Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:41:00 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191369#Comment_191369 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191369#Comment_191369 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 21:04:41 +0000 atomicbisf
anyone in or around Bath may know that Bath Green Homes are organising a 'heat detective' project: http://www.transitionbath.org/green-living-fair

Anyway, I have volunteered and the first training is tomorrow night in the use of the camera. The idea is to be able to offer low-cost (for a donation to cover the cost of the camera) surveys of heat loss.

Please note, I haven't organised this, but I thought anyone local may be interested.

Ed]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191378#Comment_191378 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191378#Comment_191378 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 22:34:12 +0000 Mackers http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191436#Comment_191436 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191436#Comment_191436 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 22:20:51 +0000 chippyclaus http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191542#Comment_191542 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191542#Comment_191542 Sat, 14 Dec 2013 19:22:18 +0000 atomicbisf Posted By: chippyclausSounds like a great idea. How or where are you advertising this service? Keep us informed of the take up.

I'm not actually sure yet, as I've only just got involved!

Here are some preliminary images I took last night, which was not ideal as it was rather warm for this time of year and a 15C difference between inside and outside temperatures is recommended. Also not sure why it defaults to F, but I'm sure that can be corrected.

IWI on external wall (left, with window and venetian blind) and party wall to right. Seems the loft insulation needs adjusting near the eaves!



Ed]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191703#Comment_191703 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191703#Comment_191703 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 10:29:41 +0000 mspencersmith I've fixed up most of the issues including a painful episode being the first vrc430 vaillant weather compensated installation in the uk. but found that those hidden gaps in insulation, leaks and draughts are hard if not impossible for the average guy to find. Especially when using the traditional methods like strolling round on a windy day with candles, feathers etc !
So I bit the bullet and splashed out on a proper thermal camera. I bought a flir e4 thinking that the basic model would be fine. I got a superb price of £800 which was pretty much 20% off. After waving that around for a day or so I snooped around looking for tips on using the thing properly. I have a physics and instrumentation background so just needed someone's condensed experience in correlating the images to building issues.
I then discovered that thanks to flir using the same internal components across their ex range you can hack the e4 to be an e8 ! Now it's running at 320x240 which would cost over £4k !
A few days is all it took to spot dozens of issues - extractor fans, gaps in cavity wall insulation, gaps in loft insulation, missing window cavity spaces, missing bay window insulation, front door draughts, leaking sealed unit mounting, cold chimney breast. Also stupidly routed cold water pipe, location of studs to mount tv and speakers in garden office etc. Even my poor basset who has glaucoma you can see the one eye hotter, the wife had sore knee - that glows nicely. My 4 year old thinks it hilarious to spot the dogs at the bottom of the garden.
Anyway I am lending out to friends and family right now and noticed a few threads here on loan cameras. This is NOT an advert or commercial, just wanting to enable people who could benefit from a week with this thing but what are people's thoughts on taking a deposit and a nominal wear and tear fee to members of this forum ?
Am I crazy and it will be stolen or bashed or is it a good idea to help a community back who's advice I've been taking for free for 6 years ?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191708#Comment_191708 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191708#Comment_191708 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 11:11:52 +0000 GarethC
I think you can already hire thermal imaging cameras from HSS hire and places like that, but I think it's pretty pricey for someone who's not got a strong interest. I reckon your plan could be very helpful Spencer if you could get it to work.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191726#Comment_191726 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191726#Comment_191726 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:38:58 +0000 SteamyTea Posted By: mspencersmithAnyway I am lending out to friends and family right now and noticed a few threads here on loan cameras. This is NOT an advert or commercial, just wanting to enable people who could benefit from a week with this thing but what are people's thoughts on taking a deposit and a nominal wear and tear fee to members of this forum ?
Am I crazy and it will be stolen or bashed or is it a good idea to help a community back who's advice I've been taking for free for 6 years ?I suggested a while back that the GDF gets an IR camera and loans/cheap rents it out. It did not go any further though. It cannot be that hard to arrange this as the GBF forum has a way to collect payment from card payments (if only for a security swipe), just down to someone to organise it. Try emailing the site owner Keith.

Interesting about the hack, worth looking of ebay for the 4 version. Was it a painless and risk free upgrade?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191729#Comment_191729 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191729#Comment_191729 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:51:25 +0000 andyman99 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191733#Comment_191733 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191733#Comment_191733 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:34:34 +0000 scrimper http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191746#Comment_191746 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191746#Comment_191746 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:13:48 +0000 mspencersmith For this kind of work we're really looking at relative temps anyway and a quick radiometric snap at this sort of resolution is more than adequate.
For damage i'd need to figure out a deposit scheme as I think commercial insurance would be tricky. The only reason I'm even contemplating this here is that this forum is selective by design and hopefully only contains earnest users.
Commercial weekly rents are exorbitant I know, cheapest I could find for the E4 is £150 and that's 80x60 which is more of a toy than tool. 320x240 cameras go for £250+. I would probably look at something like £30 a week plus deposit and courier ( or collection if you want from Maidenhead ) ?
I hope this isn't looking like commercial as I'm really only interested in getting the energy use of homes down - it's my passion. Friends and neighbors have been getting free thermal surveys whether they want them or not !
. I just have to be sensible and assume the thing will be lucky to be alive after a year so have to budget for a replacement then plus a risk factor for damage or loss.
Any thoughts ?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191749#Comment_191749 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191749#Comment_191749 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:18:11 +0000 mspencersmith http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191769#Comment_191769 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191769#Comment_191769 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:24:21 +0000 SteamyTea Posted By: mspencersmithor collection if you want from MaidenheadThat is the starting point, if the first user is close to you they can pick it up, then pass it on to the next one, and so forth. I suggest heading West down the M4, then South down the M5, then West again along the A30, quick picture at Landsend and then head back up the M5 and left into Wales, it can wiggle around there, and so forth.
Can any finances we worked out though PayPal (I think I opened an account but never used it).

My old University lent us an IR camera and one rather tight student took a picture of her house, it was warmer on the oustide than the inside, and this was winter. ]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191790#Comment_191790 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191790#Comment_191790 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:51:28 +0000 chippyclaus http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191806#Comment_191806 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191806#Comment_191806 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 21:57:17 +0000 djh Posted By: SteamyTeaMy old University lent us an IR camera and one rather tight student took a picture of her house, it was warmer on the oustide than the inside, and this was winter.
That's quite a good trick. How much did it cost her to cool her house, and what did she buy?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191814#Comment_191814 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191814#Comment_191814 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 06:07:51 +0000 SteamyTea
It was the start of me questioning the validity of high thermal mass housing and inter seasonal storage.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191816#Comment_191816 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191816#Comment_191816 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:04:57 +0000 Ed Davies http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191817#Comment_191817 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191817#Comment_191817 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:22:42 +0000 SteamyTea She took the whole 'green' thing a bit too seriously I think (hope she is not reading this). Don't think I ever remember her commenting on cooking anything either.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191901#Comment_191901 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191901#Comment_191901 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 08:21:33 +0000 RobinB http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191907#Comment_191907 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=191907#Comment_191907 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:11:35 +0000 SteamyTea ]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192070#Comment_192070 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192070#Comment_192070 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 08:45:59 +0000 Phil.Chaddah-Duke http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192072#Comment_192072 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192072#Comment_192072 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 08:54:58 +0000 SteamyTea ]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192090#Comment_192090 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192090#Comment_192090 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 12:23:08 +0000 scrimper http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192104#Comment_192104 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=192104#Comment_192104 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 13:44:57 +0000 Cav8andrew http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=195918#Comment_195918 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=195918#Comment_195918 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 16:25:33 +0000 nogsx3
Jewson are quoting £205 per week or £105 a day for a Flir i7 for a week ! Jewsons have 30% discount for onlnine tool hire only but excludes thermal cameras. I did try HSS but they didn't even bother replying.

The options in Bristol are limited for borrowing or renting a thermal imaging camera and yet its meant to be the green capital in 2015. I've contacted many Bristol Green organisations but nobody appears to have a camera.

Gordano have a good local Green organisation with a camera but its for locals only.

Any other suggestions to avoid the very expensive commercial hire ?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196040#Comment_196040 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196040#Comment_196040 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:00:23 +0000 sparklyfish On a loosely similar subject, I am borrowing a thermal imaging camera from our district council, who have two they lend out to local eco groups (such as the one I've just helped to set up for my village). The district council officer came to our first meeting, described how to use the camera and now we can take it in turns to use it. My husband has done a training course on them and we've used one before, so I'm reasonably sure we'll use it okay. However, I'm a bit worried about the rest of the group, who haven't used one before. Has anyone come across an idiot's guide to using them? A quick Google just came up with hits about growing your own drugs...!?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196055#Comment_196055 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196055#Comment_196055 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:20:34 +0000 ferdinand2000
Those hire prices would pay for a new camera in a couple of months, as ever.

Ferdinand]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196518#Comment_196518 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196518#Comment_196518 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 20:38:32 +0000 Triassic http://www.i-bidder.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/wellers-auctioneers/catalogue-id-7496]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196775#Comment_196775 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196775#Comment_196775 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:10:55 +0000 TimSmall
IR Blue has been available for a year or so (very low resolution - 64 pixel plus visible light overlay) which has been available for a year or so for $200.

http://www.rhworkshop.com/products/ir-blue-dm

Another couple are due out this year:

Flir One: $350 (low res - 4800 pixels plus image enhancement using visible light).

http://blog.ivytools.com/2014/01/08/hands-on-review-flir-one-iphone-infrared-camera/

Mu Optics: Allegedly $325 - but higher res - 19200 pixels - tho' much delayed (was due out about 9 months ago I think) - to get an Flir (e.g. i7, E6 etc.) with the same resolution as this you'll pay nearly ten times as much(!). I wouldn't be surprised if the Mu eventually sells for nearer $500, but still - an impressive product...]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196777#Comment_196777 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196777#Comment_196777 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:30:04 +0000 wookey http://cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/blog/thermal-imaging-camera-calendar/

Ivan from Navitron will come and do several houses in an area for ~£50 each. Get together with your mates. (He did mine a few years back).]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196885#Comment_196885 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11519&Focus=196885#Comment_196885 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:43:19 +0000 sparklyfish I was hoping to get some information on the quality of our cavity filled-ness, but couldn't really tell - I guess we're just too inexperienced. We found out a depressing amount about our last house, but it was very cold outside which probably made it a bit easier for us novices.]]>