FLIR - will it work looking through a window?

[WaltCh]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

 

[HookedUp]

I don't have a handheld other than an Infrared camera. The glare from the infrared going outside a window makes it unusable to see outside. If your Flir uses infrared I'd suspect the same problem.

I use a Sionyx night camera usually mounted outside and view it on my iPad. It doesn't require infrared light if there is enough moon or star light when away from shore or when near shore it gets enough light from houses, bridges, etc. that it works fine without any additional light.

I did try the Sionyx without the iPad using it's viewer. In waves it is worse than binoculars. I found it unusable. But, by using the connection to my iPad it works great. Radar helps a lot at night, but when the crab pots are out the Sionyx becomes a must have.

 

[WaltCh]

I don't have a handheld other than an Infrared camera. The glare from the infrared going outside a window makes it unusable to see outside. If your Flir uses infrared I'd suspect the same problem.

I use a Sionyx night camera usually mounted outside and view it on my iPad. It doesn't require infrared light if there is enough moon or star light when away from shore or when near shore it gets enough light from houses, bridges, etc. that it works fine without any additional light.

I did try the Sionyx without the iPad using it's viewer. In waves it is worse than binoculars. I found it unusable. But, by using the connection to my iPad it works great. Radar helps a lot at night, but when the crab pots are out the Sionyx becomes a must have.

Thanks, I do appreciate the info. Walt

 

[Alpina]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

Won’t work. The glass will reflect the infrared abs you will see yourself like looking in a mirror. I mounted my handheld outside and view it on my computer if I am not on my command bridge which is know is not an option on an R21. But your boat turns on a dime, so you can use it outside the cabin by tuning the boat 90 degrees to look ahead and then back to you course. Not ideal but I will work. You can stand in the engine cover or stick you head up through the front hatch 🙂


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Happy Endings]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

I agree with the others, I’ve been researching the usage of one and they will not work through glass.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[WaltCh]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

Won’t work. The glass will reflect the infrared abs you will see yourself like looking in a mirror. I mounted my handheld outside and view it on my computer if I am not on my command bridge which is know is not an option on an R21. But your boat turns on a dime, so you can use it outside the cabin by tuning the boat 90 degrees to look ahead and then back to you course. Not ideal but I will work. You can stand in the engine cover or stick you head up through the front hatch 🙂


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the information, you are right, the R21 turns on a dime, so spinning it 90 degrees and looking out the side window wouldn't be that big a deal. Thanks for the good information.

 

[WaltCh]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

I agree with the others, I’ve been researching the usage of one and they will not work through glass.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks so much for the information, I really appreciate it.

 

[Robvic]

The handheld FLIR cameras use a long wave infrared (LWIR) sensitive microbolometer as the light sensitive element which generally detects light from ~7um-14um. This includes the nifty iPhone attachment camera version. The Sionyx uses a near infrared (NIR) enhanced silicon detector sensitive up to ~1100nm. Most common float glass will transmit wavelengths up to ~2um, though I have no idea what the coating on the window glass of the Rangers do- I suspect it may be coated to reflect heat (NIR to LWIR).
So the short answer is no, none of the handheld FLIR cameras will work through window glass. The Scionyx may, depending on the glass treatment.
Rob

 

[WaltCh]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

I agree with the others, I’ve been researching the usage of one and they will not work through glass.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Walt

 

[WaltCh]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

I agree with the others, I’ve been researching the usage of one and they will not work through glass.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Walt

 

[WaltCh]

I have a question about handheld FLIR's, will they work if you're inside the pilothouse looking out the window? I don't actually know anybody that owns a handheld FLIR and I don't want to spend about $2K for one without first knowing what they will and won't do. I have a Ranger 21EC and would like to use it from inside the "pilothouse" while underway.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Walt

Won’t work. The glass will reflect the infrared abs you will see yourself like looking in a mirror. I mounted my handheld outside and view it on my computer if I am not on my command bridge which is know is not an option on an R21. But your boat turns on a dime, so you can use it outside the cabin by tuning the boat 90 degrees to look ahead and then back to you course. Not ideal but I will work. You can stand in the engine cover or stick you head up through the front hatch 🙂


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Walt

 

[WaltCh]

The handheld FLIR cameras use a long wave infrared (LWIR) sensitive microbolometer as the light sensitive element which generally detects light from ~7um-14um. This includes the nifty iPhone attachment camera version. The Sionyx uses a near infrared (NIR) enhanced silicon detector sensitive up to ~1100nm. Most common float glass will transmit wavelengths up to ~2um, though I have no idea what the coating on the window glass of the Rangers do- I suspect it may be coated to reflect heat (NIR to LWIR).
So the short answer is no, none of the handheld FLIR cameras will work through window glass. The Scionyx may, depending on the glass treatment.
Rob

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Walt

 

[Happy Endings]

We just ordered our Flir M232, it’s a dedicated unit and feeds into the plotter from it’s outside mount. I’ll give some updates when it’s done. Decided to go this route as it’s more, but a permanent fix.

 

[FWTMD]

I don't have a handheld other than an Infrared camera. The glare from the infrared going outside a window makes it unusable to see outside. If your Flir uses infrared I'd suspect the same problem.

I use a Sionyx night camera usually mounted outside and view it on my iPad. It doesn't require infrared light if there is enough moon or star light when away from shore or when near shore it gets enough light from houses, bridges, etc. that it works fine without any additional light.

I did try the Sionyx without the iPad using it's viewer. In waves it is worse than binoculars. I found it unusable. But, by using the connection to my iPad it works great. Radar helps a lot at night, but when the crab pots are out the Sionyx becomes a must have.

I am interested in hearing more about this option.

It is a given that both infrared and light enhancement night vision both have their limitations. I am thinking about the Sionyx route. Perhaps influenced by their heavy advertising, but so be it.

What is your mounting arrangement?

Which model?

I think you are suggesting its all worth it, but knowing what you now know would you do it, or modify what you went with?