Common Mistakes You Need To Avoid As A New Thermographer

Even with the best thermal imaging cameras in Australia, you might not be able to achieve quality images if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. Even professional thermographers make mistakes, but novices make simple mistakes that largely affect the final product. It is part of the learning process and it is essential to train with a thermal camera. Read this guide to know some of the most common errors that new thermographers make, especially those that aren’t properly trained.

Poor image adjustment or poor focus

It is very hard to interpret an image that is out of focus. The image also displays the wrong temperature. You should ensure that focus is perfect before saving it. When it comes to focusing, you cannot just say that it is good enough. The image is either in focus or out of focus and you cannot use an image that is out of focus.

Incorrect temperature parameters

Setting the right reflected temperature and emissivity values in your camera is very important if you want to be accurate in terms of temperature measurements. Reflected temperature, emissivity, and other object parameters should be adjusted correctly, otherwise, your measurement will be very off.

Failure to understand radiation science

If you are new to thermal imaging then it is important to understand that thermal imagers are usually passive. This means that they detect infrared radiation coming from the target. This means that what we see through thermal imaging cameras is not limited to the heat emitted by the object but can also be the result of the energy reflected from other different sources. This could cause some surfaces to appear cooler or warmer than their true temperature.

Dismissal of small temperature differences

A lot of infrared programs typically rely on the measurements of a temperature difference as their reference points when it comes to assessing the severity of the issue. They do so without realising what they are seeing could be a lot hotter than what is displayed in the thermal imaging camera. For example, shiny metallic surfaces have a low emissivity and this means that they may give false apparent temperature readings.

Failing to buy enough cameras

This is the biggest mistake you can make as a thermographer. This mistake is made by people who are new to thermal imaging technology. They fail to buy the right cameras. If you want to achieve the best images, it is important to invest in a powerful camera.

This is something that could cost you a lot of money in the long run. It is tempting to purchase a cheap camera but you need to bear in mind that not all thermal imaging cameras are the same. A great example is a resolution. A cheap camera will not have a good resolution. In building envelope inspections, if you don’t have sufficient resolution then it means that you might miss small insulation voids.

This does not mean you shouldn’t consider cheap thermal imaging cameras in Australia. An entry-level thermal imaging camera has a lot of great uses but some applications demand better specifications.