Flir b Series vs. i Series?

Specific Inspection Topics Thermal Imaging, Infrared Cameras & Energy Audits
1

I am looking to finally break down and buy a camera in the next couple of months and am pretty set on getting a Flir. I am looking at 4 different models and haven’t decided on what major features I want. I am a little confused about the i Series and b Series. They specs look like they are exactly the same cameras except in a different color casing. I am not seeing any real decernable difference between the two series.

For the record I am comparing the ThermaCAM SD vs. the InfraCAM SD and the i40 vs. the b40 models.

Can someone please tell me what the differences are between series that would make one better than the other for building envelope diagnostics?

Thanks

2

Hey Scott…you should talk to John McKenna before buying anything, he has a lot of good information, some he cannot post here (prices for cams).

I am going to finally buy one to…heck, they are half price compared to a year ago…kind of like our home prices here (half price compared to a year ago)----:lol:

3

Scott… I sent you a PM.

4

I have been researching Fluke cameras too. I have to decide what features I want and weigh the two manufactures over one another. I am still trying to decifer the difference between the Flir series though. Closest thing I can see from the spec sheets is the built in alarms the b series has that the i series doesn’t list in the spec sheets.

I like the Flir 40’s because of the built in visible light camera, but I think the Flukes have a better thermal sensitivity if I am not mistaken. I have used both and thought the Flukes provided a better picture and more information compared to the Flir.

5

Sounds like you are doing some good homework.

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I am going with Fluke myself Scott…even though I have not had both manufacturer models in my hand…from what I have heard from MANY people who have had the opportunity to use, or have both brands, 95% of the folks I spoke with all said Fluke…

7

Scott -

Major diff between B and I

B has better thermal sensitivity / I hits higher temps

8

Thanks Dan…Exactly what information I was after.

9

Scott
I had the same concerns on B or I I call Professional Equipment for the anser.
B cam betters for Home Inspection. I cam is best for equipment inspection
But I tried both Flir and the FLUKE. The FLUKE was much better and at a much much better price. Contack Tom Black at
www.tomwblack.com

Michael Ruffing

10

Scott-
Here is a break down on the differences between the cameras.
ICam and BCam SD cameras don’t have a built in digital camera. These cameras are the equivalent of an i40 or b40 respectively only no digital camera.
i Series- Higher temperature range. There are actually 2 different temperature ranges settings- -4 to 248 (which actually tops out at 302) and 32 to 662 (which actually tops out at about 698.)
b Series- only has the -4 to 248 range. Major key in these cameras is the insulation and dew point alarms. Left image shows the Insulation and the right image the Dew point.

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/b60Insulation.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/b60Light.jpg

There is no sensitivity difference between the i and b Series cameras per specification on all models 0.1C at 25C.

40 Series- 120x120 resolution or 14,400 pixels, No Laser Pointer, Fixed Picture In Picture (PIP) Fusion Size, 0.6M pixel built in digital camera with lighting
50 Series- 140x140 resolution or 19,600 pixels (which is the same as the FLUKE cameras), Laser Pointer and 3 step resizeable PIP Fusion, 2.3M pixel built in digital camera with lighting
60 Series- 180x180 resolution or 32,400, On screen marker for Laser Pointer, High and Cold Temperature markers for the HOT BOX square or on the entire screen, 2.3M pixel built in digital camera with lighting

These are i40 images (b40 image would be the same)

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/i40Dog.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/i40DogFusion.jpg

These are some b60 images

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/i60Dog.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/i60DogLrgFusion.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/i60DogSmlFusion.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/bi60LaserInfrared.jpg

You can see the box temperature measurement but on the last image you can see what the hot/cold marker is and also the laser marker dot.

Also all FLIR Cameras have built in LEDs, field replaceable batteries, and a pouch (additional accessory) for which comes in very handy when climbing ladders which are options that the FLUKE cameras don’t have.

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/b60NoLight.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/b60Light.jpg

Also all FLIR Images are standard radiometric jpegs so that means you don’t need another software (which the FLIR cameras have for free) to make reports. So that means you can put them into emails or whatever without ever going into another software. Files sizes are about 80-300kb (80k for a standard infrared and just over 300k for a Fusion image)

The images here came directly off the camera and made even smaller with a standard picture processing software so they transfer easier through the internet.

There are quite a few other things that I would be happy to share with you about the differences if you want to contact me.

OJ Utter
Level III itc Certified Thermographer
www.utterprecision.com

11

Scott,

If you decide on the BCAM SD I will ship you (no charge) a camera/visor mount that I invented.

Let me know, send me an e-mail.

12

Mr Utter -

I’m glad you clarified the Thermal Sensitivity of the I vs B series.

Many of us mistakenly believed what we read on Flir’s Spec Sheets on the Cameras - Such as the B-60 having a 0.08 sensitivity and the I-60 having a 0.1 sensitivity. Thanks for helping us with that.

13

I own the Flir B-2 (with the wide angle lens) which has a better resolution than the B-Cams.

If you’re interested in comparing the two cameras, I can email you a .PDF with comparisons on the B-2 and the B-Cams.

14

Great answers guys.

Next question I have is what camera has a better frame refresh rate. I can’t seem to find this information on any of the Flir data sheets. I found the information for the Fluke cameras though. I am looking for an inexpensive ($5000.00ish) camera that has good thermal sensitivity and a fast refresh rate so that I can do large area scans such as roof tops and moving objects such as bearings and motors.

15

Found that both the Flir and Fluke lower end models have a 9 Hz refresh rate. Guess that means it will take a little longer to do a large flat roof.

16

Scott-

Give me a little bit here and I will go see if I can take some video with my T250 seeing how as it is also a 9Hz so you can see the refresh rate in action.

Dan- My mistake on the sensitivity. It is 0.08 on the b60. The i60 is still very sensitive as it is more about the pixels. What the sensitivity does more than anything is it decrease your spot size for ifov. I have been wanting to calculate this but just haven’t done it, but when you are wanting to go to that level you’ll have to do more than find the best cheapest Level 1 course on through the internet.
Till then here are some images I took the other day to dial into this whole which is better thing. The 1st is from an i40, the 2nd a b60, the 3rd a T250, and the 4th a T400. All of which by the way I need to sell. Email me if you want to know more.

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/IR_0081.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/IR_0240.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/IR_0149.jpg

http://www.utterprecision.com/images/IR_0858.jpg

OJ Utter
Level III itc Thermographer
oj@upivib.com

17

OJ,

I like the resolution on the T400 but for 20 grand, I’ll stick with my B2.

18

A 9Hz refresh rate really has no bearing on how long it takes to conduct an inspection. It simply means that as you pan across a scene there is a slight blur. A blur also occurs with a 30Hz or 60Hz camera but it is less. In my experience you will not notice any appreciable problem at 9Hz.

Thermally yours,

John Snell
ASNT NDT Thermal/Infrared Level III #48166
Snell Infrared
800-636-9820
802-229-9820

http://www.IRTalk.com

19

“Thermally yours”

That signature is so cool. I like it. :wink:

20

I’m in the 6 month range for purchasing an IR cam …and this thread is making my head hurt! :lol: :lol: