A thermal imager is a device designed to determine thermal radiation on the surface under study by a non-contact method. The temperature distribution is displayed on the display as a color picture, where different temperatures correspond to different colors.
The thermal imager is widely used in the field of electric power industry, thermal power engineering, security systems, military and medical equipment, hunting, etc…
A thermal imager is a very useful thing, at least for preventing energy accidents and their consequences. With the help of a thermal imager, it is easy to determine heat losses in a building and reveal hidden defects in thermal insulation. Also, with a thermal imager, it is possible to identify the places of water supply leaks behind the wall or the coolant of the “warm floor” system. In the field of electronics, a thermal imager can identify short circuit places, see the thermal mode of operation of radio-electronic devices, and so on ...
I was looking for a thermal imager for laptop repair. It's no secret that very often motherboards through primary or secondary supply chains go to short circuit. To determine the defective element, it was necessary to connect a laboratory power supply to a circuit with a short circuit, and by probing with your fingers to determine the element that went into short circuit. There were situations when the short circuit was incomplete, and the probing method could not find a defect, since the failed element was heated, but not much. The thermal imager allows you to quickly identify all of the above defects, even without connection laboratory block power supply, since the defective element has time to heat up before the built-in protection of the motherboard works out (if a short circuit occurs in the secondary circuits) or the laptop power supply protection works out (if a short circuit occurs in the primary power circuits of the laptop).
Until recently, thermal imagers were very expensive, the price ranged from 100 thousand rubles and more for the simplest models of thermal imagers. But progress does not stand still. Budget options for thermal imagers from 15 thousand rubles and more began to appear. Initially, I wanted to buy a budget version of a thermal imager from Aliexpress, but after reading the reviews I changed my mind, since these thermal imagers only see a large temperature difference. They do not notice a small difference in temperature deviation. Somewhere I saw advice that for the same money you can buy a more serious Flir thermal imager One or Seek Thermal. Although the thermal imager is loudly said, these are just prefixes for a smartphone (Android or iPhone).
A month later I received a thermal imager. True, the factory packaging was a little crumpled in the corners.
Thermal imager package:
rubber protective cover
two rubber stickers - dampers
charging cable
two micro USB adapters for turning the device relative to the smartphone
long belt for attaching a protective cover around the neck
Main specifications flir one™ 2:
MSX® technology - combination of conventional and thermal imaging
Lepton® professional sensor
thermal sensor resolution 160x120 px.
optical sensor resolution 640x480 px.
temperature range -20+120°C
sensitivity 0.1°C
measurement accuracy ±2°C
automatic calibration
update frequency<9 Гц
viewing angle 40°
9 display palettes
image rotation (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°)
photo and video recording
Built-in 350mAh battery, powered by its own battery and does not affect the battery of the connected device
battery life up to 1 hour
A full charge of Flir One lasts 40 minutes (from a 1A power supply)
weight - 30 grams
To work with Flir One, you need an Android OS of at least 4.4.2 with OTG USB port support:
Sequencing:
we charge the device
download and run the program of the same name, after which the program will ask you to attach and turn on Flir One
insert the thermal imager into the micro USB port of the smartphone
turn on the thermal imager with the power button, after which a thermal image should appear
Flir One is quite simple and fast to learn.
The main functions of the Flir One program:
choice of color palette
select photo/video shooting mode
macro mode (in this mode, the slider is activated, when moving it, we combine the image of thermal and optical cameras)
we can also disable / enable automatic calibration
in the program window it is possible to control the degree of charge of the Flir One battery
There are 4 emissivity selections (matte, semi-matt, semi-gloss, glossy). The emissivity in this program cannot be prescribed. For an extended choice of emissivity and additional features, download the Flir Tools program, there is a whole table with various materials. Also in Flir Tools, the emissivity can be entered manually. But Flir Tools requires registration, is much more difficult to master than Flir One.
MSX® technology combines the image of the visible spectrum and thermal imaging, as a result we see a clearer picture with improved detail, on which even inscriptions can be recognized. This feature requires visible light. Therefore, when shooting in the dark, turn on the backlight.
After turning on the thermal imager for the first time, I began to study the capabilities of this device, which pleased me very much, especially the high sensitivity. For example, if you write 123 with your finger on a wooden surface, then the thermal trace from the finger, and therefore the inscription, is visible for some time. If you walk barefoot around the room, then the heat traces are visible for a long time, especially on the carpet. I also tested the thermal imager in complete darkness, to my surprise the picture of the thermal imaging camera was of very good quality, it was easy to navigate around the apartment in complete darkness.
Here is an example thermal image of a laptop motherboard that is in a disabled state but connected to the laptop's power supply. Power consumption in standby mode is about 0.38 W. The sensitivity of the thermal imager is enough to see where such a small amount of power is spent. The network controller and the south bridge are in active mode (on the reverse side of the board). A temperature difference of less than 1°C is clearly visible on the thermal image.
The Internet is full of examples comparing Flir One and Seek Thermal. But it is much more interesting to compare Flir One 2 with the Flir E40 mid-range thermal imager with a 160x120 px thermal sensor resolution (300 thousand rubles), and the Flir T360 high-end thermal imager with a 320x240 px thermal sensor resolution (1 million rubles).
Thermal imagers Flir One 2, Flir E40, Flir T360, respectively.
Example #1. Loaded circuit breaker. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example #2. Phase C contact defect with symmetrical load. As you can see, the defective contact was revealed very easily at the stage of early diagnosis. Moreover, its temperature is only 10 degrees higher than the temperature of phases A and B. With such a deviation, the equipment can still be operated. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example #3. Running asynchronous motor. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example number 4. Coupling heating. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example number 5. Electric heater. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example number 6. Laptop cooling system. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example number 7. Network filter. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Example number 8. A cup of tea. 
flir one 2
Flir E40
Flir T360
Outcome.
As you can see, Flir One 2 is a worthy competitor to its more expensive brothers!
The shortcomings of this thermal imager include a short operating time from the built-in battery. In practice, the duration of work is 30-40 minutes. The manufacturer could take care of powering the thermal imager directly from the smartphone when the battery of the thermal imager is low. The upper limit of the measured temperature is only +120°C (this limit is sufficient for most cases). But now the fourth generation of Flir One thermal imagers with an upper temperature limit of +400 ° C has already been released. The price of this thermal imager will certainly be much higher.
I bought a thermal imager for 17,000 rubles. As of March 2017, it had the lowest price among foreign trading platforms. Only Flir One of the first version was cheaper, which have worse characteristics.
Consumption ecology. Gadgets: A thermal imager is a device that allows you to see on the screen the differences in the temperature of objects. With it, you can detect overheating of electrical wiring and electrical equipment, heat leakage in the house, approximately measure the temperature of objects, including those located quite far away.
A thermal imager is a device that allows you to see differences in the temperature of objects on the screen. With it, you can detect overheating of electrical wiring and electrical equipment, heat leakage in the house, approximately measure the temperature of objects, including those located quite far away.
More recently, thermal imagers were very expensive and their prices started at 100,000 rubles. Recently, relatively cheap thermal imagers have begun to appear, but their matrix resolution is very low. For example, the cheapest thermal cameras on Aliexpress start at $240 and have a matrix of only 60 by 60 pixels.
An interesting alternative is thermal imagers for smartphones. They are relatively cheap, while having a higher resolution matrix.
Today I will tell you about the FLIR ONE thermal imager, created by FLIR, which is considered the recognized flagship of thermal imaging technology.
The main feature of FLIR ONE is the presence of two cameras - thermal and conventional, the image from which is combined and the picture becomes more detailed.
This is the second generation of FLIR ONE. The thermal imaging matrix has a resolution of 160x120 pixels (the first generation FLIR ONE had 80x60), and the camera matrix has 640x480 pixels.
The thermal imager has a built-in battery that allows it to work for 45 minutes and does not consume smartphone battery power.
Two versions are sold - with Lightning connectors for iPhones and with a MicroUSB connector for Android smartphones. Only those Android smartphones that have USB OTG support can work with the thermal imager (you can check its availability by inserting a USB flash drive with this connector into the MicroUSB connector).
The kit includes a thermal imager, a case, a neck strap, two self-adhesive rubber bands (they can be glued to the thermal imager from the side of the connector so that the device body fits snugly against the smartphone body), a very short instruction and a message from the head of the company.
On the right side of the case there is a MicroUSB connector, which is used to charge the thermal imager and a charging indicator.
On the left side is the power button and the status indicator inside it.
This is how a thin smartphone looks from the side with a connected thermal imager, on which a rubber gasket is glued.
Both cameras have a fixed focus, allowing you to observe objects located at a distance of 15 cm to infinity. Viewing angle 46˚ horizontally and 35˚ vertically.
The stock FLIR ONE app displays the combined image.
The program continuously displays live thermal video at a refresh rate of about 10 frames per second. Approximately once every 30 seconds the picture freezes (the device is being calibrated, this can be turned off).
The app can take photos, videos, time-lapses, and even thermal panoramas.
You can turn on the temperature display in the application, but it is shown only in the center of the image. There is no minimum or maximum display. They can be viewed in the same application when viewing a saved picture. While viewing saved frames, it is possible to view a picture from a regular camera by swiping down or up. Here you can see that the thermal image is slightly shifted to the side due to the fact that the distance to the object was too small.
A separate FLIR Tools app, available not only for smartphones, but also for Windows and MacOS, can handle files saved in the FLIR ONE app. You can view and save only a thermal image or just a photo, you can change the transparency and the algorithm for blending a photo with a thermal image, you can change the color palette, overlay shapes on the photo, inside which the minimum and maximum temperatures will be displayed.
There is an alternative Thermal Camera application that has both the center temperature and the minimum and maximum temperatures displayed at the same time. In the lower right corner, a combined image is shown in the upper part of the screen, only thermal imaging.
Unfortunately, this application on the Huawei P7 smartphone is unstable, sometimes freezes and crashes.
With the help of a thermal imager, you can see a lot of interesting things. For example, if you put your hand on the wall and remove it, a thermal trace will remain on the wall for several more minutes.
Heat from the radiator and cold from poor sealing of the balcony door and window.
Light.
Water flows from the tap. You can immediately see where the hot water is connected, and where the cold water is.
Thermal selfie.
The open windows are clearly visible.
The thermal imager should not be considered as an accurate thermometer. I compared the readings of three thermal imagers - the professional and rather expensive Testo 875, FLIR ONE and Seek Thermal:
As can be seen from the table, the difference in the readings of thermal imagers reaches seven degrees, and it fluctuates either in one direction or the other. published
The second generation Flir One was first introduced in 2015. This is a compact thermal imager based on the updated Lepton IR module with a 160 x 120 pixel matrix. It allows you to shoot infrared photos and videos with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, judge the quality of the images for yourself. We tested the device on two Samsung GALAXY Note 4 and 5 smartphones.
IR images from the FLIR One thermal imager
The thermal imager will allow you to detect heat sources invisible to the eye, finds problems in the electrics, allows you to compare relative temperatures, sees in the dark, smoky environment, through thick bushes.
How to work with FLIR One?
Connect the thermal imager to your smartphone or tablet via micro-USB, simply plug it into the connector, press the power button on the side of the camera to turn on the thermal imager and you can immediately get to work. Don't forget to install the FLIR ONE app from Google Play, it's free. The software is quite simple, mastered in just 10 minutes.
The application allows you to choose a color palette, offering 8 color options, choose the one that best suits your needs. There are several shooting modes, by default the camera works in photo mode, but it is possible to shoot infrared video and make colorful IR panoramas. There is also a slow motion mode. You do not need to connect your FLIR ONE camera to your phone to view saved IR images and captured thermal video. A separate folder with the name FLIROne is automatically created on your smartphone, all your thermal imaging creativity is saved there.
FLIR ONE Combines Thermal Imaging and Optical Modules
MSX technology combines the image of the visible spectrum and thermal imaging, as a result you see a clearer picture with improved detail, on which even inscriptions can be recognized. This feature requires visible light. Therefore, when shooting in the dark, turn on the backlight. To shoot objects close-up, you can set the mode of combining the image of the visible spectrum with the thermal one. This mode can be turned on and off from the control panel using the macro button with the flower icon.
Charging the FLIR One
Plug the micro USB end of the cable into the FLIR ONE and the other end into a 1A power source. The LED indicator blinks while the device is charging. A full charge of FLIR ONE takes 40 minutes (from a 1A power supply). A constant signal of the indicator indicates that the battery is fully charged. The maximum battery life is 1 hour.
Automatic calibration
Inside the camera is an automatic shutter that periodically activates and allows the thermal imaging camera to calibrate. When the shutter is activated, the image freezes for a short period. The shutter is used to enhance the image quality. When you turn on the camera for the first time and periodically during its operation, the application performs automatic calibration, this allows you to achieve better image quality. The shutter can be activated manually by touching the calibration icon in the upper right corner of the main screen. You can enable manual calibration mode by disabling automatic calibration in the Settings menu.
Temperature measurement
The FLIR ONE Thermal Imager calculates approximate temperatures and cannot be considered accurate. The temperature displayed on the screen of the device is influenced by many factors, the main of which are the emissivity of the object and the distance to it. Temperature values may vary depending on the time of day, weather conditions, and other hot or cold objects located near the object under study and reflecting its heat. Periodic calibration improves image quality and more accurate temperature calculations. The new spot measurement function detects temperature differences as small as 0.1°C.
MSX Thermal Video Technology
Raw thermal images look nice, but they don't provide too much detail. Therefore, in the FLIR ONE thermal imager, both images (thermal and conventional video) are blended using MSX technology, which adds detail to the raw thermal data. With MSX technology, the FLIR ONE thermal imager captures more object details.
What apps are available for FLIR ONE?
- FLIR ONE - provides the ability to easily accumulate and share access to the necessary thermal images.
- CloseUP - Provides macro photography capability.
- Panorama - View, receive and share video, showing changes in the scene and the temperature of objects over time.
- Paint - create and share photographs in which the colors and elements of the thermal image are matched.
- SDK (Software Development Kit) - Available for creating user applications - Recently, several new applications have been added by developers to the iTunes app store.
Where can the FLIR One thermal imager be used?
The FLIR One is the first consumer thermal imager at a reasonable price and with good performance, which is enough for use almost anywhere. At home and at leisure, for work and entertainment.
You can use this gadget when checking the operation of underfloor heating, ventilation or refrigeration, check the electrics in the house. If you started a repair, you can check the quality of the work performed with a thermal imager, whether it is blowing from the windows, evaluate the quality of insulation, and identify pockets of heat loss in an apartment or house. With a thermal imager you can find leaks in pipes hidden in the walls, even the smallest water leaks can lead to the formation of fungus and the appearance of pathogenic microbes. If you are a car mechanic, FLIR One will be a good helper for engine diagnostics, you can check the integrity of the electrical wiring and identify places with insulation breakdowns. If you are a cook and you need to determine the readiness of food or simply measure the temperature of the cooking process so that nothing burns, a thermal imager will help you with this. If you like to travel with a backpack and a tent, the difficulties of long hikes give you pleasure, take a thermal imager with you, it will always come in handy and help you find your way at night, will not let you get lost in the fog.
Have questions about a product?
Hello! My name is Roman Ryapolov. I am the head of the thermographic equipment department.
Ready to answer all your questions about the product "FLIR One for Android". Write or call me if you need advice or want to place an order.
Specifications for FLIR One for Android
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General characteristics |
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Certification |
MFi (iOS version), RoHS, CE/FCC, CEC-BC, EN61233 |
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Working temperature |
0-35°C |
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Storage temperature |
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65 x 29 x 18 mm (W x H x D) |
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Resistance to mechanical shocks |
Drop from a height of 1.5 m |
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Optical characteristics and image parameters |
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Thermal and digital cameras with MSX technology |
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Thermal sensor |
Pixel size 12 µm: spectral range 8-14 µm |
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Thermal resolution |
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Optical resolution |
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line of sight |
Horizontal 46˚ ± 1˚, Vertical 35˚ ± 1˚ |
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Frame frequency |
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Focusing |
Fixed, 15 cm to infinity |
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measurements |
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Temperature range |
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Error |
±3 °C or ±5% |
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Emissivity Settings |
Matt surfaces: 95%; semi-matt surfaces: 80%; semi-gloss surfaces: 60%; |
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Min. temperature resolution |
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Automatic/manual |
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Nutrition |
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Battery life |
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Battery charging time |
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Charging version for iOS devices |
Pass-through charging via micro-USB connector |
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Charging version for Android devices |
No pass-through charging |
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Interfaces |
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iOS devices |
Lightning male connector |
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Android devices |
Micro-USB male connector |
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Micro-USB female connector (5V, 1A) |
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Applications |
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Displaying and recording videos and snapshots |
Saving at 640 x 480 resolution |
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File formats |
Radiometric images in JPEG format Video in MPEG-4 format |
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Recording modes |
Video, Snapshot, Time Lapse and Panorama |
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Gray (with hotter objects displayed in white), Coolest, Hottest, Iron, Rainbow, Contrast, Ice, Lava, and |
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exposure meter |
Disabled/°C/°F Resolution accuracy 0.1 °C |
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Focusing distance when using the MSX function |
0.3 m to infinity |
Equipment
The FLIR ONE comes with two spacers to securely attach to phones without a case. To attach the spacer, remove the protective film from its underside, under which there is an adhesive surface. Align the flat edge of the spacer with the straight edge of the FLIR ONE. After that, lightly press them together for a complete fit.
- Thermal imager
- Impact resistant rubber case
- Charging cable
- Package
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Discussion FLIR One for Android
Hello.
Flir One is supposed to be used for preliminary diagnostics of equipment (electrical panels, instrumentation, refrigeration machines). What are the hardware requirements? (Will it work with Blackview 6000, Runbo F1, Ruggear730 rugged smartphones) How much RAM is required for normal operation?
Which version of ANDROID do you prefer?
Thank you.
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PERGAM Certified Service Center celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016. During this time, we have accumulated solid practical experience in the maintenance, repair, calibration, integration and verification of equipment. Having made a purchase of equipment in our online store, you will acquire a reliable partner in the person of PERGAM, always ready to provide qualified support.
The service center has official licenses for the installation, configuration, maintenance and repair of all supplied equipment. The first authorized service center of FLIR Systems in Russia and the CIS.
- The engineering and technical staff of the service center regularly improves their qualifications and undergoes re-certification with the receipt of official certificates and certificates in the training centers of manufacturing companies;
- At the request of the customer, we carry out calibration, technical verification, hardware and software upgrades of equipment and instruments for their use in special conditions;
- We carry out a full cycle of hardware and software maintenance of the supplied equipment: diagnostics, prevention, modernization, restoration or repair;
- Warranty maintenance of equipment and devices can be carried out both in our service center and on the territory of the client;
- For a certain group of our products, we provide extended periods of free service.
More than 30 models of non-destructive testing instruments have been produced under the PERGAM brand, some of which are unique and have no analogues in Russia. The software for the diagnostic equipment of our production is written by the company's programmers in partnership with a research institute.
Production
Modern production facilities and a solid scientific potential have allowed PERGAM to organize the production of its own technical safety and control systems, measuring instruments and equipment, stationary and mobile laboratories.
- PERGAM Research Laboratory conducts a full cycle of development and creation of innovative software and hardware products;
- The company has formed an effective scientific and engineering core capable of creating systems with specific characteristics adapted to harsh operating conditions;
- PERGAM is an official resident of the Skolkovo Innovation Center, working on complex technical projects;
- The company has created its own systems that can compete on equal terms with modern foreign developments:
- Mobile (including aviation) and stationary complexes designed for remote control of gas pipelines, monitoring and measuring gas concentrations (DLS-PERGAM, DLS-PEGAZ);
- Non-contact medical thermodiagnostics system PERGAMED, which detects diseases at early stages of development;
- Thermographic systems for covert surveillance and technical security TITAN, PERGAM MC-460C.
- The developments are adapted to work in harsh climatic conditions with high levels of temperature and humidity differences.
We will teach you how to use the functionality and capabilities of the purchased equipment at 100%. The PERGAM company conducts training of specialists in its own training center, on the territory of the customer and in foreign training centers of manufacturing companies (in Sweden, USA, Ireland, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland and Israel).
Education
The training center conducts theoretical and practical training, retraining, advanced training and certification of specialists in the operation and maintenance of thermal imaging control devices. Full-time training, training period 2 days with the issuance of a certificate, the price is 12,000 rubles per specialist.
- An own methodology for training, retraining and certification of specialists in the field of infrared testing and non-destructive diagnostics was developed with the presentation of certificates to graduates;
- Training of specialists in the field of thermography is carried out at the central office of PERGAM (Moscow) and training centers of partner companies. We will organize training for you on the territory of manufacturing plants in the USA, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland. If necessary, instructors and consultants train specialists at the training areas of customers;
- The customer himself chooses the training time that is convenient for him, since PERGAM trains specialists in the field of thermodiagnostics all year round.
PERGAM is a permanent participant of major international exhibitions and conferences. In 2007, we were recognized as the industry's most attractive employer. In 2013, they received an honorary title - a Skolkovo resident company.
Awards
The successful activity of the PERGAM company in the Russian and CIS markets has been marked by awards and diplomas.
- We regularly take part in international industry exhibitions, scientific and practical conferences, seminars, forums and presentations, presenting technical innovations at them;
- The developments of PERGAM are positively assessed by specialized specialists, as evidenced by the awards and diplomas received by the company;
- PERGAM is a member of the Russian, Austrian, German, Italian and Swiss societies for non-destructive testing, as well as the international helicopter association HAI (Helicopter Association International).
The industrial equipment supplied by us has international certificates of conformity. in Russia we carry out certification according to ROSTEST. For certificates and certificates of approval of measuring instruments, see the relevant section and product cards.
Certificates and licenses
In its business activities, PERGAM is guided by the necessary set of state permits and supporting documents.
- The company provides services, the quality and level of which comply with Russian legislation, international rules and regulations. This is confirmed by relevant documents: licenses, licenses and certificates;
- The quality and safety of PERGAM products are certified by official certificates of manufacturing companies;
- We are the only company in Russia that has a corporate certificate for the maintenance and repair of FLIR Systems measuring thermal imagers;
- In 2008, the company received the international certificate ISO 9001-2001, which confirms its reliability and compliance with international standards of economic activity.
Pergamon employs 137 people in 13 branches around the world. The unique equipment and developments of the company are implemented and successfully operate all over the globe. The central European office is located in Zurich, which is the focal point for offices in Italy and the USA.
Branches
For 20 years, PERGAM has expanded its network of representative offices in near and far regions. Today, in addition to the central Moscow office, there are 13 branches of the company in Russia, CIS countries and far abroad.
- The presence of branches and representative offices of the company in other cities and countries allows us to establish close contacts with partners, realistically assess the preferences of regional customers, organize a convenient system for training specialists, reduce transportation costs and product costs;
- Today, PERGAM branches operate in the USA (Seattle), Switzerland (Zurich), Italy (Brescia), Ukraine (Kiev), Belarus (Minsk) and Kazakhstan (Astana);
- On the territory of the Russian Federation, Pergamum divisions are located in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Lipetsk, Yekaterinburg and Khabarovsk.
The Flir One household thermal imager from the world-famous Flir company for its thermal imagers is perhaps the first device of its kind, which announced its entry into a truly mass market. The fact is that although thermal imagers and other night vision devices were born in the last century, they still have not reached the mass user. First of all, this concerns just thermal imagers, devices that allow you to see directly thermal radiation, and not just amplify weak light. Didn't get there until Flir One came along.
Flir One, with its price in the region of $250, is a real breakthrough in the market, where entry-level devices cost at least three times more, or even more. Now, thanks to the efforts of Flir, a thermal imager is available to any wealthy householder. It is enough to have only a smartphone on Android or iOS, and the thermal imager itself, connected to the data port (USB in the case of Android or Lighting for Apple). The thermogram image is displayed on the smartphone screen, you can take photos, shoot videos, measure the temperature of specific areas.
Flir One differs from the thermal imager familiar to professionals not only in the absence of a screen on the device, but also in the presence of two cameras at once. One camera is an ordinary optical one, the second one directly perceives infrared radiation. The symbiosis of the two cameras allows you to level the catastrophically low resolution of the infrared camera. We are talking about kilopixels (up to megapixels in affordable infrared photography is still getting and getting). Too expensive are the matrices susceptible to the desired part of the infrared spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. Yes, and optics that freely transmit the required part of the infrared radiation, with low distortion, also cost a pretty penny. Therefore, the manufacturer took the contours of the visible image from the device's conventional camera and superimposed data from the infrared camera on them. As a result, the user receives at least some kind of image that allows you to make out what is visible there. For the same reason, the Flir software can use your phone's flashlight to highlight the outlines of objects when it's completely dark.
However, despite the fact that the Flir One has a low resolution, the device is very useful in studying the world around. Built around modern bolometers, the Flir One has a reading sensitivity of less than one degree Celsius. For the same reason, Flir One is constantly calibrated, because. during operation, the bolometer matrix heats up, which leads to distortion and inaccuracies in the provision of information.
So, I have an Android smartphone and a Flir One thermal imager in my hands, it's time to test them in action, take a series of measurements and dispel, and maybe even confirm, a few popular myths.
With the help of a thermal imager, you can track the animal in the footsteps
In the old movie "Predator", an alien creature hunted one of the best representatives of the Aryan race in the rainforests. And not just hunted, but hunted with the use of high-tech weapons. Including with the use of vision in various parts of the spectrum. In the continuation of the movie, a new alien creature, a few years after its predecessor was dismantled into atoms, began to hunt one of the best representatives of the African race, but already in the jungle of a big city. And again, the alien hunter used thermal vision to the fullest. Especially in terms of finding traces of a frightened victim running away.
From left to right: a dog standing still for a couple of seconds, footprints from a dog standing still for a couple of seconds on the laminate, human footprints on the laminate.
And it's true. In reality, you can also track the traces of animals and even humans. Only now I managed to capture the traces on a smooth laminate, and then, after stepping on it with bare feet and paws.
Using a thermal imager, you can find a black cat in a dark room
An ancient joke implies that the cat will be hard to find, especially if it is not there.
Thermograms of pets
But the joke will not work if the seeker is equipped with a thermal imager. Cats, and other warm-blooded animals, are searched for in dark rooms without any problems.
Is thermal imaging possible in a mirror?
Many people wonder if heat will be reflected in an ordinary mirror? And they are also interested, and if you point a thermal imager at a mirror, then whose temperature will it measure. Mirrors or what is displayed in it?
Reflections of objects in Flir One: a hot pipe in the bathroom is reflected in the tiles, a person in the mirror.
The question is solved simply. You need to do an experiment. It turns out that the thermal imager perfectly captures and determines the temperature of what is displayed in a mirror or other reflective surface, such as a tile. If you want to measure the temperature of the reflective surface itself, then in the Flir One settings there is a special mode that allows you to measure the temperature of the reflective surface, you just need to remember to use it.
Wired phone does not consume power
Many people believe that landlines, those that are connected only by wires to the telephone exchange, do not waste energy at all. Ancient telephones equipped with a "twist" may not consume anything, but the rest of the equipment ...
From left to right: a radiotelephone with external power, a wired telephone without power, hot and cold water meters.
A landline phone, although it does nothing, gets hot when connected to the line. And it heats up well. The radiotelephone eats even more energy. However, for this he has a separate AC power adapter.
The electrical panel with active devices is also heated
And if you walk around the apartment, you can find that even safety devices, such as UZM, RCD, voltmeters on a DIN rail or automatic machines with thermal splitting, are heated. They consume energy to keep us safe. But the heating wires of the power supply from overload are not a good thing. There should be no noticeable heating.
Modern electronics consume as much power as old ones
New computers, phones, video cards, routers, video set-top boxes are definitely more powerful than their predecessors. And should consume more energy. But, do not forget about the development of technology. A modern car consumes much less fuel per hundred than its furry ancestor, and it has several times more power. It's the same with electronics.
Different electronics heat up differently. Left: microserver with natural ventilation and the highest heating in the area of the power supply transformer. Right: Cisco Wi-Fi router and ONT ZTE.
Productivity increases and energy consumption falls. Of course, someday this will come to a technological end, but it is still very far away. So the ancient Cisco router puts more energy into heating than the modern ZTE. Moreover, ZTE has twice the performance. And ten times more powerful microserver, glows with a temperature even lower than Cisco! Progress does not stand still, that's for sure.
A plastic window holds heat better than a piece of wood.
Technological progress has also reached building materials. Modern plastic windows have come to our houses. They look better, they don't need regular painting, they don't warp every season, and they seem to be warmer.
Plastic window (right) vs wooden window (left)
But you should not run jumping with your old wooden windows to the trash. If you slightly modify the window itself, smear the glass with sealant, put normal seals, then the wooden window turns out to be completely nothing. Especially when compared with economy class windows. The main leaks, what is there, what is there, go through the perimeter of the part to be opened, through the seals. And if you put a good, soft, polyurethane sealant on a wooden window, then such a window will work no worse than a plastic one in terms of sealing the room.
In houses of the P-3 series, the seams between the panels are not insulated
I often heard from different people, they say, in 16-story panel buildings, the seams between the panels are not insulated and because it is cold in the apartments. And if you want warmth, then you need to gouge everything at the joints between the ceiling and the street wall, insulate and redo it.
Holes in the house series P-3
The statement is rather controversial. On many houses of the P-3 series, the external joints are properly smeared with mastic. And if you look from inside the apartment, then, of course, “cold bridges” are visible, but they are not so extensive, and they are not present in every room.
Bridges of cold - a place where we lose heat
A lot can be said about heat losses in modern private construction. And all to no avail. An ordinary inhabitant is not ready to pay many thousands for an energy-efficient building. It is much more profitable to simply heat your building more and that's it.
Inside the house from the foam block. The laying of foam blocks on the cement mortar and cold bridges (the mortar itself) is visible.
In the same Europe, modern houses that do not meet the requirements for energy efficiency cannot be built at all. Since 2018, only buildings that consume no more than 15 kW / m 2 per year can be erected in the EU. And in Russia, where they are just beginning to introduce standards for energy-efficient buildings, an ordinary private house consumes 300 or more kW / m 2 per year. According to the classification of Europeans, such buildings belong to buildings built before the 1970s and are actively insulated. But then they have, where the cost of the energy carrier is exorbitant. And for us, the issue of building insulation arises only when residents begin to feel a drop in temperature below 23 degrees Celsius. And then, in this case, they think about more powerful batteries, and not about insulation.
A brick house is not an energy efficiency champion. A bright spot under the window: the battery is indoors.
And as long as energy resources are cheap, nothing will budge. You and I will continue to drown the street, often with banknotes. After all, beyond the foam block and brick, the thought of a private developer rarely extends.
Heat leaks at the "framework". Problems in the area of adjacency of the ceiling.
But the problem is not only in ancient building materials and structures. Even modern material can turn into a waste of money in inept hands. By the way, it is in such cases that thermographic photography can be very, very useful.
With the help of a thermal imager, you can determine residential buildings in winter
Working suburban real estate in the conditions of the winter period is a luxury that is not available to everyone. The house needs to be heated constantly, because water, freezing, can spoil not only water supply, but also water disposal. And a good house, not used in winter, will gradually gain moisture, which will not be easy to get rid of in summer.
Houses in which no one lives in winter, but a minimum level of heating is maintained. Heating is given out by windows and small leaks.
With the help of a thermal imager, you can easily determine which house maintains a minimum temperature, and which one is abandoned by the owner until the summer period.
Heat is emitted not only by heated houses
Not only buildings with poor thermal insulation warm the street. Any object that has good contact with the ground, or even better partially buried in it, can be warmer than the surrounding air.
For example, heat is actively lost by buildings through the foundation. Buried concrete slabs or "tapes" take the heat of the earth from the depth and squander it in the cold season. Therefore, zealous owners insulate not only the residential parts of the house, but also the basement, along with the blind area. Thus, the problem of heat loss and unnecessary heaving of the soil around the building by spring thaws is partially removed.
Oddly, the lights are off, but the street lamp still warms the atmosphere.
But not only non-insulated buildings built using Stone Age technologies warm the atmosphere. Energy is also wasted on faulty electrical equipment. The picture above shows a street lamp. At night, it worked, but due to a faulty or incorrectly designed "power supply", after a power outage, it continues to radiate heat. So we lose electricity and money.
Can Flir One be used to track game?
In general, any modern thermal imager can be used for such purposes. After all, game radiates heat, and it can be seen on the screen.
But it is the Flir One model that is far from the best for hunting. Firstly, the low resolution and wide viewing angle of the thermal imager camera will not allow distinguishing living creatures at the desired distance. And secondly, looking at the phone while hunting will only be a fool. It’s inconvenient, and the gun needs to be held, not the phone!
Using a thermal imager, you can find hidden bookmarks
If something electronic is located in the wall or behind it, and this something works, then it can be quite easily calculated using a thermal imager. Even the most modern thermal insulation material will let heat particles through, which will sooner or later come to the surface.
The thermal imager reveals hitherto hidden. Left: A microserver is installed behind the wall. Right: A heating pipe runs through the wall.
In addition to finding hidden bookmarks, thermograms are useful for finding heating elements hidden in walls. Well, and other surprises from the builders.
Instead of an epilogue
Getting a new toy that expands the spectrum of the senses is great. Let it be as primitive as Flir One, but even with it you can learn and discover a lot of new things! Therefore, Flir One is a valuable acquisition, useful in the economy. And as a gift - any man will like it.
UPD.: For those who do not believe about heating machines and wires, I bring this picture:
How terminal blocks, automatic machines and electric meters heat up
From the thermogram of the electric meter, it can be seen that one of the terminals is heated, to which the aluminum wire is suitable. One of the automata is also heated, passing an electric current through itself (apparently the wire also goes through it, in this web you can’t make out). Moreover, the terminal on the bag is heated and the lower terminal on one of the black machines is slightly heated. The point here is that aluminum wires need to be tightened regularly, since the metal is soft and gradually it spreads under load. But, of course, no one does such nonsense. Electric meters also consume energy, and judging by the heat, they eat a lot of it. It is possible that the energy consumption of the meter, among other things, depends on the current (i.e., the consumption of energy by the consumer) flowing through the meter (you need to know what the design of the meter is).
