Night view camera glass replacement

[RacingDuck]

Can't you make a piece of acrylic glass yourself?
Why does it need coating or is the coating necessary for blocking certain frequencies?

You need a cover for 8 to 14 microns (LWIR) and you need to block out the other frequencies as the camera is based on microbolometers which are sensitive to basically the whole frequency spectrum.

I'm not sure you can get an acrylic sheet which covers these requirements.

And with the new restrictions on exporting germanium from China, it's probably even harder to get a replacement window.

The kit from Flir was under the number 421-0055-00 priced at $300. Maybe there is some specialty shop out there which still has a kit left.

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[TaycanAdjacent (Panamera)]

This is an extremely helpful thread, as I've been trying to find a replacement germanium window for my NVA camera. I've reached out to FLIR to ask a) if they'd be willing to sell / send me a replacement window, or b) provide specifications on the window / to confirm 33 mm dia, 4 mm thickness, AR/DLC 8-14 um.

'Standard' windows available out there typically have smaller or larger diameter (25 mm to 40 mm) and a DLC range of 7-14 um, but can be custom made... if I go custom route, I obviously want it fabricated to exact specs. Will let you know what I find out.

Has anyone tried / succeeded in using a smaller 25 mm with 8-14 um?

 

[SpaceMaster]

This is an extremely helpful thread, as I've been trying to find a replacement germanium window for my NVA camera. I've reached out to FLIR to ask a) if they'd be willing to sell / send me a replacement window, or b) provide specifications on the window / to confirm 33 mm dia, 4 mm thickness, AR/DLC 8-14 um.

'Standard' windows available out there typically have smaller or larger diameter (25 mm to 40 mm) and a DLC range of 7-14 um, but can be custom made... if I go custom route, I obviously want it fabricated to exact specs. Will let you know what I find out.

Has anyone tried / succeeded in using a smaller 25 mm with 8-14 um?

A smaller diameter will not reach the rubber seal inside. Also thinner than 4mm will not have the necessary clamping force to keep a good seal.

 

[TaycanAdjacent (Panamera)]

A smaller diameter will not reach the rubber seal inside. Also thinner than 4mm will not have the necessary clamping force to keep a good seal.

I figured... thank you. Will let everyone know if FLIR confirms exact specs on the window and, if so, where I'm able to order a custom replacement.

 

[SpaceMaster]

I figured... thank you. Will let everyone know if FLIR confirms exact specs on the window and, if so, where I'm able to order a custom replacement.

See my post on the first page.
Fits like a glove and works the same as the original.

Try these guys. Found them while dealing with the same thing. The thermal camera is made by Flir from 2002 and they used to offer this repair kit but the whole thing has been discontinued. The DLC coating is towards the outside.

While you wait for a replacement, try to wrap the camera with some cling film and a strong rubber band to avoid any moisture getting in. The camera inside isn’t waterproof and to get a new one it is a gargantuan pain in the ass, it’s VIN linked and it is discontinued by FLIR for non OEMs. And very expensive for what it is.

 

[TaycanAdjacent (Panamera)]

See my post on the first page.
Fits like a glove and works the same as the original.




While you wait for a replacement, try to wrap the camera with some cling film and a strong rubber band to avoid any moisture getting in. The camera inside isn’t waterproof and to get a new one it is a gargantuan pain in the ass, it’s VIN linked and it is discontinued by FLIR for non OEMs. And very expensive for what it is.

In that case, I might be toast... the window was broken when I purchased the car nearly 2 years ago and water has obviously been infiltrating since (and prior)... thanks!

 

[Fantasmos]

Has anyone put PPF over a good glass?

 

[SpaceMaster]

Has anyone put PPF over a good glass?

Doesn’t work, most materials out there block or scatter IR in the 8-14nm range. You could try putting brown PET, plastic bottles is a good source for this, but the signal will be attenuated, PET is not as transparent to IR as germanium is.

Side note: the camera inside has the necessary filter for the part of the IR it needs, so theoretically you could put any IR transparent material on top, germanium is the best choice because all other options with acceptable transmission are even less tough.

 

[whitex]

Anyone tried Perspex 962 IR as a replacement. It's an acrylic, so can be laser cut to size. Blocks visible light, passes IR through. ~$12 for a 150mm x 150 mm x 3mm sheet on ebay, which can yield you multiple replacements from a single sheet. Laser jammer installers use this material for stealth installations.

 

[SpaceMaster]

Anyone tried Perspex 962 IR as a replacement. It's an acrylic, so can be laser cut to size. Blocks visible light, passes IR through. ~$12 for a 150mm x 150 mm x 3mm sheet on ebay, which can yield you multiple replacements from a single sheet. Laser jammer installers use this material for stealth installations.

This plastic looks like is only transparent in Near infrared and only 37% on average across 310-2130nm
The spectrum useful for thermal cameras is Long Wave IR (LWIR) which is 8000-14000nm (8-14um) and germanium has an average transmission of >99% in this range with almost no scattering.

PS> Your diagram axis labels are mostly unreadable.

@whitex tnx!, fixed now

 

[whitex]

This plastic looks like is only transparent in Near infrared and only 37% on average across 310-2130nm
The spectrum useful for thermal cameras is Long Wave IR (LWIR) which is 8000-14000nm (8-14um) and germanium has an average transmission of >99% in this range with almost no scattering.

View attachment 73075

Interesting.
PS> Your diagram axis labels are mostly unreadable.

 

[whitex]

This plastic looks like is only transparent in Near infrared and only 37% on average across 310-2130nm
The spectrum useful for thermal cameras is Long Wave IR (LWIR) which is 8000-14000nm (8-14um) and germanium has an average transmission of >99% in this range with almost no scattering.

@whitex tnx!, fixed now

Just for fun, I took an acrylic IR pass filter (slightly different than the Perspex above, 700-1600nm pass band) and put it in front of a FLIR-One camera which connects to an iPhone (I didn't feel like going outside to try it on my car) and can confirm that it completely blocked the FLIR camera. I'll probably try with a Taycan sometime when I get my hands on the actual perspex acrylic, but pretty sure it will block it too. It's not that I didn't believe you, I just like to "trust but verify".

 

[TaycanAdjacent (Panamera)]

Reached out to this company, who claims to make Silicon protective lenses with IR capabilities designed as a germanium substitute... will post their response once received:

https://midopt.com/landing_page/sil...wdZY954gURtyKJTrVBGibqVfr6dDkU-MaAt8pEALw_wcB

In the meantime, and since my germanium window has been broken for some time (therefore camera behind is likely compromised), I low-balled an offer on a used FLIR PathFindIR II on ebay, which was accepted... supposedly coming from Dubai. Probably a scam, but worth the gamble at low-ball offer.

 

[Pinballplanet]

Any updates? Has anyone found a replacement germanium lens for the IR (night vision) camera?

 

[I888I]

Today I found the glass of the night vision lens on my Taycan GTS scattered. Obviously I asked the Porsche centre for an estimate for repair, and go a €8,583.55 as repair cost…

I know Porsche service is good but expensive, but an €8500 bill to repair an €2500 option after some stone chip scattered a 5cm2 low placed glass panel is still a surprise…

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