Anyone got a thermal camera? FLIR?

katie279 · 29 Jan 2022 at 19:52

Hi all,

No idea where to post this, but intending to use for home and garden, so this is as close as I could get.

Has anyone got a thermal camera? Been looking at a FLIR Pro to clip onto a phone - seen good reviews, but don't trust most sites - especially looking at the app store reviews for their apps.

Appreciate anyone who's got any experience of these. Really just wanting to use to help insulate house, understand draughts etc.

andy_mk3 · 29 Jan 2022 at 21:20

I've got the Android USB-C FLIR One Pro. The performance is pretty decent, the image quality is decent also. My biggest complaint is the battery. It didn't seem to last long and after a year or so, I have to charge it before every use now. Now it's 3 years old I've actually ordered and are waiting on a battery to be delivered on China. It's a lot of money for what it is too, there's cheaper options out there that still do a good job.

katie279 · 29 Jan 2022 at 22:00

Ah perfect, exactly the model I'd aim for.

When you say battery life, how long does it last? As I say, can't really think of any use cases outside the house, so not sure I need more than 30 mins for example and pre-charge should be ok.

Got any examples of cheaper alternatives that you mention too?

katie279 · 29 Jan 2022 at 22:02

PS also looked at the seek compact - this 'seems' to have much better approach to batteries if I follow correctly.

tom_nieto · 1 Feb 2022 at 10:54

Aren't there websites that you can use to find the local dogging spots instead of these?

theone8181 · 1 Feb 2022 at 12:10

I've been tempted by one of these just because

. We use a proper thermal camera at work, although it's 10 years old so the resolution isn't very high (not that any of there are :cry:

), but they are pretty cool. I guess the battery on them must be pretty tiny.

katie279 · 1 Feb 2022 at 21:54

tom_nieto said:
Aren't there websites that you can use to find the local dogging spots instead of these?

Hahaha! Well I wouldn't know.........!!!

andy_mk3 · 1 Feb 2022 at 21:59

katie279 said:
Ah perfect, exactly the model I'd aim for.

When you say battery life, how long does it last? As I say, can't really think of any use cases outside the house, so not sure I need more than 30 mins for example and pre-charge should be ok.

Got any examples of cheaper alternatives that you mention too?

Probably around 20 minutes. It's more the issue of it being dead every time I go to use it now if it's left for more than a week.

katie279 · 1 Feb 2022 at 22:12

Ah right, not the end of the world for me - assume it's just a USB plug to charge? Thinking I could use a smart plug and tell it to charge for a couple of hours each day to solve this

Journey · 1 Feb 2022 at 22:27

I borrowed one, don't own one, but it was great for finding heat leaks in my house and I probably should buy one for using with board repairs etc. but it's more stuff to add to a massive pile of other tools I have and never put away...

pilki42 · 3 Feb 2022 at 21:25

If you happen to be with Octopus for your energy supply, they'll lend you one for free for a week.

https://octopus.energy/blog/flir-thermal-cameras/

katie279 · 4 Feb 2022 at 07:25

No friggin way! I am! That's amazeballs!

sja360 · 4 Feb 2022 at 11:09

pilki42 said:
If you happen to be with Octopus for your energy supply, they'll lend you one for free for a week.

https://octopus.energy/blog/flir-thermal-cameras/

Fantastic! Cheers for that, although it seems they are saying the only offer it to people in hardship. I doubt the people struggling to pay bills know about this or can afford to improve their situation though :confused:

DXP55 · 5 Feb 2022 at 12:09

katie279 said:
No friggin way! I am! That's amazeballs!

Thats a sexist reply - might have to report it to a Mod.

katie279 · 5 Feb 2022 at 13:48

DXP55 said:
Thats a sexist reply - might have to report it to a Mod.

Well apparently women can have balls these days, so no it's not... Which makes you transphobic. So I'm going to report you to a mod.... :cry:

I'm not actually sure what the female version would be, amazeboobs???

Journey · 5 Feb 2022 at 14:20

katie279 said:
Well apparently women can have balls these days, so no it's not... Which makes you transphobic. So I'm going to report you to a mod....

I'm not actually sure what the female version would be, amazeboobs???

Nah 'cause a man could then have amazemoobs. :cry:

I'm not going to write what the Mrs suggested as I'll get banned.

katie279 · 5 Feb 2022 at 15:04

I dread to think......... :eek:

mid_gen · 6 Feb 2022 at 08:50

I really should get one, or at least hire one....this house leaks heat like a sieve and will bankrupt me next winter after these energy price rises!

Hire prices are ridiculous mind... after having a look. If anyone has one and wants an easy 20 quid or so to borrow.

Kei · 6 Feb 2022 at 16:12

I bought a Hikmicro IR camera last year with similar intentions plus I would use it for electronics repair. I chose it over the Flir TG165 due to the additional temperature range and higher IR resolution. (I got a good deal over black Friday, the current price is rather hefty)

It's been pretty good so far. Using the phone app, I can record videos as well as take stills. The only IR photos I uploaded were of me testing it on the pc cooling system.

D4N · 6 Feb 2022 at 19:19

I bought a Flir C5 before Christmas, and I’m fairly impressed with what it picks up. I can see where heating pipes run when you look at the ceiling with it, and upstairs where the slope of the roof comes into the top corners of the rooms, I can see the cold spots where the insulation needs to be moved.

I did look at ones to use with my phone but decided to get a stand-alone unit instead. That way I’m not relying on an app to use it, and if apple decide to change the lightning port, or if I went to a different brand of phone I’m not going to have a camera I can no longer use.