Greg Bork, president of FLIR Systems Canada, commented about their participation in the upcoming event, “We’re excited to be attending MCEE, especially with the combined participation of two major trade events. At FLIR, we’re discovering that the current economic conditions have made the wide-ranging line of Extech test and measurement instruments all the more relevant for master HVAC and mechanical contractors who need to get the job done while sticking to their budget for durable, high quality tools.” Bork added, “Some customers will always shop by brand, but more and more test equipment buyers are doing their homework, comparing specs and product reviews before opening their wallets. These professionals invariably discover the unbeatable value of Extech’s robust testers and meters.”

Affordable Thermal Imaging: The $1,995 Extech i5 Infrared Camera

Designed with legendary FLIR Systems technology, the Extech i5 compact infrared camera is an easy-to-use and affordable troubleshooting tool for high quality thermal imaging. With 2% accuracy and focus-free viewing, the Extech i5 helps electrical contractors find overheating in electrical panels and transformers. HVAC and mechanical professionals use Extech i5 imagers to monitor motors, fans, steam traps, and bearings as a key part of predictive maintenance. At $1,995, the Extech i5 shatters price/performance barriers as the most cost-effective thermal imaging camera on the market.

6,400 pixel IR resolution and a large 2.8″ color display pinpoint problems fast, critical for plant-wide condition monitoring. The ergonomic, pocket-sized 12 oz. design is double-molded and splashproof, making it as rugged as it is lightweight. With 5,000 image storage in the easy-to-share JPEG format, the Extech i5 helps users report compelling findings before they become hazardous and/or expensive. In this economy, you can’t afford not to have one.

About Extech’s Affordable, Award-Winning Test Equipment for the Mechanical, HVAC, Electrical, Lighting and Industrial Markets

Thanks to FLIR Systems’ Canadian distribution of Extech’s line, HVAC/R, mechanical, electrical, and plant/MRO professionals in Canada now have a choice when it comes to choosing high-quality and affordable test and measurement equipment. Extech’s patented, built-in infrared technology can be found in their durable and accurate digital multimeters (DMMs), clamp-on meters, tachometers, thermometers, plus over 300 other precision test instruments.

For example, winner of the Gold Industrial Electronics Innovation and Technology Award, Extech’s EX623 5-in-1 clamp meter is specifically designed for HVAC/R and electrical professionals in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial settings. The EX623 accurately measures AC and DC current, voltage, and temperatures for troubleshooting both new installations and preventive/ongoing maintenance and repairs. No other clamp meter offers the convenience and versatility of 5 meters in one instrument: AC/DC clamp meter; advanced, True RMS multimeter; infrared thermometer (Extech-patented); non-contact voltage detector; and dual Type-K thermometer. Get more done with a 5-in-1!

To learn more visit the complete Extech catalog.

Extech Handheld Gas Detectors Used to Find Leaks Fast

In the past three months, three homes in Massachusetts succumbed to explosions due to natural gas leaks. In the aftermath, two individuals died and a third was severely injured. According to a February 21, 2009 report in the Boston Globe, “Nationally, between 1998 and 2008, 323 people died and 1,341 were injured as the result of gas leaks or explosions, according to the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Over the same period in Massachusetts, six people died and 12 were injured as a result of leaks and explosions.”

Extech EzFlex Combustible Gas Detector

While the three recent Massachusetts house explosion incidents do not appear to be linked in the eyes of officials and investigators, the increased frequency has raised concerns among gas customers and industry analysts that thousands of miles of gas pipelines and utility lines may be corroding, increasingly becoming prone to leaks. Such a potential public hazard endangers not only the lives of those in homes but also workers in business and industrial sites.

How Extech Gas Leak Detectors Can Help

As the awareness of the hazards of natural gas leaks increases, professionals in utilities, facilities maintenance, and public safety, as well as individual consumers, are using Extech’s compact, handheld gas leak detectors to quickly pinpoint the source of leaks.

For individuals who are responsible for finding gas leaks in structures such as plants, factories, schools, office buildings, and homes, or leaks in equipment that store or use gas, a gas leak detector is one of the most important tools available. These compact, handheld devices quickly identify and pinpoint gas leaks. The Extech EzFlex™ Combustible Gas Detector (model EZ40) features a flexible 16″ gooseneck for easy access into hard to reach locations. The EZ40’s adjustable sensitivity enables a user to listen to a ticking tone that increases in frequency as the user gets closer to the source of the leak. When gas levels reach 10% (Lower Explosive Limit), a warbling alarm and blinking LED are triggered.

For more general purpose use, troubleshooting gas leaks in smaller, natural and propane gas containers used with items such as soldering torches, lighters, and camping equipment, the pen-sized FG100 model from Extech is particularly versatile. The highly sensitive detector alerts users with audible and visual alarms. And, with a convenient pocket clip, the FG100 detector fits easily in a shirt pocket.

Tips for Responding to a Gas Leak

Public officials and utility representatives emphasize that gas explosion incidents are very, very rare, and have actually declined significantly in the last decade. Still, it is important to prepare a responsive approach to gas leaks in homes as well as business and industrial buildings.

Here are key points to remember if you suspect a gas leak:

• Since natural gas is colorless and odorless, a strong and distinctive scent is added, similar to rotten eggs, to make gas leaks easier to notice.
• If you can smell gas, do not use anything electrical, including light switches and telephones, nor anything that could create a flame or spark.
• Alert others and get out of the building as quickly as possible.
• Away from the building, contact emergency authorities or the gas utility immediately. Many states have strict requirements that utilities must respond to such calls in 60 minutes or less. In workplace plant settings, notify your plant manager immediately.
• Add emergency contact numbers to your cell phone contact list now for easy reference in an emergency.
• For professionals investigating gas leaks, a handheld gas detector that couples high sensitivity with both audio and visual alerts can help pinpoint the source of leaks expediently.

The two detectors listed above retail for $99.99 (EZ40) and $59.99 (FG100). For additional product specifications and applications, visit Extech.

Point #1: Buy an infrared camera that delivers accurate, repeatable results.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but if ever the phrase caveat emptor –i.e. “let the buyer beware” – it is here!

Point #2: Buy an infrared camera with high detector resolution/image quality.

Just like buying a digital camera, the more pixels, the better the resolution, and the sharper the thermal image.

Point #3: Buy an infrared camera where you can change the battery yourself.

This is one of the most important aspects of usability after you buy your new infrared camera. It’s also one of those items that is hard to process until after you’ve been working with your camera for awhile and you realize what a limitation it is if you can’t change your own battery.

Point #4: Buy an infrared camera that outputs standard JPEG format.

This point is short on text to explain, but long on being a clear benefit to end-users. Would you buy a computer that wasn’t Microsoft Word compatible? Of course not. You shouldn’t buy an infrared camera that requires additional software in order to convert their proprietary thermal image formats into a standard jpeg.

Point #5: Buy a lightweight, ergonomic infrared camera.

Material sciences, manufacturing robotics, and other key engineering factors will literally weigh on your decision of what infrared camera to purchase.

Point #6: Buy an infrared camera that incorporates a mega pixel visual camera with a built-in illuminator lamp to help clearly document your work.

Infrared cameras see in total darkness but visual cameras, as we all know, require well lighted conditions and high resolution to generate clear, sharp pictures.

Point #7: Buy an infrared camera with a built-in laser pointer.

Safety, convenience and ease-of-use are all good reasons to buy an infrared camera with a built-in laser pointer. These tend to be available on all cameras, except for the most basic, entry level models.

Point #8: Buy an infrared camera with software upgrade potential.

Today, most infrared cameras come with free software to help you analyze your images and create reports. By all accounts, they are a helpful tool made all the more necessary by both the corporate need to document findings, but also increasingly to use thermal images and reports to substantiate or trigger insurance claims, while the reports themselves are often sold to commercial and consumer customers for a wide range of inspections: energy audits, electrical inspections, gas detection surveys, building envelope analyses and predictive maintenance surveys.

Point #9: Buy an infrared camera with enhanced image fusion capabilities.

There’s been a lot of buzz about fusion capabilities with infrared cameras. Our thinking on fusion is if it doesn’t offer you more than just putting a fixed Picture-in-Picture (PiP) thermal overlay “box” over your visible image, then it may be more useful not to have it at all.

Point #10: Buy an infrared camera with a wide temperature range.

Here’s an easy one. When you buy an infrared camera, be sure that the temperature range it operates in is sufficient with the temperatures of the targets you will be viewing.

Point #11: Buy an infrared camera with upgrade potential

This is a no-brainer for any product you buy. This author is always trying to be sure that what I buy has an upgrade path or some type of formal trade-in/trade-up program.

Point #12: Buy an infrared camera from a manufacturer with strong post-sale technical support and certified training.

If you are new to the field of infrared cameras, you will obviously want to think about customer service and technical support after you’ve purchased.

Download the complete 12 Things To Know Before Buying an Infrared Camera (pdf).

If you have any questions give us a call (760) 444-0032 or shoot us an email contact [@} texsoinstruments.com.

Source: Flir Thermal Imagers

Rising energy costs are hitting American homes hard. The financial burden is only increasing, without any hope of declining. Now is an extremely important time to take all steps necessary to reduce the amount of energy used in the household. One way this can be accomplished is by using thermography. Thermography uses an infrared camera, also known as a thermal imager to capture two-dimensional representations of the surface temperatures of parts of buildings. These parts include roofs, walls, doors, windows and construction joints. These images will reveal temperatures or temperature differences that can contribute to wasting heated or cooled air. This waste results in extremely excessive energy costs. For this reason, using thermal cameras can be extremely valuable for energy inspections.

If you are involved in the energy inspection business, your business will increase dramatically by using thermal imagers. Paul Ellison owns an Inspection Service company in Phoenix, AZ and explains why he uses thermography for energy audits. He says thermal imaging allows for so many types of audits; he can use it for locating water penetration, finding air leaks in air-conditioning systems, air leaks in duct work, and pinpointing insulation deficits. Because wet areas heat and cool at different rates than dry areas, the imager is able to detect these areas. Not only will the thermal imagers identify and locate problems, but they can provide a visual representation that can be viewed by customers.

If you are in the energy inspection business, it is highly recommended to begin using thermal infrared cameras. If you are a home-owner, or even a business owner, getting an inspection done by a company who offers this service can lead to tremendous savings in home energy costs.