Next-gen compact thermal imaging camera offers faster and more reliable inspections

FLIR, a Teledyne Technologies company, has launched the C8 thermal imaging camera, a new device designed to improve compact thermal diagnostics with high clarity and rapid results. Improvements to the new-generation C8 include improved image quality, higher accuracy, improved sensitivity, and the addition of advanced reporting templates within Flir Ignite Pro.

Conventional thermal inspections can be slow, unclear, and hard to document, relying on manual processes that risk overlooking critical issues. The result of these inefficiencies can lead to higher maintenance costs, delayed repairs, and reduced productivity. The new device addresses these challenges with a rugged, easy-to-use form factor that puts powerful, high-resolution thermography into the hands of users, ensuring accurate, efficient, and standardised inspections. In addition, technicians can integrate FLIR Ignite Pro cloud connectivity and newly devised advanced reporting templates that not only streamline workflows and save time but also support easy collaboration.

New capabilities for the device include a 320 x 240 thermal resolution and a 35° horizontal field of view, which increase the number of pixels on the target and enhance image clarity. In combination with the company's patented MSX detail enhancement technology, sharp thermal images become the norm, in turn supporting faster fault and anomaly detection for more accurate diagnostics.

"Users of our C8 can enjoy up to 40-50% quicker inspections, helping to cut labour and downtime costs," revealed John Gould, director - Global Business Development - Condition Monitoring. "Identifying faults faster and acting sooner reduces expensive outages and unplanned repairs, while confidence in consistent, reliable results is assured thanks to high resolution and high thermal sensitivity. Furthermore, isotherm alarms instantly highlight when temperatures cross set limits, helping users quickly identify potential issues."

Offering an easy way to document and share findings with others, users can cut their reporting time by 20-40% through integration with Flir Ignite Pro. This secure cloud storage and reporting software for professional thermographers means technicians can automatically upload inspection images to the cloud for processing and analysis.

Connected workflows through automatic cloud uploads and purpose-built report templates speed documentation and sharing while eradicating manual steps and any potential for data loss. Users can subsequently focus on problem-solving rather than paperwork.

A durable, easy-to-handle form factor meets industrial standards for drop (2m, 6ft 7in) and ingress protection (IP54), ensuring the device is ready for demanding operating environments.

Applications include:

• Electrical and mechanical maintenance activities: Inspection professionals can quickly take advantage of the Flir C8 to detect faults and issues in factories, process plants, commercial facilities, and utilities to prevent downtime and extend equipment life.
• Building diagnostics: Users can perform thorough inspections of electrical systems, HVAC components, plumbing systems, and structural elements to identify hidden problems and improve building performance. The Flir C8 is ideal for restoration projects.
• Vehicle inspection: Technicians can easily inspect engines, exhaust systems, and other hard-to-reach automotive components to detect wear and potential failures before they escalate. Those tasked with electrical vehicle diagnostics are also set to benefit from the new-generation C8, which features a 5MP visual camera with digital zoom.

Notably, the intuitive, user-friendly 3.5" touchscreen interface empowers users of all skill levels to perform expert inspections.

Also new to the company is the latest-generation C8 compact thermal imaging camera, which offers increased accuracy of ±2C @ 0C to a newly elevated 450C maximum object temperature. Higher sensitivity (NETD <50mk) and streaming over USB are further additions to the extensive list of capabilities.

The Flir C8, which carries a two-year battery warranty and ten-year detector warranty, comes complete with a wrist strap, lanyard, pouch, and USB Type-C cable.