PCE Inst PCE-TC 30N Thermal Imaging Camera User Manual

: June 6, 2024
: PCE Inst

Table of Contents

PCE Inst PCE-TC 30N Thermal Imaging Camera
Safety notes
Specifications
Delivery scope
System description
Control panel
Menu
Emissivities of common materials
Settings
Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Warranty
Disposal
PCE Instruments contact information
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

PCE Inst PCE-TC 30N Thermal Imaging Camera

Safety notes

Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel. Damage or injuries caused by non- observance of the manual are excluded from our liability and not covered by our warranty.

The device must only be used as described in this instruction manual. If used otherwise, this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.
The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or moisture.
Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.
The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.
Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.
You must not make any technical changes to the device.
The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral cleaner, no abrasives or solvents.
The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.
Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not use the device.
Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.
The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under any circumstances.
Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to the user.
Never aim the laser beam at people or animals.
Never look directly into the laser beam.
If the product is found to have smoke, sparks and a burning smell during use, stop using it immediately.
In such a case, first disconnect the meter from the power supply. After the smoke and the peculiar smell have completely disappeared, contact PCE Instruments.

We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual. We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of business. If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments. The contact details can be found at the end of this manual.

Specifications

Optical specifications

Temperature range| -20 … +450 °C (-4 °F … +842 °F)
Accuracy| ±2 °C or ±2 % of reading up to 300 °C

±5 % of reading at >300 °C

Field of view (FOV)| 35 ° x 26 °
Smallest focus distance| 0.15 m
Infrared resolution| 160 x 120 pixels
Thermal sensitivity| 0.07 °C
Wavelength range| 8 … µm
Focus| fixed focus
Calibration of the measurement| Auto
Number of spots| 3
Representation
Display| 2.8″ TFT; resolution: 240 x 320 pixels
Picture-in-picture function| Adjustable: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%
Frame rate| 9 Hz
Colour palettes| Spectrum / Iron / Cold / White / Black
Emissivity| Variable 0.01 … 1.0
Memory
Image memory| Internal SD card 3 GB for more than 20000 images
Image format| JPG
Settings
Setting options| Automatic Shutdown, intensity (brightness), language, temperature unit, time, spot
Languages| English, German, Chinese, Italian
Power supply
Battery| Internal rechargeable battery, approx. 2800 mAh
Operating time| 2 … 3 h
Voltage supply| 100…240 VAC 50/60 Hz
Interface| Micro USB for charging and memory readout on a PC
Automatic Shutdown| Adjustable, after 5 or 20 minutes or off
Environmental conditions
Temperature| Operation: 0 … +45 °C

Storage: -20 … +60 °C

Relative humidity| < 85 % r. RH (non-condensing)
Dimensions| 96 x 72 x 226 mm / 3.8 x 4.1 x 8.9 in
Weight| 389 g / / <1 lb

Delivery scope

1 x thermal imaging camera PCE-TC 30N
1 x USB cable
1 x USB mains adaptor
1 x user manual
1 x carrying bag

System description

Device

Getting started

Please note that the instrument should acclimatize to the current environmental conditions before connecting it to the charger. Do not charge the instrument in hot or cold places. Charging in extreme temperatures will reduce the capacity of the battery. The micro USB cable can be used for charging but also for transferring images.

Charging the battery

The PCE-TC 30N thermal imaging camera has a built-in rechargeable Li-Ion battery. If the battery level is low, this is indicated by the symbol the thermal imaging camera via the micro USB interface. To do this, proceed as follows:

Connect the supplied USB cable to the micro USB interface of the thermal imaging camera.
Connect the other side of the USB cable to the supplied mains adaptor.
Now plug the mains adaptor into a protected contact socket designed for this purpose.

Note:
Before charging, make sure that the battery, charger, and camera are acclimatized to the current environmental conditions. Charging under extreme temperatures can have a negative impact on battery life.
Do not charge the battery for more than 24 hours.

Display description

Colour palette
The colour palette is used to distinguish the temperature zones from high to low. Different color palettes are available. The colour scale on the right edge of the screen automatically scales between the highest and lowest measured temperature in the screen section.

The temperature in the center of the image
The white crosshairs in the center of the image indicate the temperature at the focus of the thermal imaging camera.

Maximum temperature in the current image section
The red mark appears where the highest temperature is measured in the current image section. At the same time, this is shown in the lower-left area of the display.

The minimum temperature in the current image section
The green mark appears where the lowest temperature is measured in the current image section. At the same time, this is shown in the lower-left area of the display.

Control panel

Switching the instrument on and off
Press and hold the menu key for more than 3 seconds to switch the thermal imaging camera on or off. After switching on, the display shows the last selected image mode

Switching the LED on and off
Press and hold the trigger key for at least 5 seconds to turn the LED on or off.

Picture-in-picture function
This function enables the IR image to overlap the image from the integrated digital camera. In this way, measured objects can be clearly assigned. The overlapping can be adjusted in 25 % steps by pressing the left or right navigation key in normal measuring mode.

Saving images
To do this, press the key on the handle of the thermal imaging camera in normal measuring mode. A dialogue window appears, which can be confirmed with the menu key or canceled with the select/enter key.

Note: If the thermal imaging camera is connected to a PC via USB, it is not possible to save screen captures.

Show/hide the minimum and maximum temperature
To do this, press the upper navigation key in normal measuring mode. In addition to the minimum or maximum measured temperature, the current time is also shown or hidden in the lower right corner of the display.

Image overlapping
To exactly overlap, the real image of the integrated digital camera with the images from the infrared camera, carry out the following steps:
First, open the menu with the menu key. Select the menu item “Image registration” and confirm it with the select/enter key. A large crosshair appears in the center of the screen. Now the infrared image can be adjusted exactly to the image of the digital camera using the navigation keys (up, down, left, right).

Note:
For very precise adjustment of the infrared image, it is recommended to set image overlapping to a maximum of 50 % as otherwise, no digital image may be recognizable. Furthermore, the exact positioning of the infrared image depends on the distance of the object to be examined.

Show saved images
Open the menu with the menu key and navigate with the navigation keys up or down to the menu item “Image”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All saved pictures are now displayed here as a continuous list. The following functions are now available:

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: view the highlighted image
Navigation key left or right: view previous or next image
Navigation key to delete the current image; confirm dialogue window with menu key; cancel with select/enter key
Select/enter key: Exit view
Navigation key left: Exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Color palettes
5 different color palettes are available for displaying thermal gradients on targeted objects. The gloss or surface texture of objects may require a change of colour palette so that distinct thermal gradients become visible. The colour palettes rainbow, iron, cold, white and black are available. If the temperature differences of the targeted object are high, a coloured palette should be selected.See several example images with the respective colour palettes below:

Set color palette
Open the menu using the menu key and use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Color palette”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. Here, all available colour palettes are displayed in a list. The following functions are available:

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: apply currently selected colour palette
Navigation key left: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Emissivity
Every object with a temperature above absolute zero emits thermal radiation. The emissivity is the indicator of how much thermal radiation this object emits in contrast to an ideal thermal radiator, the black body. The emissivity is therefore always between 0 … 1 (0 … 100 %).

Set emissivity
Open the menu using the menu key and use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Emissivity”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. Here, all available emissivities are displayed in a list. The following functions are available:

standard emissivities are available:
matt (e=0.95)
semi-matt (e=0.85)
slightly glossy (e=0.60)
glossy (e=0.30)
individual (e=0 … 1)
- Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
- Select/enter key: accept currently selected emissivity
- Navigation key left: exit submenu
- Menu key: back to measuring mode

Note: When selecting individual emissivity, the emissivity can be set between 0 … 1 with the navigation keys up or down; the decimal place can be changed with the navigation keys left or right; to accept, press the select/enter key.

Emissivities of common materials

Material	Emissivity	Material	Emissivity
Bitumen	0.90 … 0.98	Black cloth	0.98
Concrete	0.94	Human skin	0.98
Cement	0.96	Foam	0.75 … 0.80
Sand	0.90	Charcoal dust	0.96
Earth	0.92 … 0.96	Paint	0.80 … 0.95
Water	0.92 … 0.96	Matte paint	0.97
Ice	0.96 … 0.98	Black rubber	0.94
Snow	0.83	Plastic	0.85 … 0.95
Glass	0.90 … 0.95	Timber	0.90
Ceramics	0.90 … 0.94	Paper	0.70 … 0.94
Marble	0.94	Chromium hemitrioxide	0.81
Gypsum	0.80 … 0.90	Copper oxide	0.78
Mortar	0.89 … 0.91	Ferric oxide	0.78 … 0.82
Brick	0.93 … 0.96	Textile	0.90

Settings

Open the menu using the menu key and use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Setting”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list. The following functions are available:

Automatic shutdown
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Automatic Shutdown”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: accept current selection
Navigation key left: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Brightness
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Brightness”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: accept current selection
Navigation key left: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Language
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Language”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: accept current selection
Navigation key left: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Unit
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Unit”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are shown here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: accept current selection
Navigation key: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Time format
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Time format”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: accept current selection
Navigation key left: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Time
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Set time”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: edit current selection
Navigation key up or down: change number at the marked decimal place
Navigation key left or right: change decimal place
Select/enter key: save edit
Navigation key left: exit submenu

Menu key: back to measuring mode Spot
Use the navigation keys up or down to highlight the menu item “Cold/hotspot”. Pressing the navigation key on the right takes you to the submenu. All available settings are displayed here in a list.

Navigation key up or down: scroll through the list
Select/enter key: accept current selection
Navigation key left: exit submenu
Menu key: back to measuring mode

Maintenance

Cleaning

The meter should be stored at room temperature. The lens of the infrared sensor is the most sensitive part of the instrument. Make sure that it is always clean. If the lens ever becomes dirty, it should only be cleaned with a soft cotton cloth or stick. Use only water or medical alcohol for cleaning. The lens should be completely dry before the meter is used again. Do not immerse the instrument in water.

Troubleshooting

The following problems may occur during operation of the thermal imaging camera. If the suggested solutions are not helpful, please contact PCE Instruments.

Problem	Cause	Solution
The thermal imaging camera cannot be switched on	The battery is discharged

Fully charge the thermal imaging camera with the supplied USB cable (see

3.2.1)

The thermal imaging camera switches itself off during operation| The battery is discharged| Fully charge the thermal imaging camera with the

supplied USB cable (see 3.2.1)

| Automatic shutdown is activated| Switch on the thermal imaging camera again and change the setting of the automatic shutdown, if

necessary (see 4.5.1).

Warranty

You can read our warranty terms in our General Business Terms which you can find here: https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/terms.

Disposal

For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste. They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use them or give them to a recycling company that disposes of the devices in line with law. For countries outside the EU, batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with your local waste regulations. If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.