Our world through the eyes of a Thermal Imager

[Canuke]

That thermal flashlight thing gave me a cool idea.

I was at the NAB show last week, and there was a company showing their thermal imager. $24K, and it shot 1024x768 video between 8 and 14 microns. Its output was in 256 levels of gray; I watched my Quark Mini heat up using it.

My idea: hook up one of these to an LED-based pico projector, and align it to the IR camera viewing angle so that the projector illuminates the camera's field of view. Presto -- a realtime heat scanner that directly projects the heat output of a surface right back onto that surface. You'd be able to directly "see" a hot water pipe right on the wall or under the floor. Hot objects get lit brightly (or in red if you run the video through a processor first), cool ones don't.

The artistic potential would be huge too.

[PhotonWrangler]

Cool idea, Canuke! It's somewhat similar to the Laser Tag setup, only on a smaller scale.

Lots of neat toys at the NAB show! I've been there a couple of times.

[TEEJ]

That thermal flashlight thing gave me a cool idea.

I was at the NAB show last week, and there was a company showing their thermal imager. $24K, and it shot 1024x768 video between 8 and 14 microns. Its output was in 256 levels of gray; I watched my Quark Mini heat up using it.

My idea: hook up one of these to an LED-based pico projector, and align it to the IR camera viewing angle so that the projector illuminates the camera's field of view. Presto -- a realtime heat scanner that directly projects the heat output of a surface right back onto that surface. You'd be able to directly "see" a hot water pipe right on the wall or under the floor. Hot objects get lit brightly (or in red if you run the video through a processor first), cool ones don't.

The artistic potential would be huge too.

LOL

You don't need a projector light to see hidden hot water pipes, etc, if you have an infrared camera. The heat is supplied by your target. For example, if I want to see a break in a radiant floor system, I can turn on the radiant heating system, so that hot water starts to flow through the pipes under the slab/floor...and I will see a picture of the heat coming up through the floor...it will look like the water in the pipes...and/or like the hot water leaking out and pooling under the floor.

You can set most FLIR, etc, cameras to display the temperature as a color...any color you want. I like B&W myself....and might make hotter temps show as whiter/lighter, and colder temp stuff look darker, etc....but I could assign say a spectrum orientation, to do the same thing.

[PhotonWrangler]

I think what Canuke is describing is using the projector to 'paint' the thermal image directly upon the water pipe, causing the pipe itself to glow visibly as observed directly (not looking through the imager). An interesting mix of science and art.

[tatasal]

Cool pictures!

Btw, it's a photographic evidence that in a multi-stacked audio system (separates), the power amplifier (the hottest) should ideally be on top. But it won't look good I guess.

[TEEJ]

I think what Canuke is describing is using the projector to 'paint' the thermal image directly upon the water pipe, causing the pipe itself to glow visibly as observed directly (not looking through the imager). An interesting mix of science and art.

OK, I get what you mean know...NOT seeing it on the camera screen, but projected onto the target itself.

[jch79]

Really fun and informative thread... loving this! Thanks for the updates!

[Karl666]

Here are a few shots taken with my FLIR P640 ( 640 x 480) imager. I qualified as a thermographer a few years ago and find myself out and about with it on a regular basis.


This shows a wasp nest I found under the window next to the sat dish. The heat from the nest can be seen in red




This next one shows missing insulation in the bedroom ceiling. The darker areas shows the problem area.



The image below shows the position of the wood frame behind a dry lined wall. You can see the nails used to fixed the plaster board

[eh4]

Great pics Karl666!

[fyrstormer]

That looks awesome. I wish they didn't cost so much, I'd love to get one.