Thermal imaging?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Hey guys. I’m interested in purchasing a thermal imager for looking into my breaker panel, outlets around the house, door seals, insulation, etc but unsure where to look or what’s good for the money. I wouldn’t consider myself a “DIY” but I’m also not using it everyday professionally. Any recommendations?

 

[mike93lx]

I have the FLIR one USB-c for my android phone and like it a lot. It's small and resolution is decent. Work's great for heat loss, hot breakers, etc... Just the stuff you are listing. Bought mine Amazon warehouse, open box for $128.

 

[isr2kba]

I bought this one. I use it for all sorts of things. It’s particularly good at spotting problem trailer wheel bearings long before they strand anyone or drop anything.

 

[MovingAlong]

Hey guys. I’m interested in purchasing a thermal imager for looking into my breaker panel, outlets around the house, door seals, insulation, etc but unsure where to look or what’s good for the money. I wouldn’t consider myself a “DIY” but I’m also not using it everyday professionally. Any recommendations?

My local library has the Klein Thermal Imager available for checkout. Might be interesting to try one before buying...

 

[mike93lx]

My local library has the Klein Thermal Imager available for checkout. Might be interesting to try one before buying...

That's pretty cool

 

[ItsNemo]

I have the Seek Reveal Pro, it works fairly well, though I wish it had video capabilities. The reason I went this way is it has a 320x240 sensor at the lowest price possible without requiring a phone. I wanted a usefully high resolution because the low res ones ****. I didn't want a phone based one because the apps are always flakey and they might not work in 5 years as tech advances, whereas a standalone will work for forever (mostly, as long as you can replace the battery).

 

[finn]

I’ve got the Seek. Don’t remember the model, though.

I used it to locate the tubes in my shop floor, and a few other things, like checking for insulation leaks and electrical wiring routing in the walls, but nothing in the past two years.

Beyond the first project or two, it becomes sort of a novelty tool, and as time goes on will probably get little use until it eventually becomes unsupported and obsolete.

That said, it was invalunable when installing the two post lift.

 

[mike93lx]

Beyond the first project or two, it becomes sort of a novelty tool, and as time goes on will probably get little use until it eventually becomes unsupported and obsolete.

I've definitely slowed down on using mine, but my buddies have gotten good use from it too. It's a tool that I look at as being good to have one in a friends group, no need for more than one.

Same with an engine stand or drywall hoist

 

[Tactile]

I would be a bit nervous buying an IR unit that connects to a phone. Even though they work OK, you are left exposed to the manufacturer to upgrade and maintain the app on the phone. You may be OK with FLIR or Fluke for a bit longer but I still wouldn't buy them. I have already lost Bluetooth connectivity to a measuring device due to this.

Recently upgraded from a FLIR TG165 to a Bosch GTC 400c. IR has come a long way in the last few years. The FLIR TG165X might be worth a look.

 

[mike93lx]

I would be a bit nervous buying an IR unit that connects to a phone. Even though they work OK, you are left exposed to the manufacturer to upgrade and maintain the app on the phone. You may be OK with FLIR or Fluke for a bit longer but I still wouldn't buy them. I have already lost Bluetooth connectivity to a measuring device due to this.

Recently upgraded from a FLIR TG165 to a Bosch GTC 400c. IR has come a long way in the last few years. The FLIR TG165X might be worth a look.

Lol. My USB unit was a bit over a hundred bucks and you are suggesting $500-$1k+. I am sure they are better units, but for an average homeowner, a basic unit that won't be supported forever is just fine

 

[Tactile]

Lol. My USB unit was a bit over a hundred bucks and you are suggesting $500-$1k+. I am sure they are better units, but for an average homeowner, a basic unit that won't be supported forever is just fine

He asked for a recommendation...I gave it. Sometimes it's not about the money...let him decide. You can get the TG165 for under $500 too by the way (lol).

 

[mike93lx]

He asked for a recommendation...I gave it. Sometimes it's not about the money...let him decide. You can get the TG165 for under $500 too by the way (lol).

I know, just busting chops.

I get the desire to not have the obsolescence risk of phone-tied, just don't think its worth paying a lot extra to move away from that. To each their own...lots of choices

 

[finn]

I know, just busting chops.

I get the desire to not have the obsolescence risk of phone-tied, just don't think its worth paying a lot extra to move away from that. To each their own...lots of choices

That’s why I got a phone tied unit. Lower initial cost for a device that seemed to have technology that was at the bottom of the bell curve, and would be obsoleted in a few years anyway.

Sort of like digital cameras that were shortly replaced by phones, dvd players, 8 track players, dvd players, etc.

I just accep that these technologies evolve, and whatever I buy will be obsolete in the not too distant future.

The price of progress is obsolescence.

 

[engineer2]

I bought the InfiRay P2Pro. You can find it on Amazon. Powered by the phone. Seems to have pretty good specs for the price.

 

[jar944]

I have the seek

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Yeah, I bought a topdon but wasn’t happy with it. I’ll look into these suggestions. I’m mostly looking for a handheld unit not a phone based one.

 

[danski0224]

Hikmicro Pocket 2

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Is the flir tg297 decent for the money? Automotive uses and for checking heaters, insulation, breaker panel, electrical issues, etc?
I see they’re marketed at different trades. Is that where they excel or just the minimum they’d be good for?

 

[mike93lx]

I see they’re marketed at different trades. Is that where they excel or just the minimum they’d be good for?

Its just marketing

 

[gahrajmahal]

Aa friend hired a home inspector that included it as part of the package. It kept him from buying a home with extensive termite damage.

 

[scooby074]

Im only familiar with the high end industrial Flir stuff from doing electrical inspections. Very impressive kit. Spookily impressive actually.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Im only familiar with the high end industrial Flir stuff from doing electrical inspections. Very impressive kit. Spookily impressive actually.

Any opinion on the TG297?

 

[bcradio]

Im only familiar with the high end industrial Flir stuff from doing electrical inspections. Very impressive kit. Spookily impressive actually.

What is an impressive kit?

 

[scooby074]

Any opinion on the TG297?

Just on the brand, Flir makes good stuff. One thing to be aware is they have in the past nerfed their product skus for price point so you could get a better model for significantly less money if youre willing to "hack" it. Have a look over on Dave Jones EEV Forum. There are a few really knowlegable Flir folks there.

The Flir tools Im familiar with are closer to $50k than $500 and even then I dont know a whole lot about the internals. We just look at the pretty pictures

 

[scooby074]

What is an impressive kit?

Flir T840 and its older cousin.

 

[bcradio]

Flir T840

I'll take one of those!

 

[Ilikeike]

 

[scooby074]

I'll take one of those!

Yeah. Definitely not mine. Not even the companies. Contract engineering firms who do inspections looking for hotspots etc. I dont know much of the inner workings, just that they cost as much as a car lol.

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

t kept him from buying a home with extensive termite damage.

Honestly curious, how did thermal imaging expose termite damage?

 

[mike93lx]

Honestly curious, how did thermal imaging expose termite damage?

Going to guess either the bugs giving off heat or increased thermal loss from air travelling through the damage

 

[Earp69]

Yeah. Definitely not mine. Not even the companies. Contract engineering firms who do inspections looking for hotspots etc. I dont know much of the inner workings, just that they cost as much as a car lol.

Yeah, there's a company that comes to my place of work that checks all our breakers quarterly for hotspots. He said just the wide angle lens was 25k, that was before covid.

 

[scooby074]

Yeah, there's a company that comes to my place of work that checks all our breakers quarterly for hotspots. He said just the wide angle lens was 25k, that was before covid.

Yup. The base camera is expensive, then the accessories push it to another level. Add on displays, lenses, chargers, battery pacs, fitted cases.. Big bucks.

 

[Tactile]

Is the flir tg297 decent for the money? Automotive uses and for checking heaters, insulation, breaker panel, electrical issues, etc?
I see they’re marketed at different trades. Is that where they excel or just the minimum they’d be good for?

I'd be happy with that unit. Even if you find it's not for you or you grow out of it pretty quick, they are easy to move on second hand, or so I've found anyway.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Honestly curious, how did thermal imaging expose termite damage?

Going to guess either the bugs giving off heat or increased thermal loss from air travelling through the damage

I’m no expert here, this was just the equipment from a home inspector he hired to check out a house before purchasing. The framing of the home visually looked solid. You typically shouldn’t aggressively poke at someone’s framing with hammers, awls etc. The thermal imaging showed the eaten lumber distinctly as another color. It coincided with the lumber closest to the cement walls. Upon further inspection, block walls with a smooth cement plastering. With the imaging to direct your attention, you could knock on or squeeze the joists to discover they were eaten away inside. I believe then a few mud tunnels were discovered and there was no active termite insects.

On hindsight, I would not have been put off by this termite damage if it was the right house for me. I would have proposed a significant discount upon this discovery and replaced the damaged wood. This is Cincinnati after all and most homes have had some termite damage at some time in their life. Most folks simply have not discovered it and contractors often take advantage of these distressed homeowners when repairing it.

If I was in the market for a new home I definitely would use an inspector with thermal imaging as part of the inspection. For the insulation and window condition, electrical hot spots and the density of the structure from insect damage.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I’m afraid to buy say the seek reveal pro which is on sale for $400 only to have a better model in the price range or have them bring in a new model close to the sale price.

 

[mike93lx]

I’m afraid to buy say the seek reveal pro which is on sale for $400 only to have a better model in the price range or have them bring in a new model close to the sale price.

If you don't need it, wait til you do, then buy and stop shopping. There is always the risk a newer/better version will come out

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

If you don't need it, wait til you do, then buy and stop shopping. There is always the risk a newer/better version will come out

I’m looking to see thermal loss in the house, check my breaker panel and new electrical install and throw it into my automotive diagnostic drawer for rotors, relays, etc. I’m not familiar with the spec’s and products available or really what the best bang for the buck is. Looking to get as good as I can for under $700. Flir has the TG297 on sale and seek has the reveal pro on sale. Don’t know if there’s better in the price range or even if one of the two is better than the other. Once I get the hardware I’ll be all set as I’ve used them before. Just not knowledgeable in the hardware department.

 

[mike93lx]

I’m looking to see thermal loss in the house, check my breaker panel and new electrical install and throw it into my automotive diagnostic drawer for rotors, relays, etc. I’m not familiar with the spec’s and products available or really what the best bang for the buck is. Looking to get as good as I can for under $700. Flir has the TG297 on sale and seek has the reveal pro on sale. Don’t know if there’s better in the price range or even if one of the two is better than the other. Once I get the hardware I’ll be all set as I’ve used them before. Just not knowledgeable in the hardware department.

You don't need to spend anywhere near that for those tasks, but you will get a nicer unit.

My $130 camera can do all that

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

What do higher quality cameras afford?

 

[mike93lx]

What do higher quality cameras afford?

Resolution, identifying temps at multiple spots in the image, faster response time, bigger screens