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Topic: Infrared image of motorhome interior during winter (Read 15 times) previous topic - next topic
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Infrared image of motorhome interior during winter
Yahoo Message Number: 158358
About 6 months ago, Andy Baird recommended the FLIR ONE infrared imager attachment for the iPhone. I recently bought one, now that the backlog of orders is gone. I've posted an image in the FLIR ONE album, showing the 71 deg F heated interior of my SOB during a 35 deg F day, with the motorhome in the shade.
 I intend to take pictures of the outside in the same conditions, hoping it will help me find "heat leaks" that I can seal, improving the cold weather comfort. It's a nifty device, but I expect it will take a while to make good use of it; meanwhile, it's fun to wander around, looking at stuff.

Eric Greenwell
2005 Jayco 24SS
Re: Infrared image of motorhome interior during winter
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 158363
If you want to find all the drafts, with your infrared camera, on a cold day, close all the doors and windows and run the Fantastic fans, on exhaust.
The camera will show where the streams of cold air are entering..
Warm the interior before starting for even more noticeable differences, when viewing the images.

Not owning an infrared camera or adaptor...yet.  Instead,f I use a smoke stick or a piece of burning incense to spot the tiny jets of air entering.
In our LD, I found several nice leaks, with air entering through the exterior storage compartments.
Caulking the tiny gaps made a big difference in cold weather, when sitting around in the evening.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Infrared image of motorhome interior during winter
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 158380
Good suggestions, Larry. I'm wondering if it would also be useful to use the fans to pressurize the interior, then take pictures of the exterior.
Looking for warm spots might be easier on the relatively smooth exterior, compare to the interior, with all the furniture, cabinets, and appliances hiding things.

Eric
  [lifewithalazydazerv] wrote on 1/26/2016 9:55 AM:
2005 Jayco 24SS
Re: Infrared image of motorhome interior during winter
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 158382
Try it both ways, it would interesting to see the images. Get the interior nice and warm, so there is a big difference in temperatures.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
 
Re: Infrared image of motorhome interior during winter
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 158390
It probably goes without saying that drafts are only one of the ways an RV can lose heat in cold weather. The other, of course, is direct conduction through walls, ceiling, and windows (especially the aluminum frames). An infrared camera such as the FLIR ONE makes it easy to spot heat loss in these areas, but even an inexpensive contactless IR thermometer can be very helpful.

Speaking of IR photos and cold leaks, I recently spotted something odd while playing with my FLIR ONE camera and iPhone: three cold "holes" in the floor of my 2003 midbath, just inboard of the oven. The "holes," which show up as dark (cold) areas on a thermogram, are about three inches in diameter. There's nothing visible, but they are very obvious in a thermal photo. (I've uploaded an example to the Photos area.) There must be gaps in the insulation under the floor there, but why would they be in the shape of multiple, regularly spaced circular shapes? One of these days I'll crawl underneath and see whether there's anything obvious visible there.

Andy Baird
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"