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World-leading thermography experts FLIR have released a series of new thermal cameras for 2017, each with its own advantages and disadvantages in a range of sectors. Three new higher-spec options are available in the form of the FLIR E75, E85 and E95 Thermal Cameras for Building whilst the FLIR C3 Compact Thermal Camera - an upgrade for the FLIR C2 - is a more budget choice that nevertheless maintains FLIR’s usual high standards when it comes to image clarity, reliability, and build quality.

FLIR Exx Range

The FLIR Exx range has several uses, most notably when it comes to inspecting production plants and buildings. As any maintenance worker will know, even slight variations in temperature outputs can potentially be symptomatic of larger problems within a production plant so it is important to carry out regular inspections with high-tech thermal equipment in order to catch issues early and prevent pauses in production. The E75, E85 and E95 are perfect for the job thanks to their excellent thermal sensitivity of just 30mK. The ability to depict temperature differences of just 0.03˚C means that, instead of just surface temperature, these cameras can detect differences in air temperature from ventilation grills and cooling systems, thus providing extra depth to an inspection. This thermal sensitivity is also extremely useful when carrying out building inspections - for example for insurance claims and surveys - as this highlights any issues with HVAC systems, plumbing and more.

Large temperature ranges for all three higher-spec cameras make them suitable for inspections on the vast majority of production plants. The E95 can detect temperature up to 1500˚C so the degree of overheating is always clear whilst all three have a lower measurement limit of -20˚C which opens up possibilities in refrigeration as well as checking insulation and air flow in buildings. The time-lapse function on the FLIR E95 also helps pick up intermittent faults by using time-lapse thermography across a maximum time of 24 hours, thereby permitting comprehensive inspections. An additional feature of the E85 and E95 is on-screen measurement of moisture patches. This function is excellent for building inspections because an area measurement is given for moisture patches which gives an instant indication of the severity of any moisture leak.

Clear images with every camera

Extremely good thermal resolution (up to 462 x 348 pixels) and laser assisted auto-focus with each camera gives clear, detailed images and video which help locate faults in buildings and plants with unerring accuracy whilst a range of different lenses provide varied fields of view for different tasks. This image clarity is shared by the FLIR C3 which boasts lower resolution - just 80 x 60 pixels - but has a large 41˚ field of view and focus free imaging to make quick inspections very easy. Additionally, analysis is facilitated by MSX® image enhancement which adds perspective and detail via each device’s integrated digital camera. In terms of portability and practicality, the FLIR C3 stands out from the other options because of its rugged, compact design which allows it to fit in a pocket constantly without inhibiting the user, thus providing excellent thermal imaging as and when it is needed.

Wireless connectivity

All four of these cameras have advanced wifi connectivity to quickly transfer thermal images to smart devices alongside visible photographs. From there, FLIR Tools+ and UltraMax™ image enhancement can be used to wirelessly forward detailed images, reports and annotations to colleagues around the world. As far as the Exx series is concerned, wireless METERLINK® Bluetooth allows readings from FLIR moisture meters to be displayed on screen and voice annotations can be seamlessly added to files in order to record real-time observations during assessments. These cameras really bring thermographic inspection into the 21st century!

With advanced thermal imaging, high resolutions, a clear picture and MSX® image enhancement, both the FLIR Exx series and the FLIR C3 are great tools to have for professionals in a wide range of sectors. Furthermore, the wireless capabilities of these cameras help the user immediately make the most of the clear images and videos provided. With different specifications and different prices, they are suitable for varying budgets and tasks but all share excellent connectivity and clear thermal images, both still and moving.