Xi 400 CM

Early fire detection can be difficult in places like sawmills, scrap metal and waste recycling facilities, where fire risks are common. Fires cause significant financial losses every year due to poor early detection systems. infrared cameras work well for monitoring large areas and providing early fire warnings, which are essential for carrying out fire emergency action plans.

In many industrial settings, monitoring equipment and detecting early signs of fire are vital, especially under extreme temperatures. For instance, conveyor systems that carry coal or wood chips are often used in cold climates. The bearings in these systems can overheat, leading to conveyor failures and increasing fire risks. Similarly, friction in wood chip processing can create small sparks that might ignite fires in wood pulp operations. Moreover, large, damp piles of decomposing mulch, wood pulp, or other biomass materials can spontaneously catch fire, posing serious threats to nearby factories or homes.

The Xi 400CM Package addresses the important need for continuous monitoring in outdoor industrial environments. This package includes all necessary components to effectively monitor equipment and fire hazards, offering early alerts when equipment overheats or when ignition temperatures indicate a fire might start. The package comes with an thermal camera, an outdoor enclosure with a fan and heating element, a front window air purge, a high-definition video camera, and a USB-Server Gigabit (PoE) for long-distance video transmission.

By merging these components into a single standardized package, the Xi 400CM Package can be offered at a lower price, leading to significant savings compared to custom setups. Improved fire safety is achieved by monitoring more areas from multiple mounting locations. The cost-effective nature of this system supports wider coverage, enabling better early fire detection solutions.

The Xi 400CM Package’s detection method relies on every pixel in the high-resolution 382 x 288 infrared camera to locate hot spots. The high-speed processors within the Xi 400 LT USB thermal camera constantly scan the field of view for hot spots that exceed user-set temperature limits. The Xi 400 infrared camera features a process interface port that sends alarm signals (0/4-20 analog output) to external control devices or sprinkler systems. Additional process interface modules can be added to set fire alarm temperatures in different areas within the camera’s field of view, improving the system’s ability to spot and respond to potential fire risks.

The system also allows for transmitting high-resolution thermal and video images to a control room PC equipped with PIX Connect software. This software can be set up to display multiple images from various mounting locations, giving real-time thermal video reviews to help identify false alarms, such as exhaust pipes from excavators or solar reflections on shiny metal surfaces. This function is important to prevent unnecessary activation of fire control systems or emergency evacuations.

Designed and manufactured in Germany, the Xi 400CM Package provides a thorough and affordable early fire detection solution. Engineers worldwide are ready to help with installation questions, ensuring that the system is properly set up and functional in different industrial environments.

Thermography software optris PIX Connect is included and license-free.All infrared cameras are delivered with the thermography software optris PIX Connect, developed specifically for the extensive documentation and analysis of thermal images. The Windows-based PIX Connect software enables users to tailor the infrared cameras to meet specific requirements. It analyses live and recorded temperature data and triggers alarm signals for process integration.The key to leveraging the Optris infrared camera is a correct configuration. This includes detailed device-specific configurations such as frame rate, measurement range adjustments, external communication settings, and USB/Ethernet configurations. Moreover, PIX Connect facilitates firmware updates and the download of configuration files over the Internet. PIX Connect Optris offers several different SDKs for our Xi and PI thermal imaging cameras. Depending on the operating platform, the infrared camera, the coding language, and the hardware platform, different software interfaces can be utilized: SDK The Optris IRmobile allows users to set up and commission an Optris infrared pyrometer or infrared camera with an Android smartphone or tablet. This tool becomes handy for commissioning and aligning the infrared camera‘s field of view or adjusting the configuration. The app analyzes the connected infrared camera‘s live infrared image stream with auto hot and cold spot detection. For pyrometers, a temperature-time diagram or the video signal is displayed. This app works on most Android devices running 5.0+ with a USB port supporting USB-OTG (On The Go). Google Play

Is temperature measurement important for infrared camera early fire detection systems?

Yes, particularly when automatic alarming is a requirement. In some markets, accreditation bodies are establishing requirements for temperature measurement capabilities which accurately signal temperature increases of 20°C.

Can I just use a thermal security imager and alarm on the hot spots?

While it may be easy for thermal cameras developed for security applications to identify a hot spot on an image, it can be more challenging for cameras not designed to measure temperature to deliver alarms on a series of targets that may each have their own unique temperature alarm thresholds. Because some potential areas of ignition will get warm before they ignite, it may be prudent in some cases to establish lower alarm or “pre-alarm” temperature thresholds. A camera designed and calibrated to deliver accurate temperature measurements on ambient temperature targets may be a better solution when even subtle temperature increases can signal a potential fire threat.

Is infrared camera resolution important?

Almost always. Most infrared cameras can be programmed to deliver an alarm when a pixel or grouping of pixels has exceeded a user set threshold. If the target to be monitored (i.e. small wood chip) is very hot but comprises only a portion of the thermal imager pixel, the camera will report a temperature measurement that is the average of the wood chip temperature and the surrounding ambient temperatures.

When will a lower resolution and more affordable infrared camera work for a given application?

When the spot size to be monitored is the same size of a pixel or group of pixels. An example may be a measurement on the side of a large furnace. There it is important to understand the average temperature but not necessary to measure a small spot on the furnace wall.

How do I know the pixel is too large for an accurate measurement?

thermal camera suppliers who make thermal imagers for temperature measurement will typically host a spot size calculator on their web site. The calculator should display the geometric size of a single pixel (IFOV). To do this, the camera, optics, and distance to the target must be entered into the calculator.

Will a single pixel or IFOV always be large enough for an IR camera to deliver a measurement consistent with the camera specification?

No. While it is possible to detect a temperature increase with a single pixel, all infrared cameras need more than one pixel to measure temperatures accurately. A 3 x 3 pixel matrix has been used as a rule of thumb to define the pixel coverage necessary for a measurement compliant with specified camera accuracy, but this can vary significantly depending on the camera and the infrared detector pitch (size). To determine the true Measurement Field of View (MFOV), use the Optris Optics Calculator or check with the manufacturer to determine MFOV.

I have used handheld cameras to measure temperatures of important mechanical and electrical equipment in my facility. Can I use the XI 400 system for these applications?

Yes. Many facilities are using fixed install infrared cameras to monitor critical electrical and mechanical systems to reduce manpower and provide more comprehensive temperature data. Infrared temperature measurements on transformers, fuses, cable trays, rotating equipment, power cables, motor control centers and switch gear are routinely measured with infrared cameras and can be measured with properly calibrated fixed install infrared cameras as well.In the U.S., the NFPA 70B-2023 Standard for Electrical maintenance covers important details about using infrared equipment to monitor these systems and is an excellent guide for any company or facility interested in establishing an internal standard for electrical equipment maintenance. The document references the importance of properly calibrated infrared camera equipment and the use of comparative thermography and small temperature rise as an indicator of equipment health or future fire hazard.The Xi 400 is developed and produced in Germany and is calibrated according to government standards. Calibration certificates are available for customers requiring traceability on calibration standards.

Does the camera need to be connected to a PC hosting PIX Connect software to identify an alarm condition and transmit an alarm signal?

No. The Xi 400 can operate in autonomous mode and transmit alarm signals when temperatures fall outside of user set thresholds. PIX Connect software (no charge download) is required to set up the alarm conditions.

Do I need PIX Connect software to display the thermal image?

Yes. The ethernet signal produced by the converter housed in the outdoor housing needs to be connected to a standard PC installed with PIX Connect software to produce and display a thermal image. PIX Connect software also enables more extensive temperature measurement functions (dozens of measurement areas, special color palettes for differing temperature conditions, multiple window display for numerous cameras, image merge for large targets, etc.).

How many areas can be monitored without the use of a PC?

One area can be monitored with alarm outputs communicated through the process interface port on the back of the camera. Industrial Process Interface modules can be connected to the same output port providing three analog output signals from three distinct areas. Up to three Industrial Process Interface modules can be connected to the camera housing to produce 9 separate analog alarm signals.

Can I connect Optris Infrared cameras to the Video Management System I use for my security cameras?

The signal produced by the camera and converted to ethernet in the USB converter is not formatted for display on standard video management systems because it includes encoding used by the PIX Connect software to convert each image pixel to a temperature measurement. The use of the processing power in the PC supports measurement and alarming on over 11,000 infrared pixels generated by the Xi 400 LT USB.

Is your infrared camera long-wave (LWIR) or short-wave (SWIR/MWIR)? What’s the typical frame rate? What’s the IFOV (instantaneous field of view / pixel size)? And does it connect to a PC via USB, or what other platforms/interfaces are supported (e.g., Ethernet, etc.)?

Optris provides different types of IR cameras with different wavelengths. Here you can find an overview of the different camera types regarding the spectral ranges, the typical frame rates and the interface versions (USB or Ethernet (ETH)):
Long-wave (LWIR) cameras (spectral range 8-14 µm):
– PI400i LT (80Hz, switchable to 27 Hz),
– PI450i LT (80Hz, switchable to 27 Hz),
– PI640i LT (32 Hz (640×120 px @ 125 Hz),
– Xi80 LT ETH (50 Hz),
– Xi400 LT USB (80Hz, switchable to 27 Hz),
– Xi410 LT ETH (25 Hz (connected via Ethernet,4 Hz connected via USB),
– Xi640 LT USB (32 Hz)
Long-wave (LWIR) cameras (spectral range 7,9 µm):
– PI450iG7 (80Hz, switchable to 27 Hz),
– PI640iG7 (32 Hz (640×120 px @ 125 Hz)
Middle-wave (MWIR) cameras (spectral range 3,9 µm):
– Xi320MT (30 Hz)
Short-wave (SWIR) cameras:
– PI1M (0,85-1,1µm), 32 Hz (382×268 px @ 80 Hz, (switchable to 27 Hz)/ 72×56 px/ 764×8 px @1 kHz)),
– PI08M (780-820 µm), 32 Hz (382×268 px @ 80 Hz, (switchable to 27 Hz)/ 72×56 px/ 764×8 px @1 kHz)) ,
– PI05M (500-540 µm), 764×480 px @ 32 Hz/ 382×288 px @ 80 Hz (switchable to 27 Hz)/ 72×56 px/ 764×8 px @ 1 kHz,
– Xi1M ETH (0,85-1,1µm), 396×300 px, 20 Hz, 396×8 px (auton.: 396×1 px), 500 Hz, 0,85-1,1 μm, Ethernet, USB 2.0 (only 20 Hz), Auton. operation,
– Xi05M ETH (500-540 µm), 396×300 px, 20 Hz, 396×8 px (auton.: 396×1 px), 500 Hz, 500-540 nm, Ethernet, USB 2.0 (only 20 Hz), Auton. operation
The following digital interface kits are for the Xi 80/ 410/ 05M/ 08M cameras available:
– Ethernet TCP/IP / Modbus TCP interface kit
– EtherNet/IP interface kit
– Profinet kit
You can see the IFOV (instantaneous field of view / pixel size) for your IR camera with the different available optics in the optics calculator on the Optris website: Optris IR Camera Calculator (https://optris.com/optris-calculator/camera/)
Example:

What is the bit depth of our camera?

The bit depth of our cameras is 14 bit. The data has 16 bit but only 14 bit are used for the Temperature Data and the other 2 bits are not used.

Can we send the raw ADU data from the camera to another commercial software for processing?

As a rule, we do not disclose any information about raw data. The only option is to use the Connect SDK to output the camera’s ADU values as a matrix. However, these ADU values are uninterpreted. The cameras can send the temperature information and the color information to another commercial software for processing.

Does changing the mode from Temperature to ADU in the Connect SDK change the way that the image is displayed?

No, the way the image is displayed does not change. You can see this in the software examples provided with the PIXConnect software (See the menu HELP => Connect SDK => Examples). Under the configuration menu => External communication => ConnectSDK. You can change the mode from “Temperatures” to “ADU”. This has no influence on the displayed image.

Our company designs and supplies camera systems for steelmaking processes and is exploring different camera types. For this application, would you recommend long-range, near-infrared, or short-wave infrared models?

For steelmaking processes we recommend short-wave infrared cameras as the PI 1M camera, PI 08M camera, PI05M camera , Xi1M camera or Xi 05M camera. Use the lowest wavelength / spectral range as possible!

Which Optris infrared cameras support integration with machine learning frameworks? Do they provide raw thermal image data access via SDK/API (e.g., the OTC SDK), allowing developers to apply custom ML models for tasks like segmentation, classification, or predictive thermal analysis?

The IR cameras do not provide any raw thermal image data access. You get the temperature data via the SDK (OTC SDK) from the camera to your process.

Which Optris infrared camera is best for measuring temperatures during welding processes?

– The choose of the correct Optris infrared camera depends on the temperature range and the type of the welding process.
– For plastic welding , a PI/Xi LT camera can be used (8-14 µm)
– For metal (e.g. steel applications) a short wavelength camera PI 1M/08M/05M , Xi 1M , Xi05M should be used (0.85-1.1 µm , 780-820 µm , 500-540 µm)
– For laser welding applications Optris provides IR cameras with a blocking filter.

After connecting the Optris Xi410 to PIX Connect via Ethernet, I get a “frame timeout” error and the infrared image doesn’t appear at all. The camera has the correct IP address and responds to ping. What could be causing this?

Go to Settings/Camera or via search and type in „camera“ and then activate the button “allow apps to access your camera”.

• Process imager Xi 400 LT USB
• HD video camera
• Outdoor protective housing
• USB Server Gigabit
• Air purge collar
• Software package optris PIX Connect
• Outdoor Protective Housing Manual