Extech Instruments VPC300 User manual

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USERGUIDE
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VideoParticleCounterwithbuilt‐inCamera
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ModelVPC300
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2VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
Introduction
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ThankyouforselectingtheExtechInstrumentsModelVPC300ParticleCounterwithCamera.
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TheVPC300hasaColorTFTLCDdisplay,a74MBinternaldatastoragebank,amicro‐SDmemory
cardslotforcapturingimagesandvideoforviewingonaPC,andabuilt‐in320x240pixelcamera
forcapturingstills/videooftestlocations.TheVPC300offersquickandaccuratereadingsfor
particlecount,airtemperature,mostsurfacetemperatures,andrelativehumidity.TheVPC300
alsooffersaDewPointandWetBulbtemperaturecalculationgearedforenergyefficiencyand
environmentalprotectionapplications.SuppliedPCsoftwareallowstheusertogeneratereports
basedonrecordsdata,images,andvideo.
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Thisdeviceisshippedfullytestedandcalibratedand,withproperuse,willprovideyearsof
reliableservice.Pleasevisitourwebsite(www.extech.com)tocheckforthelatestversionofthis
UserGuide,ProductUpdates,andCustomerSupport.
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Features
2.8”TFTColorLCDdisplay
Convenientkeystrokemenustructureformeasurements,setup,andotherprogramming
320x240pixelbuilt‐incameraforstillandvideoimaging
JPEGimagesand3GPvideo
Meter’sinternalmemory74MB.
Metercanstore5000records(date,time,counts,humidity,temperature,sample
volumes,andlocationlabel)and20minutesofvideotointernalmemory.
Micro‐SDmemorycardslot(8GBmaximum);cardnotincluded.
SelectableTestsampletime,countdata,andprogrammabledelay
Simultaneouslymeasureanddisplay6channelsofparticlesizes(downto0.3μm)
Airtemperatureandrelativehumidity
DewpointandWetbulbtemperaturecalculations
MIN/MAX/AVG/DIFrecordwithdate/timestamp
Autopoweroff
LanguageselectionforEnglish,French,German,andSpanish
MeterisshippedNISTcalibratedwithcalibrationcertificate
Tripodmountingoption
IncludesuniversalACadaptor/chargerwithavarietyofplugoptions,USBcable,PC
software,tripod,Zerocountfilter,7.4VLithium‐ionpolymerrechargeablebattery,and
protectivecase

3VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
MeterDescription
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1. Isokineticprobe
2. TemperatureandRHSensor(noteitsprotectivecoverthatslidesupanddown)
3. ColorTFTLCD
4. CompartmentforUSBinterfaceportandACAdaptor/Charger
5. FunctionF1,F2,F3buttons
6. Controlbuttons:PageUp/Down,Enter,Run/Stop,andESC
7. ON/OFFbutton
8. BatteryandMicro‐SDcardcompartment(SDcardslotunderneathbattery)
9. Tripodmount
10. Cameralens
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4VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
Operation
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PowerON‐OFF
PressandholdthepowerbuttontoswitchtheinstrumentONor
OFF.
ImportantNotes
Note:Operatingtheparticlecounterwiththeisokineticprobecapin
placewilldamagethepumpandotherinternalcomponents.
Note: Electricalnoise,sensorleakage,orotherinterferencemay
causetheVPC300toshowincorrectparticlecountdata.
GettingStarted
WhenthemeterpowersON,theParticleCountericonisdisplayedatthecenteroftheLCDand
thedate,time,andbatterystatuscanbeobservedonthetoprowoftheLCD.Threebottomrow
optionsarealsodisplayedandcanbeselectedusingtheFunctionkeys(F1,F2,andF3)asshown
below.Theseareexplainedingreaterdetaillaterinthisuserguide:
Memory(wheredata,images,andvideoarelocated)
SystemSetupParameters
HelpFile
SymbolGlossary
Cumulativemode
VideoRecordstart
ConcentrationmodeVideomode
TestispausedColorcodedparticlescale(greenis
low,yellowismoderate,andredis
highparticlecount)
CAM(Camera)modeAlarmON
DifferentialmodeBatteryStatus
TestisrunningParticle Count Setup
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5VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
SequenceofOperation
Toensurethatyoumeasuretheamountofparticlesaccurately,performthissequenceof
operation.
1. Zerotheparticlecountsensor
2. Setupyourcounterforproperoperation.Sampletime,mode,cycle,andinterval.
3. Runyourtestcyclesandevaluatetheresults.
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BasicOperation
PressandholdtheON/OFFbuttonfor3to5secondsuntilthedisplayilluminatestopoweron
themeter.
Presstheenterbutton()togettosetupmode.
PressF3toentersettingsmode.
SeteachparametertoyourpreferredsettingbypressingENTERtoentereachparameter.Then
pressENTERtoenableeditingofeachparameter.PressESCtoexitparametersetup.
 SampleTime:Lengthoftimeeachtestruns(3to60seconds)
 StartDelay:DurationoftimefromRUNtoactualstartoftest.(3to100seconds)
 ChannelDisplay:Particlesizesdisplayedduringtest.
 AmbientTemp/RH:Allowsthedisplayoftheairtempand%RHvalues
 SampleCycle:Numberoftestcyclestorun(1to100)
 SampleMode:Cumulative,differential,concentration
 Interval:Testcycledelaymeasuredinseconds.
 LevelIndication:Particlelevelselection(highlightedondisplay)
PressESCtoreturntotestingscreen
PressRUN/STOPtostarttheautomatedtestsequence.
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6VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
TakingMeasurements
Afterpoweringthemeter,presstheEnter() buttontoaccess
theParticleMeasurementscreen.Thenopenthe
temperature/RHsensorbyslidingitsprotectivecover
downward.
Whenmeasuringparticlecounts,these
icons correspondtothefunctionkeys(F1,F2,F3).
F1istoenterCameraandvideomode,F2istoviewyoursaved
data,andF3isforSetupmode.
Thedisplaywillshowtheparticlecountchannelswithreadings,
airtemperature(AT),Dewpointtemperature(DP),Wetbulb
temperature(WB),andRelativeHumidity(%RH)asshownin
accompanyingdiagram.
PresstheRUN/STOPbuttontostarttheairpumpandtheparticlecountmeasurement
process.Whentheprogrammedsamplingtimehaselapsed,theparticlemeasurementcycle
willautomaticallyendandthemeasurementdatawillbeautomaticallystored.Tosetthe
samplingtime,refertotheParticleCountSETUPMODEsection.Ifdesired,pressthe
RUN/STOPbuttonandstopthesessionmanually.
Whenmeasuringparticlecounts,theseiconscorrespondtothefunctionkeys
(F1,F2,F3).F1istoenterCameraandvideomode,F2istoviewyoursaveddata,andF3isfor
Setupmode.
 
CapturingImages
Whilemeasuringparticlecounts,pressF1toenterthecameramode.PressF1tocapturea
Stillimage.ThenpressF1toSavetheimageorF3todeleteit.PressESCtogetbacktoexit
thismode.
CapturingVideo
Whilemeasuringparticlecounts,pressF1toenterthecameramode.PressF3toenterthe
videomode.TheLCDwillshow.NowpressF2tocapurevideoandpress
F2againtostopthevideocapture.Thevideofilewillbeautomaticallystored.TheSystem
Setupmodesectionallowstheusertostorevideotothemeter’sinternalmemoryortoan
installedMicro‐SDcard.PressESCtoexitthismode.
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ParticleCounterSetupMode
Whenmeasuring,thesedisplayicons arevisible.Press
F3toentertheSetupmode.Usetheupanddownarrowkeystoselect
anoptiontoeditandpressENTER()toaccesstheselection.
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SAMPLETIME(TestCycleTime)
SelectSampleTime.PresstheEnter()buttontoentertheoption
andPressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethearrowbuttonstosetthe
samplingtime/gasvolume(3to60seconds).UsetheEscbuttontosave
andreturntothemenu.

7VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
STARTDELAY
Theteststartdelaytimeisadjustable(3to100seconds).FromtheParticlesetupmenu,use
theUpandDownarrowstoselectStartDelay.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoption
andPressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectthe
desiredelaytime.Thetestwillnotstartuntiltheprogrammeddelaytimehaselapsed.Use
theEscbuttontosavethesettingandtoreturntothemenulist.
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CHANNELDISPLAY
Selectchannelsthataretobedisplayed.FromtheParticlesetupmenu,usetheUpandDown
arrowstoselectChannelDisplay.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoption.Usethe
arrowkeystoselectthechannelandpresstheEnterkeytoselectorde‐selectthechannel.
UsetheEsckeytosavethesettingandtoreturntothemenu.
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AMBIENTTEMPERAURE/%RH
EnableorDisabletheambienttemperatureandrelativehumiditydisplays.FromtheParticle
setupmenu,usetheUpandDownarrowstoselectAmbientTemp/RH.PresstheEnter()
buttontoentertheoption.UsethearrowkeystoselectEnableorDisableandusetheESC
buttontosaveandreturntothemenu.
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SAMPLECYCLE
Setthedesirednumberoftestcyclestorun.FromtheParticlesetupmenu,usetheUpand
DownarrowstoselectSampleCycle.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoptionand
PressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectthenumber
ofcyclestorunthetest(1to100).PressESCtosavesettingandtoreturntothemenulist.






8VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15

SAMPLEMODE
Selectdesiredmode(Cumulative,Differential,orConcentration).FromtheParticle
setupmenu,usetheUpandDownarrowstoselectSampleMode.PresstheEnter() button
toentertheoption.UsethearrowbuttonstoselectdesiredmodeandthenuseESCtosave
andtoreturntothemenulist.
CumulativeMode–measuresallparticlesthataregreaterthanorequaltotheparticlesize
selectedintheSampleVolumefield.

DifferentialMode–measuresallparticlesthataregreaterthanorequaltotheparticlesize
selectedintheSampleVolumefield,butlessthanthenextlargestparticlesize.

ConcentrationMode–usedtotakeaquicksampleofairborneparticulates,performed
especiallyinareaswheretheparticulatelevelsareunknownandmayexceedtheoperating
levelsofthiscounter.


INTERVAL(TIMEBETWEENREPEATEDTESTCYCLES)
Setthetimebetweentestsfortestswithmorethanonecycle(1to100seconds).Fromthe
Particlesetupmenu,usetheUpandDownarrowstoselectIntervalTime.PresstheEnter()
buttontoentertheoptionandPressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethe
arrowbuttonstosetthedesiredintervaltime.UsetheESCbuttontosavesettingandto
returntothemenu.Note:TheINTERVALsettingisonlyforprogrammingthetimebetween
testcycles,notbetweenindividualmeasurements.


9VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15

LEVEL(ALARMLIMIT)INDICATION
SelecttheAlarmLimit(Level)ofthecorrespondingparticlesize.Whentheselectedparticle
sizeisexceeded,theinstrumentalertstheuser.FromtheParticlesetupmenu,usetheUpand
DownarrowstoselectLevelIndication.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoption.Use
thearrowbuttonstoselectthedesiredalarmlimitandthenpressESCtosavesettingand
returntothemenu.
MemoryStorageBrowser
WhenthemeterisswitchedON,theseLCDiconsare
visible .PressF1toenterthedatamemory
section.Therearethreeoptionsavailableinthememorymode,
Picture,Video,andParticleLogs.
UsethearrowbuttonstoselectoneandthenpressENTER() to
accesstheselection.
Whenbrowsingimages,data,andvideousethearrowbuttonsto
navigate,usetheEnterbuttontoselect,andusetheESCorF3
buttontoreturntothemenu.
PressESCagaintoexittothepower‐onscreen.
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10VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
SystemSetupParameters
WhenthemeterisswitchedON,theseLCDiconsarevisible .ClickontheF2
keyandthemenulistwillappear.Detailedexplanationsareprovidedbelowforeach
parameter.UsetheArrowkeystochoosethedesiredparameter.
DATE/TIME SettheDateandTime.PresstheEnter() buttontoopenthe
selectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystochangeavalue,anduse
theEnterbuttontogotothenextitem.PresstheESCbuttontosave
thesettingreturntotheSetupmenu.






FONTCOLOR  SelectthecolorfortheDisplayfont.PresstheEnter() buttonto
opentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectacolor
andusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturntotheSetup
menu.










LANGUAGE Selectthedesiredlanguageformenutext.PresstheEnter()
buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselect
alanguageandusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturnto
theSetupmenu.



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11VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
BRIGHTNESS   Adjustthedisplaytothedesiredbrightnesslevel.PresstheEnter
() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeysto
selectalevelandusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturnto
theSetupmenu.





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


AUTOPOWEROFFSelectelapsedtimevaluebeforemeterswitchesOFF.Pressthe
Enter() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrow
keystoselectthesettingandusetheESCbuttontosavethesetting
andreturntotheSetupmenu.







DISPLAYTIME‐OUTSelectdisplayauto‐offdelay.PresstheEnter() buttontoopenthe
selectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectasettinganduse
theESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturntotheSetupmenu.

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12VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
MEMORYSTATUSDisplaythememoryandthemicro‐SDcardstatus.PresstheEnter
() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeysto
select‘Device’or‘SDCard’andthenviewthestatusfortheselected
item.UsetheESCbuttontoreturntotheSetupmenu.








FACTORYDEFAULTRestorefactorydefaultsettings.PresstheEnter() buttontoopen
theselectionforediting.UsethearrowkeystoselectYESorNOand
thenusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturntotheSetup
menu.





UNITSSelectthedesiredunitofmeasurefortemperatureCorF.Pressthe
Enter() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrow
keystoselecttheUnitandusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingand
returntotheSetupmenu.



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13VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
ZerotheParticlecountSensor

Particlesmustbepurged(removed)fromthesensorbeforeandaftereachuseinahigh
samplecountenvironment.

Zerothesensor:
1. UnscrewandremovetheIsokineticprobeandattachtheZerocountfilter.
2. TurnonthemeterandintheSetupmode,
a. SettheSamplemodetoCumulative.
b. SettheChannelDisplaytoensureallchannelsareselected.
c. SetSampletimeto60seconds
d. SetSampleCycleto10
3. Startthemeter
4. Allowthemetertorununtilalloftheparticlecountsreadzero.Youmayneedto
runthemetermultipletimestoensurethatallchannelsreadzero.
5. Turnoffthemeter.
6. RemovetheZerocountfilterandattachtheIsokineticprobe.




14VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
ParticleCounterConsiderations

Particlepollutionisamixtureofvariouscomponentsincludingsmoke,dust,chemicals,mold,
andgases.Particleconcentrationscanaffectourhealthandcomfortlevels.Evaluatingthe
qualityoftheairbydeterminingtheconcentrationandsizeoftheseparticlescanhelpto
determineifaproblemexists.Locatingthesourceofthesevariousparticlescanhelpto
determineeffectivemethodsofreducingtheseandimprovingtheIndoorAirQuality(IAQ).

Onewaytodeterminethesourceofairparticulatesinaroomistotesttheairoutsideofthe
roomunderinvestigation.Determinetheconcentrationandsizeofparticulatesattheairintake
tothatroom.PurgeorZerotheparticlecounterandthenmeasuretheconcentrationandsize
ofparticlesinmultipleareasoftheroomtobetested,todeterminetheeffectivenessofthe
incomingairfiltration.Theairtemperature,relativehumidity,andCO2levelsarealsoan
importantconsiderationforIAQashighhumidityandlowertemperaturescanbringaboutmold
creation.

IfaroomisclassifiedasanISOcleanroomorcleanzone,thecountsofparticlesizesforthat
classcannotbeexceededwhentested.
RefertotheISOCleanRoomClasschart(ISO14644‐1:1999)forvalues.

TheVPC300isequippedwithastill/videocameratodirectlyseetheareasundertest.Data,
images,andvideocanbestoredonuptoan8GBmicro‐SDcard(notincluded)orinthemeter’s
internal74MBmemory.

Thelifeofthemetercanbemaximizedbytestingonlywhennecessaryandsecurelystoringthe
instrumentwhenitisnotinuse.Continuoususeisnotrecommendedandcanshortenthelifeof
theinstrumentespeciallyindustyenvironments.Settingupacommonsensemaintenance
scheduleandtestingtotheschedulewillgoalongwayinlengtheningthelifeoftheinstrument
sensor.

PCInterfaceandSuppliedPCsoftware

ThismeterhasthecapabilitytoconnecttoandcommunicatewithaPC.AUSBcableissupplied
andconnectstothejackonthemeter’sleftsidecompartment.
Toinstallandusethesoftware,pleaserefertotheinstructionsprovidedonthesuppliedCD‐
ROMand/ortheinstructionsprovidedintheHELPUtilitywithinthesoftwareprogram.

Checkthesoftwaredownloadpageofthewebsitewww.extech.comforthelatestversionofthe
PCsoftwareanditsoperatingsystemcompatibility.
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15VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
BatteryChargingandReplacement
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WhenthebatteryiconappearsdrainedontheLCDorifthemeterwillnotswitchON,the
batterymustberechargedusingthesuppliedACadaptor/charger.Thechargerplugconnectsto
thejacklocatedonthemeter’sleftsidecompartment.
Thebatterycompartmentislocatedontherearoftheinstrument.
Thebatteryisa7.4VLithium‐ionpolymerrechargeablebattery.
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Toaccessthemeter’sbatteryforreplacement:
1. Ontherearofthemeter,removethePhillipsheadscrewthatsecuresthebattery
compartment.
2. Openthecompartmentbycarefullyliftingthecompartmentcover.
3. Replacethebatterywithoneofthesametype(notethattheMicro‐SDcardslotis
locatedunderneaththebatteryasexplainedbelow).
4. ClosethecompartmentandsecurethecompartmentcoverwiththePhillipsheadscrew
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BatterySafetyReminders
oPleasedisposeofbatteriesresponsibly;observelocal,state,andnationalregulations.
oNeverdisposeofbatteriesinfire;batteriesmayexplodeorleak.
oAlwaysinstallanewbatteryofthesametype.
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Micro‐SDCardSlot(optional)
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Themicro‐SDcardslotislocatedinsidethebatterycompartmentunderneaththebattery.
Micro‐SDcardsupto8GBcanbeinsertedintheslot.
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ToaccesstheSDmemorycardslot:
1. TurnoffpowertothemeterandremovetheACadaptercableifconnected.
2. Openthebatterycompartmentasdescribedinthebatteryreplacementsection.
3. Removethebattery.
4. Insertamicro‐SDcard(8GBmax.)inthecardslotunderneaththebatterybyliftingupon
themetalcardholderandplacingtheMicroSDcardintheconnector.Thepinsfacing
towardsthetopofthemeter.Closethemetalholder.
5. Insertthebatteryandsecurethecompartmentcoverbeforepoweringonthemeter.
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16VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
Specifications
ParticleCounter
Channels  Sixchannels:0.3,0.5,1.0,2.5,5.0,10μm
FlowRate  0.1ft3/min(2.83L/min)
CountingEfficiency 50%at0.3μm;100%forparticles>0.45μm
CoincidenceLoss 5%at2,000,000particlesperft3
ParticleCountModes Cumulative,Differential,andConcentrationmodes
AirTemperatureandRelativeHumidityMeasurements
AirTemperatureRange 32to122oF(0to50oC)
DewPoint/WetBulbTemperatureRange 32to122oF(0to50oC)
RelativeHumidityRange 0to100%RH
AirTemperatureAccuracy±0.9oF(0.5oC)50to104oF(10oCto40oC)
±1.8oF(1.0oC)allotherranges
DewPoint/WetBulbTemperatureAccuracy±0.9oF(0.5oC)50to104oF(10oCto40oC)
1.8oF(1.0oC)allotherranges
RelativeHumidityAccuracy±3%RHfrom40to60%RH
±3.5%RHfrom20to40%RHandfrom60to80%RH
±5.0%RHfrom0to20%RHandfrom80to100%RH
GeneralSpecifications
Display  2.8”320x240pixelTFTColorLCDwithbacklight
Lowbatteryindication BatterysymbolappearsontheLCD
Micro‐SDCardSlot Accommodatesupan8GBcard
Meterinternalmemory 5000samplerecords;74MB
Powersupply  Rechargeable7.4VLithium‐ionpolymerbattery
Batterylife  Approx.4hoursofcontinuoususe
Batterychargetime 2hoursapprox.withACadaptor/charger
OperatingTemperature 32to122oF(0to50oC)
Operating/StorageHumidity10to90%RHnon‐condensing
StorageTemperature 14to140oF(‐10to60oC)
Dimensions  9.4x3.0x2.2”(240x75x57mm)
Weight  1.26lbs.(570g)
Copyright©2014‐2015FLIRSystems,Inc.
Allrightsreservedincludingtherightofreproductioninwholeorinpartinanyform
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