Fraser has 'lost the plot' again and bought an antique :)

[Fraser]

Those who know me will know that I collect interesting thermal imaging systems as a hobby. I stopped buying so many thermal imaging related items once i ceased full time working but every now and then I still buy the odd curio or interesting camera 

I bought an IRISYS IRI-1011 low resolution camera a while ago and thought then that I had 'lost the plot' as it is a pretty terrible performer  I have gone one step further this time and bought a camera that will likely never be operational again. Why ? Well its required Liquid Nitrogen to produce a thermal image ! Not a chemical I normally have lying around my lab 

I bought myself a complete AGA 782 thermal imaging system It dates back to the 1980's and uses spinning Germanium prisms to produce the raster image on the control unit. It works on the same principle as my huge AGA 680 camera but is more compact (thank goodness). I was NOT looking to buy a complete AGA 780 series system any time soon as it is bulky and unuseable. The reason for my purchasing this particular 782 system was the contents of the package.... it is the most complete system that I have come across and there is a hidden gem in the package that sealed the deal for me. More of that another time 
I placed a sensible bid in view of the equipments 'antique' status and won it. Oh heck I thought.... what have I gone and done now 

The complete package includes the following parts:

1. AGA 782 cooled thermal camera
2. AGA 782 controller for the camera with integrated display
3. Power Supply for the system
4. 12.5 Degree FOV Germanium Lens for the camera
5. Portable Colour Monitor with integrated analogue colourisation feature
6. SLR camera and associated hood for still image captures from display
7. Polaroid camera and associated hood for still image capture from display
8. Sun hood for display
9. Original heavy duty transit cases

There may be another lens present but this is not confirmed.

I found the portable colour monitor of particular interest because it is far more than just a monitor.

The portable monitor contains a video signal level slicer that may be used to apply colour to defined levels of image brightness (luminance level) in the image received from the camera. There are 10 colours available to be applied to the monochrome image to convert it to a false colour image. This is all being done in the analogue domain ! On the side of the monitor there is a set of 10 slider controls to set the colour that is applied to a certain level of luminance (0% to 100% luminance).  I have not seen this form of false colour application to a monochrome input signal before and I must say it looks a fun idea, even if very limited in terms of colour levels and its analogue nature.

So sometime this week two large transit cases should arrive on my doorstep and it will be a job hiding those from my long suffering angel of a wife I can tell you ! Direct placement in the garage sounds like a plan though

The full operation and maintenance (Service) manual is available for free on the FLIR legacy product download page 

More on this antiquated thermal imaging system once I have had a play with it to see if anything still works on it !

It did not cost a lot of money which is just as well as I still think I have gone slightly mad by buying it !

Fraser

[Fraser]

There is a YouTube teardown video of one of these systems here:

https://youtu.be/7TVTTKtlLcE

Fraser

[Fraser]

Pictures of another 782 system

[Fraser]

Just read the whole of the AGA 782 Maintenance manual

Wow that thing is detailed ! Excellent explanations of circuit function, signals expected and alignment. Then there are the many block diagrams, circuit extracts and full schematic diagrams. Just like early VCR manuals from the likes of Sony and Ferguson  These scanning thermal cameras may be very old technology now, but as a Tech of a certain age, I love the technology within them. Simple to understand and equally simple to fault trace…. No VLSI silicon SoC nightmares here 
It is such a pity that I will not be able to feed it with Liquid Nitrogen. I do have a Ex AGEMA THV470 SPRITE thermoelectrically cooled sensor though ….. if I had the time and incentive, I might graft the SPRITE into the 782 or even install the spare Stirling Cooled sensor from the AGEMA THV900 that I still have. In my younger days I would just dive in and do it. These days I lack the same level of drive to do such experiments. I must be getting old !

Fraser

[JohnG]

My very first experience using a thermal camera was with this camera. I used it to look at an RF PA that I had designed, and we even had decapped the main RF transistor and an RF map module, so we could look for hot spots. It lived in it's very own lab with a big Dewar of LN2, and we had to bring all our other equipment to operate the PA under various stresses and conditions.

I still have my Polaroids! It was my very first real-world commercial design.

Thanks for the chance to reminisce.

John

[Fraser]

I came into thermal imaging with an AGEMA Thermovision 880 cooled MWIR Scanning camera that had been upgraded from Liquid Nitrogen cooling to a Stirling Cooler version. Compared to todays thermal imaging cameras these things were large and anything but portable.They got an important job done though and I was impressed with what could be achieved with the technology. What did not impress me though was the cost of the hardware ! More than a 3 bedroom detached house cost at the time.

It is nice to reminisce sometimes and it help to remind me of how far the technology has come and how fortunate we are to have access to far more advanced thermal imaging systems these days 

Fraser

[Fraser]

For those unaware… AGA became AGEMA who, in turn, became part of FLIR
AGA and AGEMA were Swedish companies so these were European thermal imaging specialist manufacturers. They made some great products with excellent performance.

Fraser

[Fraser]

The AGA complete system arrived today. The owner delivered it personally to my home…over 70 miles distance.

The system is in good condition considering it’s age and comprises many parts….

1. AGA 782 MWIR camera
2. AGA 12.5 Degree f1.8 MWIR lens for 782 camera
3. AGA 782 Camera controller c/w internal monochrome monitor
4. AGA/Colorado Video Inc. CM703 colour monitor with built in false colour generator
5. AGA Polaroid custom “Oscilloscope” cameras - Quantity 2
6. Camera adapter & viewing hood for AGA 782 controller monitor
7. Camera adapter for CM703 colour monitor
8. Canon AE-1 SLR camera
9. Canon 50mm f1.8 FD SLR lens
10. AGA 782 Power Supply for 782 controller/camera
11. AGA battery pack and charger chassis in leather case for 782 controller - Quantity 3
12. AGA handle for 782 camera
13. AGA umbilical cables for 782 camera and monitor
14. AGA original tool kit for 782 system maintenance
15. AGA user and maintenance manuals for 782 system and CM703 colour monitor
16. Original transit cases for 782 system and CM703 monitor
17. HEWLETT PACKARD 41CV Programmable Alpha-numeric calculator in case
18. HEWLETT PACKARD 82104A program card reader for HP41CV calculator
19. AGA program cards for HP41CV calculator
20. All manuals and box for HP41CV calculator and card reader
21. Pile of miscellaneous cables and connectors - to be identified !

So there you have it…quite a collection of kit. I previously mentioned a Gem in this collection of units…. Can you see what it is from the list above ?

The nice colour monitor with integrated false colour generator is great, but not the Gem for many readers…. Nope, it is the HEWLETT PACKARD 41CV Alpha-numeric programmable calculator. It is in ‘as new” condition and comes with the card reader, programme cards (programmed by AGA for 782 system calculations) plus the original calculator box and all manuals  I think collectors of HP calculators might be interested in such a unit. I may have to find a new home for this calculator as I will not use it and a collector of such technology will appreciate it more. The Canon AE-1 SLR camera is also very nice and there still seems to be demand for it, despite its age and 35mm film technology. I am more interested in the thermal camera side of the system.

So that is it for the moment. Not bad for £64 

Fraser

[Chanc3]

Glad you won the auction! I spotted that on eBay with a bid on it and said to myself "I bet that's Fraser!". I was tempted, but alas I'm not in the thermal imaging game much anymore and don't have the space!

[Fraser]

Hi Chance3,

I did have to think about it for a while as I had not intended buying another antique camera ! I decided that if the price stayed low enough it was worth adding to the collection. A bit of a space hog but I feel sure I can find room for it 

So you are no longer working so deeply in the realm of thermal imaging ? Sorry to hear that but I hope you are doing a job that you enjoy 

Fraser

[Chanc3]

I had the same thought, but rather it went to someone who can utilise and educate others about it.

I am still about to an extent - TI is only a small element of what I do now, which is mostly drones and associated tech. Although, I did build www.thermoconverter.com as I got fed up of one of the major manufacturers using a proprietary image format, when I was so invested in FLIR software.