Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imager, 120 x 90, 9 Hz

Model: PTI120 9HZ 400C | Order No: PTI120-9HZ-400C | UPC: 195112031414

Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imager, 120 x 90, 9 Hz

Model: PTI120 9HZ 400C | Order No: PTI120-9HZ-400C | UPC: 195112031414

Rugged and weatherproof, this thermal imager provides easy troubleshooting and quickly scans the temperature of electrical equipment, machinery, and other assets. With an infrared resolution of 120 x 90, WiFi connectivity, and a temperature range of -4 to 752°F (-20 to 400°C), this thermal imager can also survive a one-meter drop.

Rugged and weatherproof, this thermal imager provides easy troubleshooting and quickly scans the temperature of electrical equipment, machinery, and other assets. With an infrared resolution of 120 x 90, WiFi connectivity, and a temperature range of -4 to 752°F (-20 to 400°C), this thermal imager can also survive a one-meter drop.

Your Price $1089.99 USD
Availability 2 to 3 Weeks
Quantity

Traceable In-House Calibration Certificate for your PTI120 9HZ 400C Pocket Thermal Imager

Traceable In-House Calibration Certificate for your PTI120 9HZ 400C Pocket Thermal Imager

Small enough to carry in your pocket, this thermal camera provides enhanced infrared inspections and features a 3.5" (88 mm) LCD touchscreen. Blend a visible light image with an infrared image with IR-Fusion™ for easy troubleshooting. Simply slide your finger across the screen to adjust the setting.

Features

  • Continuous touchscreen IR-Fusion™, slide your finger across the screen to adjust the setting
  • Automatically organize and file thermal images with Fluke Connect™ Asset Tagging
  • Fully radiometric thermal imager with 120 x 90 infrared resolution (10,800 pixels)
  • 3.5" (88 mm) LCD touchscreen display for easy troubleshooting
  • Can withstand drop up to 1 meter
  • Water and dust resistant
  • ”
  • IP54 enclosure rating
  • -4 to 752°F (-20 to 400°C) temperature measurement range
  • Six color palettes
  • Can withstand drop up to 1 m
  • IP 54 enclosure rating

Rugged, portable camera for industrial inspection

  • Small enough to carry every day without worry
  • Stands up to dirt and water
  • Quick scans of electrical equipment, machinery and other assets
  • Can survive a 1-meter drop

IR-Fusion

  • The 3.5" (88 mm) LCD touchscreen offers IR-Fusion to blend a visible light image with an infrared image to more easily locate problems
  • Adjust the setting with a swipe of your finger

Fluke Connect

  • Eliminate hours at the computer organizing your thermal images, let Asset Tagging do all that work for you
  • Just scan a QR code on your asset, capture your thermal images and they are automatically sorted
  • No more dragging and dropping or renaming files in the office
  • Start spending your time analyzing your images and creating reports instead of sorting your files one at a time

Applications

  • Electrical inspections
  • HVAC/R inspections
  • Mechanical
  • Residential home inspections
  • Light commercial maintenance
  • Building diagnostics - building envelope and commercial/industrial facilities

The importance of image quality in thermography

When conducting infrared inspections, high-quality images that allow for better analysis, presentation, and professionalism are essential.

With a sharply focused image, there is a distinct contrast between areas of varying thermal energy on the surface being inspected. This allows the individual detector elements (also known as pixels) to clearly report the intensity of the energy being focused on them.

When the focus is poor, the incoming energy isn't as concentrated on individual detectors, and their response is skewed. This can lead to temperature measurements that are significantly off, resulting in expensive downtime and possible safety hazards.

Thermal imagers are made with 100% diamond-turned germanium lenses covered with a specialty coating, providing premium quality images.

Fluke PTi120 Thermal Imager capturing a thermal image
Thermal image of machinery
Diamond-turned germanium lenses

Thermal image using Fluke's LaserSharp™ Auto Focus

LaserSharp Auto Focus allows you to select and focus on a specific target

Easily choose and focus on your target

LaserSharp™ Auto Focus uses a built-in laser distance meter that provides both speed and precision. The laser-driven target detection pinpoints the target while the camera focuses to capture a precise, high-quality image. With LaserSharp Auto Focus, you can:

  • Easily capture high-quality, focused images of your desired target with the push of a button
  • Take infrared images through common obstacles like chain link fences
  • Avoid skewed temperature measurements by precisely choosing your target
  • Perform the same inspections multiple times as a part of your preventive maintenance program - the built-in laser distance meter calculates and displays how far you are from your target, making repeatability much easier

Choose multiple targets at different distances

MultiSharp™ Focus takes multiple images from different focal distances and combines them into one clear image. With a simple point and shoot, you can go from being completely out of focus, to complete focus, throughout the field of view. With MultiSharp:

  • Reduce the need to take individual images of targets that are in the camera's field of view - focus on one target, and all objects that are in the camera's field of view will be in focus
  • Cut downtime spent taking multiple images to increase productivity
  • Capture quality, in-focus images, even under direct sunlight
Thermal image showing three target points
Thermal image focusing on the center of three target points

1.Middleground in focus

Thermal image focusing on the foreground of three target points

2.Foreground in focus

Thermal image focusing on the background of three target points

3.Background in focus


Shoot from a distance

Infrared inspections can take you into multiple types of environments with many types of equipment. Interchangeable lenses that require no calibration give you the versatility and the image quality needed to conduct inspections in almost any environment.

  • Reduce the need to enter the danger zone with a 2x telephoto lens
  • Identify potential issues as small and distant as a failed splice on a high electrical line from the ground with a 4x telephoto lens
  • Save time with roofing and industrial building inspections by viewing a large area at one time with a wide-angle lens
Thermal image of an electrical power line pole with standard lens

High voltage power pole, captured with a TiX560 camera and standard lens

Thermal image of an electrical power line pole with 2X lens

The same power pole captured from the same distance, but with a 2x telephoto lens

Thermal image of an electrical power line pole with 4X lens

The same power pole captured from the same distance, but with a 4x telephoto lens

Easily manage and analyze your data

Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access to more information faster is always a big benefit.

Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access on mobile to more information faster is always a big benefit.
Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access on your camera to more information faster is always a big benefit.
Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access at the office to more information faster is always a big benefit.

Document information on the equipment you're inspecting

With IR PhotoNotes™, voice or text annotation, you can easily document critical information about each piece of equipment and its location. Each "note" attaches to the image, so you never have to search or match up notes to images.

  • Document critical information with your infrared image
  • Capture surrounding details like wind conditions and time of day
  • Identify asset location
Document Critical Information with IR PhotoNotes™ Document Critical Information with IR PhotoNotes™

Image Info

IR Sensor Size 320 x 240
Distance to Target 0.69 m

Main Image Markers

Name Temperature
Centerpoint 29.1°C

Capture digital and infrared images at once

IR Fusion™ technology combines visible light and an infrared image into one, giving you better clarity.

  • Get exact location details in picture-in-picture mode, which provides the center part of the display in IR and the remainder of the image in visible light
  • See more details when you adjust the level of infrared and visible light blending in AutoBlend™ mode
  • Isolate problem areas with user-defined temperature ranges with IR color alarms
Image with IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode ironbow

IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode: Ironbow palette

Image with IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode AutoBlend

IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode: AutoBlend

Image with IR Fusion color alarm

IR Fusion color alarm

ROI and thermal imaging

Seven benefits of on-site infrared inspections

  1. Reduce downtime
    Inspections can be done while equipment is running - no lost production time.
  2. Protect lives while doing more
    The non-contact nature of infrared inspections allows technicians to scan large areas quickly, from a safer distance away. That means technicians can inspect more equipment faster.
  3. Improve production efficiency
    Subtle problems are found and addressed before they have a major impact on production.
  4. Document before and after
    Validate post-maintenance work and capture the results for future review.
  5. Reduce capital expenses
    Finding and repairing problems at an early stage can improve the life expectancy of equipment, as a result extending replacement intervals.
  6. Increase productivity
    Quickly scan a large area to find air leaks, insulation gaps, moisture and overheated electrical components to complete more work in less time.
  7. Identify work in easy-to-understand terms
    See exactly what the problem is on the camera, eliminating guesswork and making it easier for everyone to see what repairs needs to be done.
Comparing two thermal images to the baseline reading

Review thermal images side by side, making it easy to compare today's reading with the baseline or other historical images.

Using Fluke Thermal Imaging to Troubleshoot Motors & Drives

Infrared cameras, also called thermal imagers, are useful for troubleshooting motor problems as well as for monitoring motor condition for preventative maintenance in power generation, manufacturing and commercial plants. Thermal images of motors reveal their operating condition as indicated by surface temperature. Such condition monitoring is important as a way to avert many unexpected motor malfunctions in systems that are critical to manufacturing. The onset of motor failures can often be detected by a variety of techniques, including vibration, ultrasound and thermal imaging.

In this article, we cover why use thermal imaging and what to scan, as well as some notes on what to look for, including shaft misalignment.

Read the Article
Facilities Maintenance Challenges and the Fluke Solutions

Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C Specifications

Key Features
Infrared Resolution 120 x 90 (10,800 pixels)
IFOV (Spatial Resolution) 7.6 mRad
Field of View 50 x 38°
Minimum Focus Distance 29" (50 cm)
Focus System Fixed focus
Data transfer Mini USB used to transfer image to PC
Wireless Connectivity Yes, (802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz))
Image Quality
IR-Fusion Technology AutoBlend continuous 0 to 100%
Adds the context of the visible details to your infrared image
Display 3.5" (8.89 cm) LCD touchscreen (landscape)
Resolution: 320 x 240
Thermal Sensitivity (NETD) 60 mK
Frame Rate 9 Hz
Data Storage and Image Capture
Memory ≥2 GB internal flash memory
Image Capture, Review, Save Mechanism One-handed image capture, review, and save capability
Software Fluke Connect desktop software—full analysis and reporting software with access to the Fluke Connect system
Temperature Measurement
Temperature Measurement Range (Not Calibrated Below -10°C) -4 to 752°F (-20 to 150°C)
Accuracy Target temperature at or over 0°C: Accuracy: ±2°C or ±2% at 25°C, whichever is the greater
On-screen Emissivity Correction Yes via material selection
On-screen Reflected Background Temperature Compensation Yes
Center-Point Temperature Yes
Spot Temperature Hot and cold spot markers
General Specifications
Standard Color Palettes Ironbow, blue-red, high contrast, amber, hot metal, grayscale
Infrared Spectral Band 8 to 14 μm (long wave)
Temperature Operating: 14 to 122°F (-10 to +50°C)
Storage: -40 to 158°F (-40 to +70°C)
Relative Humidity 95% non-condensing
Safety IEC 61010-1: Pollution Degree 2
Electromagnetic Compatibility EN 61326-1, CISPR 11: Group 1, Class A
Vibration and Shock 10 to 150 Hz, 0.15 mm, IEC 60068-2-6; 30 g, 11 ms, IEC 60068-2-27
Drop Engineered to withstand 1 meter drop
Battery Type: Internal rechargeable lithium ion battery
Life: >2 hours continuous (without Wi-Fi)
System: Micro USB port
Dimensions 3.5 x 5 x 1" (8.9 x 12.7 x 2.5 cm)
Weight 0.514 lbs (0.233 kg)
Click here for complete specifications on the Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C

What's included with the Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C

  • Thermal Imager
  • USB Cable
  • Adjustable Lanyard
  • Soft Carrying Case
This product features Fluke Connect Technology

See it. Save it. Share it. All the facts, right in the field.

Fluke engineers have delivered an innovative mobile platform and tool that helps solve everyday problems, allowing you to instantly document measurements, retrieve historical data, and share live measurements with your team. All handled by the Android™ or iOS smart phone you already carry.

Fluke Connect with ShareLive™ video call is the only wireless measurement system that lets you stay in contact with your entire team without leaving the field. The Fluke Connect mobile app is works with over 20 different Fluke products - the largest suite of connected test tools in the world.

Make the best decisions faster than ever before by viewing temperature, mechanical, electrical and vibration measurements for each equipment asset in one place. Get started saving time and increasing your productivity.


Fluke Connect Features:

  • TrendIt™ Graphs: Use graphing to show changes in measurements, allowing you to graph and show problems instantly.
  • EquipmentLog™ History: Access equipment history building a database of equipment health and baselines with cloud backup.
  • ShareLive™ Video Calls: Save, collaborate and share measurements instantly with your team anytime, from anywhere.
  • AutoRecord™ Measurements: Instantly save measurements to your phone with Cloud backup.
  • Fluke Cloud™ Storage: Securely access equipment records anywhere, anytime.

Fluke Connect Benefits:

  • Maximize uptime
  • Minimize maintenance costs
  • Better assessments with accurate records
  • Higher efficiency with less walking around; no notebook and excel needed
  • Share troubleshooting knowledge live
  • Create and share helpful content in the field
  • Access to Fluke digital product manuals means no need to carry manuals in the field
  • Keep organized manually entered measurements

10 things you need to know about Thermal Imagers

Whether you choose a simple point-and-shoot model or a high-end thermal imager with all the bells and whistles, here are some key features and specs you should consider:

1
Resolution
  • Detector resolution indicates the number of detector pixels on the camera. More pixels, means higher resolution
  • Spatial resolution is based on detector pixels and the field of view (FOV) spec, combining them to define the area the imager sees at any given moment. Spatial resolution can be used to help define the smallest object size that can be detected. A lower spatial resolution value means better detail and image quality
2
Focus

With a variety of focus mechanisms to choose from, it is important to take into account your skill level as well as the application in selecting a focus type. Here are the common focus mechanisms:

  • Fixed: Point and shoot simplicity
  • Manual: Precise incremental focus
  • Auto focus: Automatically focuses on a target but may require manual adjustment
  • Laser-assisted auto focus: Uses a built-in laser distance meter to calculate distance to the target
  • Multifocal: Captures and stores multiple images of the target from varying focal distances and uses software to blend them into one image with ultra-sharp depth of field detail. Fluke Corp., for example, calls its implementation of this technology MultiSharp™ Focus
Color scale based on temperature for thermal imagers
Fluke TI300 thermal imager being held by a gloved hand, aimed at a valve
3
Temperature range

The highest and lowest temperature you encounter in your inspection determines the temperature range you need from your thermal imager. Or, select a camera with a wide temperature range that automatically selects the range based on your scene, or allows you to manually select the temperature range.

4
Lens options

A camera that lets you change lenses increases your versatility, allowing you to inspect many more types of equipment and situations. There are lots of choices for lots of applications—standard, wide angle, telephoto, and macro.

5
Saving images and additional data

Save infrared and digital images and in some cases voice notes to internal memory, a removable SD card, or to a USB flash drive. It’s important to have the flexibility to save images and additional related data to different media for backup or sharing.

6
Color palettes

Slight differences are easier to see with a monochromatic palette, such as grayscale or amber. High contrast palettes can make it easier to quickly find obvious anomalies. You should be able to change the palette in the camera or in the software.

7
Color alarms

Use these to quickly highlight areas outside your normal temperature ranges.

8
Emissivity and reflected temperatures

Low emissivity surfaces, such as shiny metals, can reflect infrared energy from other objects and throw off your image and your measurement accuracy. So, look for the option to adjust parameters when choosing an imager.

9
Spot markers

Mark specific temperatures on your image to compare simultaneous temperatures from multiple points on the same image.

10
Battery type and life

Look for a battery with useful features such a charge level indicator. Nothing is worse than starting an inspection with no idea of the battery status. Also consider long battery life and quick charging ability.

Color palettes options available on a thermal imager, depending on your application

Check out the different color palettes available on your thermal imager!

Viewing homes through thermal imager, displaying heat signatures

View your home through the eyes of a thermal imager and and see where the hot and cold spots are.


Use of infrared thermography in electronics

By Sat Sandhu, Fluke

Electronic circuits and components come in a variety of shapes and forms. All electronics operate with current flowing, which in turn leads to power dissipation. This power dissipation manifests itself primarily in the form of heat. Hence a key factor in the design, tests, verification and troubleshooting of all electronics, is heat management. With increasing circuit complexity and or reduction in size, heat management of electronics is taking on a more significant role in the design phase and also in the subsequent phases of test, verification and troubleshooting.

Thermal imaging cameras (TI) are an ideal tool to use in mapping out the heat patterns on electronic circuits and components. Two major advantages of Thermal imaging over contact temperature measurement devices are:

  1. The ability to measure temperatures without making contact with the circuit or component, thus ensuring that the temperature of the object is not affected.
  2. The ability to view a large area or even the whole circuit or component, rather than measuring a single point.

If you would like to learn more about:

  • Thermal imaging
  • Electronic circuits and components
  • Sources of heat in electronics
  • Importance of heat
  • Emissivity
  • And more
Read more
Anatomy of an infrared camera

Detailed anatomy of an infrared camera


Using thermal imaging to troubleshoot motors and drives

By Sat Sandhu, Fluke

Infrared cameras, also called thermal imagers, are useful for troubleshooting motor problems as well as for monitoring motor condition for preventative maintenance in power generation, manufacturing and commercial plants. Thermal images of motors reveal their operating condition as indicated by surface temperature. Such condition monitoring is important as a way to avert many unexpected motor malfunctions in systems that are critical to manufacturing.

The onset of motor failures can often be detected by a variety of techniques, including vibration, ultrasound and thermal imaging.

Thermal image of machinery

Thermal image of machinery

Why thermal imaging?

Thermal imaging is an effective way to assess equipment condition. Thermal imaging enables you to:

  • Inspect while the equipment is running
  • Verify repairs have been done properly
  • Inspect faster and from a safer distance
  • Improve repair efficiency

What to scan?

To get started in building heat profiles of your motors, it is a best practice to capture good quality infrared images when the motors are running under normal operating conditions. That gives you baseline measurements of the temperature of components. An infrared camera can capture temperatures of all the critical components: motor, shaft coupling, motor and shaft bearings, and the gearbox.

When you are working with low electrical loads, the indications of a problem may be subtle. Thus a minimum of 40% of design load is recommended (National Fire Protection Association NFPA 70B), and the higher the load, the better. When inspecting in low load situations, be sure to note all possible problems, even if they reflect only a small temperature difference. As a load increases, the temperature will increase too and if a problem exists, expect greater temperature differences at higher loads.


Thermal image of alignment issue on a motor coupling

Coupling: This image shows an alignment issue on a motor coupling.

Angular misalignment

Angular misalignment
The centerline of the two shafts intersect are not parallel.

Thermal image of heat pattern indicates an operational motor

Combo: This heat pattern indicates an operational motor.

Parallel misalignment

Parallel misalignment
The centerline of the two shafts are parallel but not concentric.

What to look for?

All motors should list the normal operating temperature on the nameplate. Abnormal temperatures, which will show up on a thermal imaging inspection, can be an indication of:

Inadequate cooling because of insufficient air flow. Clearing this issue may only require minor cleaning on the air intake grills.

Power quality issues such as unbalanced voltage or overload or harmonics. All of these will cause excessive heat dissipation.

Impending bearing failure. An overheating bearing is an indication of an impending bearing failure. Bearing condition degrade for a number of reasons:

  • Heavier than anticipated loading
  • Inadequate or incorrect lubrication
  • Ineffective sealing
  • Shaft misalignment
  • Incorrect fit

Insulation failure. With failing insulation of the motor windings the overall motor temperature increases this overheating causes failures and reduces insulation time.

Shaft misalignment. Most misalignment cases are a combination of parallel and angular misalignment (see images above).

Creating regular inspection routes that include thermal images of all critical motor/drive combinations and tracking to those baseline images will help you determine whether a hotspot is unusual or not, and help you verify if the repairs were successful.

Click on a category to view a selection of compatible accessories with the Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imager, 120 x 90, 9 Hz.

Fluke TB25 Tool Bucket Organizer Bag, 5.2 gal TB25
Durable and rugged, this tool bucket organizer bag has a 5.2-gallon capacity that can be relied on to protect and safely carry a variety of test tools and accessories. With its waterproof hard bottom shell, this versatile organizer has a total of 28 pockets that can fit hand tools, DMMs, clamp meters, test probes, and more.




Ask a question about Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imager, 120 x 90, 9 Hz

Customer Reviews for the Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C

Small enough to carry in your pocket, this thermal camera provides enhanced infrared inspections and features a 3.5" (88 mm) LCD touchscreen. Blend a visible light image with an infrared image with IR-Fusion™ for easy troubleshooting. Simply slide your finger across the screen to adjust the setting.

Features

  • Continuous touchscreen IR-Fusion™, slide your finger across the screen to adjust the setting
  • Automatically organize and file thermal images with Fluke Connect™ Asset Tagging
  • Fully radiometric thermal imager with 120 x 90 infrared resolution (10,800 pixels)
  • 3.5" (88 mm) LCD touchscreen display for easy troubleshooting
  • Can withstand drop up to 1 meter
  • Water and dust resistant
  • ”
  • IP54 enclosure rating
  • -4 to 752°F (-20 to 400°C) temperature measurement range
  • Six color palettes
  • Can withstand drop up to 1 m
  • IP 54 enclosure rating

Rugged, portable camera for industrial inspection

  • Small enough to carry every day without worry
  • Stands up to dirt and water
  • Quick scans of electrical equipment, machinery and other assets
  • Can survive a 1-meter drop

IR-Fusion

  • The 3.5" (88 mm) LCD touchscreen offers IR-Fusion to blend a visible light image with an infrared image to more easily locate problems
  • Adjust the setting with a swipe of your finger

Fluke Connect

  • Eliminate hours at the computer organizing your thermal images, let Asset Tagging do all that work for you
  • Just scan a QR code on your asset, capture your thermal images and they are automatically sorted
  • No more dragging and dropping or renaming files in the office
  • Start spending your time analyzing your images and creating reports instead of sorting your files one at a time

Applications

  • Electrical inspections
  • HVAC/R inspections
  • Mechanical
  • Residential home inspections
  • Light commercial maintenance
  • Building diagnostics - building envelope and commercial/industrial facilities

The importance of image quality in thermography

When conducting infrared inspections, high-quality images that allow for better analysis, presentation, and professionalism are essential.

With a sharply focused image, there is a distinct contrast between areas of varying thermal energy on the surface being inspected. This allows the individual detector elements (also known as pixels) to clearly report the intensity of the energy being focused on them.

When the focus is poor, the incoming energy isn't as concentrated on individual detectors, and their response is skewed. This can lead to temperature measurements that are significantly off, resulting in expensive downtime and possible safety hazards.

Thermal imagers are made with 100% diamond-turned germanium lenses covered with a specialty coating, providing premium quality images.

Fluke PTi120 Thermal Imager capturing a thermal image
Thermal image of machinery
Diamond-turned germanium lenses

Thermal image using Fluke's LaserSharp™ Auto Focus

LaserSharp Auto Focus allows you to select and focus on a specific target

Easily choose and focus on your target

LaserSharp™ Auto Focus uses a built-in laser distance meter that provides both speed and precision. The laser-driven target detection pinpoints the target while the camera focuses to capture a precise, high-quality image. With LaserSharp Auto Focus, you can:

  • Easily capture high-quality, focused images of your desired target with the push of a button
  • Take infrared images through common obstacles like chain link fences
  • Avoid skewed temperature measurements by precisely choosing your target
  • Perform the same inspections multiple times as a part of your preventive maintenance program - the built-in laser distance meter calculates and displays how far you are from your target, making repeatability much easier

Choose multiple targets at different distances

MultiSharp™ Focus takes multiple images from different focal distances and combines them into one clear image. With a simple point and shoot, you can go from being completely out of focus, to complete focus, throughout the field of view. With MultiSharp:

  • Reduce the need to take individual images of targets that are in the camera's field of view - focus on one target, and all objects that are in the camera's field of view will be in focus
  • Cut downtime spent taking multiple images to increase productivity
  • Capture quality, in-focus images, even under direct sunlight
Thermal image showing three target points
Thermal image focusing on the center of three target points

1.Middleground in focus

Thermal image focusing on the foreground of three target points

2.Foreground in focus

Thermal image focusing on the background of three target points

3.Background in focus


Shoot from a distance

Infrared inspections can take you into multiple types of environments with many types of equipment. Interchangeable lenses that require no calibration give you the versatility and the image quality needed to conduct inspections in almost any environment.

  • Reduce the need to enter the danger zone with a 2x telephoto lens
  • Identify potential issues as small and distant as a failed splice on a high electrical line from the ground with a 4x telephoto lens
  • Save time with roofing and industrial building inspections by viewing a large area at one time with a wide-angle lens
Thermal image of an electrical power line pole with standard lens

High voltage power pole, captured with a TiX560 camera and standard lens

Thermal image of an electrical power line pole with 2X lens

The same power pole captured from the same distance, but with a 2x telephoto lens

Thermal image of an electrical power line pole with 4X lens

The same power pole captured from the same distance, but with a 4x telephoto lens

Easily manage and analyze your data

Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access to more information faster is always a big benefit.

Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access on mobile to more information faster is always a big benefit.
Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access on your camera to more information faster is always a big benefit.
Whether you are troubleshooting or conducting maintenance inspections, having easy access at the office to more information faster is always a big benefit.

Document information on the equipment you're inspecting

With IR PhotoNotes™, voice or text annotation, you can easily document critical information about each piece of equipment and its location. Each "note" attaches to the image, so you never have to search or match up notes to images.

  • Document critical information with your infrared image
  • Capture surrounding details like wind conditions and time of day
  • Identify asset location
Document Critical Information with IR PhotoNotes™ Document Critical Information with IR PhotoNotes™

Image Info

IR Sensor Size 320 x 240
Distance to Target 0.69 m

Main Image Markers

Name Temperature
Centerpoint 29.1°C

Capture digital and infrared images at once

IR Fusion™ technology combines visible light and an infrared image into one, giving you better clarity.

  • Get exact location details in picture-in-picture mode, which provides the center part of the display in IR and the remainder of the image in visible light
  • See more details when you adjust the level of infrared and visible light blending in AutoBlend™ mode
  • Isolate problem areas with user-defined temperature ranges with IR color alarms
Image with IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode ironbow

IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode: Ironbow palette

Image with IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode AutoBlend

IR Fusion picture-in-picture mode: AutoBlend

Image with IR Fusion color alarm

IR Fusion color alarm

ROI and thermal imaging

Seven benefits of on-site infrared inspections

  1. Reduce downtime
    Inspections can be done while equipment is running - no lost production time.
  2. Protect lives while doing more
    The non-contact nature of infrared inspections allows technicians to scan large areas quickly, from a safer distance away. That means technicians can inspect more equipment faster.
  3. Improve production efficiency
    Subtle problems are found and addressed before they have a major impact on production.
  4. Document before and after
    Validate post-maintenance work and capture the results for future review.
  5. Reduce capital expenses
    Finding and repairing problems at an early stage can improve the life expectancy of equipment, as a result extending replacement intervals.
  6. Increase productivity
    Quickly scan a large area to find air leaks, insulation gaps, moisture and overheated electrical components to complete more work in less time.
  7. Identify work in easy-to-understand terms
    See exactly what the problem is on the camera, eliminating guesswork and making it easier for everyone to see what repairs needs to be done.
Comparing two thermal images to the baseline reading

Review thermal images side by side, making it easy to compare today's reading with the baseline or other historical images.

Using Fluke Thermal Imaging to Troubleshoot Motors & Drives

Infrared cameras, also called thermal imagers, are useful for troubleshooting motor problems as well as for monitoring motor condition for preventative maintenance in power generation, manufacturing and commercial plants. Thermal images of motors reveal their operating condition as indicated by surface temperature. Such condition monitoring is important as a way to avert many unexpected motor malfunctions in systems that are critical to manufacturing. The onset of motor failures can often be detected by a variety of techniques, including vibration, ultrasound and thermal imaging.

In this article, we cover why use thermal imaging and what to scan, as well as some notes on what to look for, including shaft misalignment.

Read the Article
Facilities Maintenance Challenges and the Fluke Solutions

Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C Specifications

Key Features
Infrared Resolution 120 x 90 (10,800 pixels)
IFOV (Spatial Resolution) 7.6 mRad
Field of View 50 x 38°
Minimum Focus Distance 29" (50 cm)
Focus System Fixed focus
Data transfer Mini USB used to transfer image to PC
Wireless Connectivity Yes, (802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz))
Image Quality
IR-Fusion Technology AutoBlend continuous 0 to 100%
Adds the context of the visible details to your infrared image
Display 3.5" (8.89 cm) LCD touchscreen (landscape)
Resolution: 320 x 240
Thermal Sensitivity (NETD) 60 mK
Frame Rate 9 Hz
Data Storage and Image Capture
Memory ≥2 GB internal flash memory
Image Capture, Review, Save Mechanism One-handed image capture, review, and save capability
Software Fluke Connect desktop software—full analysis and reporting software with access to the Fluke Connect system
Temperature Measurement
Temperature Measurement Range (Not Calibrated Below -10°C) -4 to 752°F (-20 to 150°C)
Accuracy Target temperature at or over 0°C: Accuracy: ±2°C or ±2% at 25°C, whichever is the greater
On-screen Emissivity Correction Yes via material selection
On-screen Reflected Background Temperature Compensation Yes
Center-Point Temperature Yes
Spot Temperature Hot and cold spot markers
General Specifications
Standard Color Palettes Ironbow, blue-red, high contrast, amber, hot metal, grayscale
Infrared Spectral Band 8 to 14 μm (long wave)
Temperature Operating: 14 to 122°F (-10 to +50°C)
Storage: -40 to 158°F (-40 to +70°C)
Relative Humidity 95% non-condensing
Safety IEC 61010-1: Pollution Degree 2
Electromagnetic Compatibility EN 61326-1, CISPR 11: Group 1, Class A
Vibration and Shock 10 to 150 Hz, 0.15 mm, IEC 60068-2-6; 30 g, 11 ms, IEC 60068-2-27
Drop Engineered to withstand 1 meter drop
Battery Type: Internal rechargeable lithium ion battery
Life: >2 hours continuous (without Wi-Fi)
System: Micro USB port
Dimensions 3.5 x 5 x 1" (8.9 x 12.7 x 2.5 cm)
Weight 0.514 lbs (0.233 kg)
Click here for complete specifications on the Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C

What's included with the Fluke PTI120 9HZ 400C

  • Thermal Imager
  • USB Cable
  • Adjustable Lanyard
  • Soft Carrying Case
This product features Fluke Connect Technology

See it. Save it. Share it. All the facts, right in the field.

Fluke engineers have delivered an innovative mobile platform and tool that helps solve everyday problems, allowing you to instantly document measurements, retrieve historical data, and share live measurements with your team. All handled by the Android™ or iOS smart phone you already carry.

Fluke Connect with ShareLive™ video call is the only wireless measurement system that lets you stay in contact with your entire team without leaving the field. The Fluke Connect mobile app is works with over 20 different Fluke products - the largest suite of connected test tools in the world.

Make the best decisions faster than ever before by viewing temperature, mechanical, electrical and vibration measurements for each equipment asset in one place. Get started saving time and increasing your productivity.


Fluke Connect Features:

  • TrendIt™ Graphs: Use graphing to show changes in measurements, allowing you to graph and show problems instantly.
  • EquipmentLog™ History: Access equipment history building a database of equipment health and baselines with cloud backup.
  • ShareLive™ Video Calls: Save, collaborate and share measurements instantly with your team anytime, from anywhere.
  • AutoRecord™ Measurements: Instantly save measurements to your phone with Cloud backup.
  • Fluke Cloud™ Storage: Securely access equipment records anywhere, anytime.

Fluke Connect Benefits:

  • Maximize uptime
  • Minimize maintenance costs
  • Better assessments with accurate records
  • Higher efficiency with less walking around; no notebook and excel needed
  • Share troubleshooting knowledge live
  • Create and share helpful content in the field
  • Access to Fluke digital product manuals means no need to carry manuals in the field
  • Keep organized manually entered measurements

10 things you need to know about Thermal Imagers

Whether you choose a simple point-and-shoot model or a high-end thermal imager with all the bells and whistles, here are some key features and specs you should consider:

1
Resolution
  • Detector resolution indicates the number of detector pixels on the camera. More pixels, means higher resolution
  • Spatial resolution is based on detector pixels and the field of view (FOV) spec, combining them to define the area the imager sees at any given moment. Spatial resolution can be used to help define the smallest object size that can be detected. A lower spatial resolution value means better detail and image quality
2
Focus

With a variety of focus mechanisms to choose from, it is important to take into account your skill level as well as the application in selecting a focus type. Here are the common focus mechanisms:

  • Fixed: Point and shoot simplicity
  • Manual: Precise incremental focus
  • Auto focus: Automatically focuses on a target but may require manual adjustment
  • Laser-assisted auto focus: Uses a built-in laser distance meter to calculate distance to the target
  • Multifocal: Captures and stores multiple images of the target from varying focal distances and uses software to blend them into one image with ultra-sharp depth of field detail. Fluke Corp., for example, calls its implementation of this technology MultiSharp™ Focus
Color scale based on temperature for thermal imagers
Fluke TI300 thermal imager being held by a gloved hand, aimed at a valve
3
Temperature range

The highest and lowest temperature you encounter in your inspection determines the temperature range you need from your thermal imager. Or, select a camera with a wide temperature range that automatically selects the range based on your scene, or allows you to manually select the temperature range.

4
Lens options

A camera that lets you change lenses increases your versatility, allowing you to inspect many more types of equipment and situations. There are lots of choices for lots of applications—standard, wide angle, telephoto, and macro.

5
Saving images and additional data

Save infrared and digital images and in some cases voice notes to internal memory, a removable SD card, or to a USB flash drive. It’s important to have the flexibility to save images and additional related data to different media for backup or sharing.

6
Color palettes

Slight differences are easier to see with a monochromatic palette, such as grayscale or amber. High contrast palettes can make it easier to quickly find obvious anomalies. You should be able to change the palette in the camera or in the software.

7
Color alarms

Use these to quickly highlight areas outside your normal temperature ranges.

8
Emissivity and reflected temperatures

Low emissivity surfaces, such as shiny metals, can reflect infrared energy from other objects and throw off your image and your measurement accuracy. So, look for the option to adjust parameters when choosing an imager.

9
Spot markers

Mark specific temperatures on your image to compare simultaneous temperatures from multiple points on the same image.

10
Battery type and life

Look for a battery with useful features such a charge level indicator. Nothing is worse than starting an inspection with no idea of the battery status. Also consider long battery life and quick charging ability.

Color palettes options available on a thermal imager, depending on your application

Check out the different color palettes available on your thermal imager!

Viewing homes through thermal imager, displaying heat signatures

View your home through the eyes of a thermal imager and and see where the hot and cold spots are.


Use of infrared thermography in electronics

By Sat Sandhu, Fluke

Electronic circuits and components come in a variety of shapes and forms. All electronics operate with current flowing, which in turn leads to power dissipation. This power dissipation manifests itself primarily in the form of heat. Hence a key factor in the design, tests, verification and troubleshooting of all electronics, is heat management. With increasing circuit complexity and or reduction in size, heat management of electronics is taking on a more significant role in the design phase and also in the subsequent phases of test, verification and troubleshooting.

Thermal imaging cameras (TI) are an ideal tool to use in mapping out the heat patterns on electronic circuits and components. Two major advantages of Thermal imaging over contact temperature measurement devices are:

  1. The ability to measure temperatures without making contact with the circuit or component, thus ensuring that the temperature of the object is not affected.
  2. The ability to view a large area or even the whole circuit or component, rather than measuring a single point.

If you would like to learn more about:

  • Thermal imaging
  • Electronic circuits and components
  • Sources of heat in electronics
  • Importance of heat
  • Emissivity
  • And more
Read more
Anatomy of an infrared camera

Detailed anatomy of an infrared camera


Using thermal imaging to troubleshoot motors and drives

By Sat Sandhu, Fluke

Infrared cameras, also called thermal imagers, are useful for troubleshooting motor problems as well as for monitoring motor condition for preventative maintenance in power generation, manufacturing and commercial plants. Thermal images of motors reveal their operating condition as indicated by surface temperature. Such condition monitoring is important as a way to avert many unexpected motor malfunctions in systems that are critical to manufacturing.

The onset of motor failures can often be detected by a variety of techniques, including vibration, ultrasound and thermal imaging.

Thermal image of machinery

Thermal image of machinery

Why thermal imaging?

Thermal imaging is an effective way to assess equipment condition. Thermal imaging enables you to:

  • Inspect while the equipment is running
  • Verify repairs have been done properly
  • Inspect faster and from a safer distance
  • Improve repair efficiency

What to scan?

To get started in building heat profiles of your motors, it is a best practice to capture good quality infrared images when the motors are running under normal operating conditions. That gives you baseline measurements of the temperature of components. An infrared camera can capture temperatures of all the critical components: motor, shaft coupling, motor and shaft bearings, and the gearbox.

When you are working with low electrical loads, the indications of a problem may be subtle. Thus a minimum of 40% of design load is recommended (National Fire Protection Association NFPA 70B), and the higher the load, the better. When inspecting in low load situations, be sure to note all possible problems, even if they reflect only a small temperature difference. As a load increases, the temperature will increase too and if a problem exists, expect greater temperature differences at higher loads.


Thermal image of alignment issue on a motor coupling

Coupling: This image shows an alignment issue on a motor coupling.

Angular misalignment

Angular misalignment
The centerline of the two shafts intersect are not parallel.

Thermal image of heat pattern indicates an operational motor

Combo: This heat pattern indicates an operational motor.

Parallel misalignment

Parallel misalignment
The centerline of the two shafts are parallel but not concentric.

What to look for?

All motors should list the normal operating temperature on the nameplate. Abnormal temperatures, which will show up on a thermal imaging inspection, can be an indication of:

Inadequate cooling because of insufficient air flow. Clearing this issue may only require minor cleaning on the air intake grills.

Power quality issues such as unbalanced voltage or overload or harmonics. All of these will cause excessive heat dissipation.

Impending bearing failure. An overheating bearing is an indication of an impending bearing failure. Bearing condition degrade for a number of reasons:

  • Heavier than anticipated loading
  • Inadequate or incorrect lubrication
  • Ineffective sealing
  • Shaft misalignment
  • Incorrect fit

Insulation failure. With failing insulation of the motor windings the overall motor temperature increases this overheating causes failures and reduces insulation time.

Shaft misalignment. Most misalignment cases are a combination of parallel and angular misalignment (see images above).

Creating regular inspection routes that include thermal images of all critical motor/drive combinations and tracking to those baseline images will help you determine whether a hotspot is unusual or not, and help you verify if the repairs were successful.

Click on a category to view a selection of compatible accessories with the Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imager, 120 x 90, 9 Hz.

Fluke TB25 Tool Bucket Organizer Bag, 5.2 gal TB25
Durable and rugged, this tool bucket organizer bag has a 5.2-gallon capacity that can be relied on to protect and safely carry a variety of test tools and accessories. With its waterproof hard bottom shell, this versatile organizer has a total of 28 pockets that can fit hand tools, DMMs, clamp meters, test probes, and more.




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