Infiray P2 PRO Good Yet Affordable Thermal Camera | Voltlog #442

Thermal imaging has become an indispensable tool for electronics enthusiasts and professionals alike, allowing for detailed inspection and analysis of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic components. In this review, we take a closer look at the Infiray P2 PRO, a compact and affordable thermal camera that promises to deliver impressive performance for PCB inspection tasks.

Designed specifically for PCB work, the Infiray P2 PRO stands out with its high-resolution 256×192 pixel sensor and a blistering 25Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth and detailed thermal imaging. With a temperature range spanning from -20°C to a scorching 550°C, this camera is well-equipped to handle even the most demanding applications.

One of the key highlights of the P2 PRO is its optional macro lens, which allows for incredibly close-up inspections of PCBs and individual components. With a working distance of approximately 30mm, you can easily identify hotspots and thermal anomalies on silicon dies, IC packages, and even tiny 0402 resistors – a capability unmatched by many competing products in this price range.

The camera’s compact size and included USB-C extension cable make it highly versatile, allowing you to easily maneuver it into tight spaces and enclosures for thorough inspections. The intuitive Android app offers a wealth of features, including multiple color palettes, emissivity and ambient temperature adjustments, and advanced measurement tools like spot, line, and area measurements.

While the P2 PRO doesn’t offer image merging capabilities found in higher-end thermal cameras, it does provide a picture-in-picture mode for general orientation. Additionally, the ability to record video and audio simultaneously proves invaluable for documenting your findings and observations. Compared to alternatives like the UNI-T UTI260B, which lacks a dedicated macro lens out of the box, the Infiray P2 PRO shines in its out-of-the-box readiness for PCB inspection tasks.

Its combination of high resolution, macro capabilities, and user-friendly software make it a compelling choice for hobbyists, repair technicians, and electronics professionals on a budget.

Andonstar AD409 PCB Inspection Rework Microscope | Voltlog #434

In this comprehensive review, we take an in-depth look at the Andonstar AD409 digital microscope, a versatile tool designed for PCB inspection and rework tasks on the electronics workbench. With its compact and ergonomic design, this microscope offers a convenient alternative to traditional trinocular microscopes, while still providing high-quality imaging capabilities.

The AD409 comes well-packaged and assembling it is a straightforward process, requiring no user manual. The build quality is decent, with a sliding mechanism that allows for height adjustment, although not as smooth as one might desire. The wiring setup is optimized, with a combo power cable that powers both the LED lights and the monitor/camera system, reducing cable clutter.

One notable feature is the 10.1-inch monitor with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels, delivering a crisp and clear image. The 4MP camera captures high-resolution images and videos, and the inclusion of a UV filter helps protect the lens from scratches and dust. The working distance of around 7cm (2.5 inches) may be a bit tight for some soldering tasks, but a clever trick allows you to increase the working distance by sliding the camera up, providing a more comfortable working space.

The included remote control, while not as responsive as one might hope, is a handy addition, allowing you to capture images and videos without disturbing the camera’s position. Image and video recording is facilitated by a micro SD card slot (up to 32GB supported), and the on-screen display menu provides access to various camera settings and adjustments.

One intriguing feature is the experimental Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows you to connect the microscope to a mobile app (available for iOS and Android) for live viewing and image/video transfer. While not fully implemented yet, this could be a useful addition for those who need to incorporate captured media into their workflows.

In conclusion, the Andonstar AD409 digital microscope is a highly recommended choice for those seeking an ergonomic and space-saving solution for PCB inspection and rework tasks. While it may not match the stereoscopic depth perception of a trinocular microscope, its compact design, clear imaging, and convenient features make it an excellent option for hobbyists and professionals alike.

I built the ultimate electronics workbench using just a screwdriver | Voltlog 377

In this video I’m gonna show you how I built this awesome electronics workbench using just a screwdriver, yup, you’ve heard that right, you don’t need any other tools, just a screwdriver. In my opinion this is the ultimate electronics workbench, it has just the right height for me, it uses the available space as efficient as possible, it’s very strong and best of all it’s modular and upgradeable: meaning you will be able to grab this project and customize the size of the workbench to fit your available space or your particular needs. Oh and did I mention that it costs less than those commercially available off the shelf workbenches with similar specs? Stick with me in this video and I’ll share the full details on how I built mine.

New Lab, New Voltlog Electronics Workbench | Voltlog #367

The most important part of this lab is obviously the workbench and this is something that I designed myself, I guess I can call this the Voltlog Workbench Design, it’s 2m wide with 80cm deep. The working surface comes out at about 95 cm from the floor. It sits on these adjustable feet but I haven’t even leveled it so far. Thanks to my friends at Welectron.com my working surface is protected with these nice premium ESD Mats. They are 100% and phthalates free, no bad smell, Heat and solder resistant, Chemical resistant, two layer ESD bottom side is conductive, top side is dissipative and they have this nice anti-reflective surface finish which is very comfortable to work on. I went with gray because it works best as a background for video shooting but you can opt for Blue as well. I’ll put a link to these in the description below, I highly recommend Welectron for their services & customer care and I highly recommend these ESD mats they are top quality.