Thermal imaging camera, any recommendations on the budget end?

[Mattja]

Not something I really need so don't want to spend a lot, but toying with the idea of getting a cheap one to see if it comes in useful, say locating underfloor heating elements or bad connections, and perhaps a look at the house from outside see where the insulation may be lacking (have my suspicions, one corner always seems a bit cold). If it turns out to be a great tool to have maybe I'll get a fancier one in a few years.

That said I don't want to buy something that's a piece of worthless rubbish, so any recommendations on a budget of a couple hundred?

 

[buzzlightyear]

Thermals , British Thermals | BritishThermals.com - Thermal Underwear - https://www.bing.com/aclick?ld=d35w5xxrTwmrYznLqE42oiIDVUCUyHidYE1CQnlYpQTDR61pqFKkMuPD48X1iwm3C_GWN55Lm0-KcwfYmXvNN6sNqh6nGPF2FDbFbRpU6rchNwQbA0IWnQFqLMEOrtjxBAkdAFc5XkIqNQMRq-Kf1wdJ-Vh9-0LcsO1Q5d40Hao0LbnAZI&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.BritishThermals.com%3fmsclkid%3d%7bmsclkid%7d&rlid=fdde797cfa101b936716228bf18caa07

 

[buzzlightyear]

oops ,sent wrong link .back in a few minutes.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Thermal cameras for Thermal imaging | Fluke IR Thermography - https://www.bing.com/aclick?ld=d3SzFuttkErbqDm6Gp0GJs2zVUCUwL9Sq87bqbqleXJwcqhM-xCaKhcXOps6oJB_dpAlg4tzFVkvq9j7-MBR0RfoXAIs-_EZVoW02J1pYkR067RNjyNYY0d-VrThrpOj9cBJ3qJL3Thshh8LkWqJwGEflI3Q9roheCvEngBfFOY7aHbnyE&u=http%3a%2f%2fa.fluke.com%2fThermal-camera-UKEN%3flcid%3da165f875-6220-e811-80c5-00155d027317%26plt%3d200000000%26lrpf%3dTI%26cra%3d100000000%26redir%3dhttp%3a%2f%2fa.fluke.com%2fIG-EUR-MULTI-TYPAGE-UKEN%26scl%3d5785%26msclkid%3d%7bmsclkid%7d&rlid=e487b186c82c145365e4ea71c437063f ….. they you go .

 

[Strima]

The cheaper you go the poorer the resolution. As for underfloor heating, I would hazard a guess it would take a very good thermal camera to accurately locate the heating elements.

 

[rolyberkin]

I have a flir pro os and it is excellent but not cheap, my mate has the Cat Phone flir and you can tell the difference in resolution.

 

[solarsavings]

I have the Testo 868 and it earns it's keep.

 

[Pete999]

Not something I really need so don't want to spend a lot, but toying with the idea of getting a cheap one to see if it comes in useful, say locating underfloor heating elements or bad connections, and perhaps a look at the house from outside see where the insulation may be lacking (have my suspicions, one corner always seems a bit cold). If it turns out to be a great tool to have maybe I'll get a fancier one in a few years.

That said I don't want to buy something that's a piece of worthless rubbish, so any recommendations on a budget of a couple hundred?

Have a Laser thermometer for sale, contact camerabloke if interested

 

[buzzlightyear]

my mate has the Cat Phone furry thing

I must get one of them .

 

[rapparee]

I have a fluke tis 65

I love it, it has an overlay of the thermal imaging on top of the normal vision.

But it cost more than a few hundred

 

[stevethesparks]

A Fluke VT04 isn't a proper thermal imaging camera as such, but if on a tight budget, is still a pretty useful instrument. Cost approx £450

 

[Devonchris]

Black Friday sale on this.

FLIR One Pro LT Smartphone Thermal Camera - https://www.test-meter.co.uk/flir-one-pro-lt-smartphone-thermal-camera/

Don't know if it's any good.

 

[Mattja]

Thanks for the replies, think I'm going to get myself the Fluke VT04, looks close enough to a true thermal imaging camera for my needs. Cheers!

 

[rapparee]

Thanks for the replies, think I'm going to get myself the Fluke VT04, looks close enough to a true thermal imaging camera for my needs. Cheers!

RS PRO RS700 Thermal Imaging Camera, Temp Range: -20 → +150 °C, -4 → +302 °F 80 x 80pixel | RS Components - https://uk.rs-online.com/mobile/p/thermal-imaging-cameras/1365667/

This one is not much higher than your budget and it is a true thermal imaging camera

 

[David Prosser]

If you put up your location there may be members with thermal imaging cameras nearby that could let you have look/try.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

The Martindale IRC327 may be worth a look, the spec is good for the price. Have been toying with getting one myself, they've not been around that long so would be good to get some user feedback if anyone in here is using one.

 

[naylorpd]

I have a FLIR One, a couple of years old, I love it.

They come in IOS/Android flavour based on the connector to your phone. Cost of latest 3rd generation is £180+VAT so right on your budget. For the price it's a super tool. There's a higher resolution FLIR One Pro one for twice that. But less on eBay if you don't need new. If you want higher resolution still you can go £10,000+ and turn it into a full time profession.

I use as you suggest, to find my heating pipes before I drill a hole through the wall to hang a picture. Just need to put the heating on for a few minutes to see the difference. In the pic, you can see the window (dark blue), pipe going up the right side, dark blue blobs, probably from the slab'n'dab plastering and my computer screen.

Site is FLIR.co.uk

Hope that helps.

 

[Dan]

Also banned his other account. Seemed to be a test registration.

 

[deecas]

If you want one that is not expensive but not rubbish, the Flir TG165-X (Flir TG165-X review | Is it that good in 2020? - https://industrial-reviews.com/flir-tg165-x/ ) could do the job. It has great reviews and it has been one of their best selling cameras. The only issue you might run into is that you want more resolution and there the price gets higher. For a high-res one that is not expensive, the Seek Compact Pro would be my choice.