Hi Sandy, we met at the tow yard last year. I'm very sorry about your loss.

The entire concept of the thermal throttle is that it is the mechanism that is similar to the one that makes your pupil dilate or constrict. In some TIs the t/t is manual; in others it is automatic, such as the 'electronic iris'. All TICs need this engineering so that the sensor plate doesn't overload with thermal energy and fail. Sort of like when you look at the sun, you can put welders' goggles on, or you can squint.
In short, all TICs have it in one fashion or another. It is of great value as the Safe-IR instruction will tell you. The activity of the t/t essentially shifts the TIs gears. When it activates it goes into a low sensitivity to eliminate the big white cloud (white out) of thermal energy so that you make see a better image, and only the 'hottest' stuff regarding the fire. This is why the TI named below by Mike Dovel operates the way it does. This enables us to visualize the present conditions and objects in a clearer fashion.

Be Safe,
Dave

My department has decided to add a second Bullard TIC to the TIC line-up, for a total of three cameras. The member that researched the purchase agrees with the majority of the previous posts. TT is nice, when you know how to use it, but truely and added expense.

We should also be aware of the differences in just what the terminology implies. Some of what's been discussed can be misunderstood. What Dave G refers to is a combination of the automatic adjusting in gain and then shifting into the less sensitive range of the sensor when it detects higher energy levels. These inputs are automatic with little operator control. What Sandy refers to is the "Electronic Thermal Throttle" on a particular brand. This option does not actually duplicate it's namesakes function which was a manual IRIS or "gate" which mechanically opened or closed to allow full or lesser amounts of energy into the sensor. It was seen in Raytheon technology used in at least two different manufacturers' TIC's and was reffered to as the Thermal Throttle by the manufacturer. Confused? Or enlightened?

Dean Babineau said:

My department has decided to add a second Bullard TIC to the TIC line-up, for a total of three cameras. The member that researched the purchase agrees with the majority of the previous posts. TT is nice, when you know how to use it, but truely and added expense.