.
Follow this procedure:
  1. To save an image, pull the trigger.
    Graphic

7.4  Recalling an image

When you save an image, it is stored in the internal camera memory. To display the image again, you can recall it from the internal camera memory.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the Archive button Graphic .
  2. Push the navigation pad left/right or up/down to select the image you want to view.
  3. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays the selected image.
  4. To return to live mode, push the Cancel button Graphic repeatedly or push the Archive button Graphic .

7.5  Deleting an image

You can delete one or more images from the internal camera memory.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the Archive button Graphic .
  2. Push the navigation pad left/right or up/down to select the image you want to view.
  3. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays the selected image.
  4. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  5. On the toolbar, select Delete Graphic .

7.6  Deleting all images

You can delete all images from the internal camera memory.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select Device settings . This displays a dialog box.
  4. In the dialog box, select Reset options . This displays a dialog box.
  5. In the dialog box, select Delete all saved images .

7.7  Measuring a temperature using a spotmeter

You can measure a temperature using a spotmeter. This will display the temperature at the position of the spotmeter on the screen.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Measurement Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select Center spot Graphic .
    The temperature at the position of the spotmeter will now be displayed in the top left corner of the screen.

7.8  Measuring the hottest temperature within an area

You can measure the hottest temperature within an area. This displays a moving spotmeter that indicates the hottest temperature.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Measurement Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select Hot spot Graphic .

7.9  Measuring the coldest temperature within an area

You can measure the coldest temperature within an area. This displays a moving spotmeter that indicates the coldest temperature.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Measurement Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select Cold spot Graphic .

7.10  Hiding measurement tools

    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Measurement Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select No measurements Graphic .

7.11  Changing the color palette

You can change the color palette that the camera uses to display different temperatures. A different palette can make it easier to analyze an image.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Color Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select a new color palette.

7.12  Working with color alarms

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 or below the specified temperature level.
This table explains the different color alarms (isotherms).

Color alarm

Image
Below alarm
Graphic
Above alarm
Graphic
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Color Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select the type of alarm:
    • Below alarm Graphic .
    • Above alarm Graphic .
  4. Push the center of the navigation pad. The threshold temperature is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
  5. To change the threshold temperature, push the navigation pad up/down.

7.13  Changing image mode

The camera can operate in five different image modes:
  • Thermal MSX (Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging): The camera displays an infrared image where the edges of the objects are enhanced.
    Graphic
  • Thermal : The camera displays a fully thermal image.
    Graphic
  • Picture-in-picture : The camera displays a digital camera image with a superimposed infrared image frame.
    Graphic
  • Thermal blending: The camera displays a blended image that uses a mix of infrared pixels and digital photo pixels. The mixing level can be adjusted.
    Graphic
  • Digital camera : The camera displays a digital camera image.
    Graphic
To display a good fusion image (Thermal MSX, Picture-in-picture , and Thermal blending modes), the camera must make adjustments to compensate for the small difference in position between the digital camera lens and the infrared lens. To adjust the image accurately, the camera requires the alignment distance (i.e., the distance to the object).
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Image mode Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select one of the following:
    • Thermal MSX Graphic .
    • Thermal Graphic .
    • Picture-in-picture Graphic .
    • Thermal blending Graphic . This displays a dialog box where you can select the mixing level.
    • Digital camera Graphic .
  4. If you have selected the Thermal MSX, Picture-in-picture , or Thermal blending mode, also set the distance to the object by doing the following:
    • On the Image mode toolbar, select Alignment distance Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
    • In the dialog box, select the distance to the object.

7.14  Changing the temperature scale mode

The camera can, depending on the camera model, operate in different temperature scale modes:
  • Auto mode: In this mode, the camera is continuously auto-adjusted for the best image brightness and contrast.
  • Manual mode: This mode allows manual adjustments of the temperature span and the temperature level.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Temperature scale Graphic . This displays a toolbar.
  3. On the toolbar, select one of the following:
    • Auto Graphic .
    • Manual Graphic .
  4. To change the temperature span and the temperature level in Manual mode, do the following:
    • Push the navigation pad left/right to select (highlight) the maximum and/or minimum temperature.
    • Push the navigation pad up/down to change the value of the highlighted temperature.

7.14.1  When to use Manual mode

7.14.1.1  Example 1

Here are two infrared images of a building. In the left image, which is auto-adjusted, the large temperature span between the clear sky and the heated building makes a correct analysis difficult. You can analyze the building in more detail if you change the temperature scale to values close to the temperature of the building.
Graphic
Automatic
Graphic
Manual

7.14.1.2  Example 2

Here are two infrared images of an isolator in a power line. To make it easier to analyze the temperature variations in the isolator, the temperature scale in the right image has been changed to values close to the temperature of the isolator.
Graphic
Automatic
Graphic
Manual

7.15  Changing the camera temperature range

The camera is calibrated for different temperature ranges. Available temperature range options are dependent on the camera model.
For accurate temperature measurements, you must change the Camera temperature range setting to suit the expected temperature of the object you are inspecting.

Follow this procedure:

1

Push the navigation pad to display the menu system.

2

Select icon (Settings) and push the navigation pad. This displays the Settings menu.

3

Select Camera temperature range and push the navigation pad. This displays a dialog box.

4

Select the appropriate temperature range and push the navigation pad.

7.16  Setting the emissivity as a surface property

To measure temperatures accurately, the camera must know what kind of surface you are measuring. You can choose between the following surface properties:
  • Matt .
  • Semi-matt .
  • Semi-glossy .
For more information about emissivity, see section 12 Thermographic measurement techniques .
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters . This displays a dialog box.
  4. In the dialog box, select Emissivity . This displays a dialog box.
  5. In the dialog box, select one of the following:
    • Matt .
    • Semi-matt .
    • Semi-glossy .

7.17  Setting the emissivity as a custom material

Instead of specifying a surface property as matt, semi-matt or semi-glossy, you can specify a custom material from a list of materials.
For more information about emissivity, see section 12 Thermographic measurement techniques .
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters . This displays a dialog box.
  4. In the dialog box, select Emissivity . This displays a dialog box.
  5. In the dialog box, select Custom material . This displays a list of materials with known emissivities.
  6. In the list, select the material.

7.18  Changing the emissivity as a custom value

For very precise measurements, you may need to set the emissivity, instead of selecting a surface property or a custom material. You also need to understand how emissivity and reflectivity affect measurements, rather than just simply selecting a surface property.
Emissivity is a property that indicates how much radiation originates from an object as opposed to being reflected by it. A lower value indicates that a larger proportion is being reflected, while a high value indicates that a lower proportion is being reflected.
Polished stainless steel, for example, has an emissivity of 0.14, while a structured PVC floor typically has an emissivity of 0.93.
For more information about emissivity, see section 12 Thermographic measurement techniques .
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters . This displays a dialog box.
  4. In the dialog box, select Emissivity . This displays a dialog box.
  5. In the dialog box, select Custom value . This displays a dialog box where you can set a custom value.

7.19  Changing the reflected apparent temperature

This parameter is used to compensate for the radiation reflected by the object. If the emissivity is low and the object temperature significantly different from that of the reflected temperature, it will be important to set and compensate for the reflected apparent temperature correctly.
For more information about reflected apparent temperature, see section 12 Thermographic measurement techniques .
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters . This displays a dialog box.
  4. In the dialog box, select Reflected apparent temperature . This displays a dialog box where you can set a value.

7.20  Changing the distance between the object and the camera

To measure temperatures accurately, the camera requires the distance between the camera and the object.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters . This displays a dialog box.
  4. In the dialog box, select Distance. This displays a dialog box where you can select a distance.

7.21  Performing a non-uniformity correction (NUC)

A non-uniformity correction is an image correction carried out by the camera software to compensate for different sensitivities of detector elements and other optical and geometrical disturbances 1 .
The non-uniformity correction process should be carried out whenever the output image becomes spatially noisy. The output can become spatially noisy when the ambient temperature changes (such as from day to night operation, and vice versa).
To perform a non-uniformity correction, push and hold the Image archive button icon for more than 2 seconds.

7.22  Configuring Wi-Fi

Depending on your camera configuration, you can connect the camera to a wireless local area network (WLAN) using Wi-Fi, or let the camera provide Wi-Fi access to another device.
You can connect the camera in two different ways:
  • Most common use: Setting up a peer-to-peer connection (also called an ad hoc or P2P connection). This method is primarily used with other devices, e.g., an iPhone or iPad.
  • Less common use: Connecting the camera to a WLAN.

7.22.1  Setting up a peer-to-peer connection (most common use)

    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. Select Device settings and push the center of the navigation pad.
  4. Select Wi-Fi and push the center of the navigation pad.
  5. Select Share and push the center of the navigation pad.
  6. (Optional step.) To display and change the parameters, select Settings and push the center of the navigation pad.
    • To change the channel (the channel that the camera is broadcasting on), select Channel and push the center of the navigation pad.
    • To activate WEP (encryption algorithm), select WEP and push the center of the navigation pad. This will check the WEP check box.
    • To change the WEP password, select Password and push the center of the navigation pad.

7.22.2  Connecting the camera to a wireless local area network (less common use)

    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. Select Device settings and push the center of the navigation pad.
  4. Select Wi-Fi and push the center of the navigation pad.
  5. Select Connect to network and push the center of the navigation pad.
  6. To display a list of the available networks, select Networks and push the center of the navigation pad.
  7. Select one of the available networks.
    Password-protected networks are indicated with a padlock icon, and for these you will need to enter a password.

7.23  Changing the settings

You can change a variety of settings for the camera.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
  2. On the toolbar, select Settings Graphic . This displays a dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, select the setting that you want to change and use the navigation pad to display additional dialog boxes.
The Settings menu includes the following:
  • Measurement parameters.
  • Camera temperature range.
  • Save options.
  • Device settings.

7.23.1  Measurement parameters

  • Emissivity.
  • Reflected temperature.
  • Distance.

7.23.2  Camera temperature range

For accurate temperature measurements, you must change the Camera temperature range setting to suit the expected temperature of the object you are inspecting.
Available temperature range options are dependent on the camera model. The unit ( ℃ or ℉ ) depends on the temperature unit setting, see section 7.23.4 Device settings .

7.23.3  Save options

  • Photo as separate JPEG : When this menu command is selected, the digital photo from the visual camera is saved at its full field of view as a separate JPEG image.

7.23.4  Device settings

  • Language, time & units:
    • Language .
    • Temperature unit .
    • Distance unit.
    • Date & time .
    • Date & time format .
  • Wi-Fi
    • Off
    • Share
    • Connect to network
      • Networks
  • Reset options :
    • Reset default camera mode .
    • Reset device settings to factory default .
    • Delete all saved images .
  • Auto power off .
  • Display intensity .
  • Demonstration mode: This menu command provides a camera mode that displays various images without any user interventions. The camera mode is intended for demonstration purposes or when displaying the camera in a store.
    • Off.
    • Electrical applications.
    • Building applications.
  • Camera information : This menu command displays various items of information about the camera, such as the model, serial number, and software version.

7.24  Updating the camera

To take advantage of our latest camera firmware, it is important that you keep your camera updated. You update your camera using FLIR Tools.
    Follow this procedure:
  1. Start FLIR Tools.
  2. Start the camera.
  3. Connect the camera to the computer using the USB cable.
  4. On the Help menu in FLIR Tools, click Check for updates.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.