Thermal Myth No.9 ~ 'Thermal imaging cameras are damaged by solar radiation'

It’s true that some lower quality thermal cameras may be damaged by the sun – either temporarily or permanently - but not FLIR’s units. These incorporate Vanadium Oxide microbolometer detectors which are immune to permanent damage, even when directly viewing the sun in normal video applications. Some minor temporary effects on image quality may be observed, because of the very high amount of thermal energy radiated by the sun. However mechanisms are incorporated which minimise these effects (including filters, anti-reflective coatings and improved electronics in the detectors). As a result, any temporary ‘ghosting’ which follows direct viewing of the sun will quickly disappear without any intervention from the operator. 

It should be remembered that cheaper thermal cameras, which are not as well made, may not be immune to the effects of solar radiation – and even good quality units which do not use Vandium  Oxide will be vulnerable. In fact some suppliers advise users not to point their cameras directly at the sun. In the real world this is often unavoidable, therefore the best advice is not to risk using units which are susceptible to solar radiation damage.