Flir TG165 for automotive diagnostics

[RedneckWelder]

First of all yes I know it’s not a full fledged thermal imager. If I had the budget for it I’d be getting something like a Flir E4 or the Snap On one. But I don’t.

I have used the Snap On one a couple of times for A/C diagnostics and even diagnosing air leakage in an engine bay on an excavator and found it extremely useful. Not an everyday tool to justify the purchase of a tool of that caliber, but useful enough to want something with thermal capabilities.

I know about the Seek and Flir One cameras. Reviews on the Seek say issues with the app and I’ve heard that the Flir Ones can be a little buggy also. Plus I work in a shop environment and would rather not be using an attachment on my phone crawling all over a machine.

The TG165 looks like it’d be decent for the use I want it for and good for the price. Anyone use one for auto/ auto A/C diagnostics, how does it work for that role?

I’ve also been looking at the el cheapo chinese Thermal imagers in the $200-300 range on Amazon but reviews are so mixed I’m not sure I want to take a cheap chance

 

[ItsNemo]

Interested...I would be happy to find a relatively inexpensive thermal imager.

 

[Fix Until Broke]

I've use a Flir C2 and it works pretty well - like the screen size and simplicity of it, though it might be just a bit out of your price range compared to the TG165, the larger screen is nice and being able to control it with your computer is even nicer. They're all rubber coated, charge with USB, pretty tough/durable, overlay visual with IR, etc.

https://www.flir.com/products/c2/

The Flir One Pro or One Pro LT might be another option as well using your smart phone as the display. They look to be in the $275-325 range. I know you mentioned not wanting to use your phone, but I wonder if you could use an extension cable so you can hold the phone in one hand and the camera in the other on a cable allowing you to keep the phone safe and get the camera in tighter locations?

https://www.flir.com/products/flir-one-pro/

https://www.flir.com/products/flir-one-pro-lt/

 

[bpankratz]

I'd definitely try it. I own a Flir multimeter as well as an E4 and am happy with both.