Analyzing Circuits w/ $200 Cheapo Banggood HT-02 Infrared Thermal Camera

Where to buy: goo.gl/ZsBzDj
This was sent to me for review by Banggood.com. In this video we'll go over the features of this cheap Flir and Fluke alternative and try it out on a couple of electronic amplifier circuits - one solid state and one tube.
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Music by Juggernaut Jug Band
HT02 Handheld Thermograph Camera Infrared Thermal Camera Digital Infrared Imager Temperature Tester with 2.4inch Color LCD Display

[@Bunjamin27]

Thanks for the review and thanks to Banggood for supporting your channel! Will definitely head over there and see what other goodies they have! :)

[@n4pwx]

I laughed so hard when you popped out the SD card. Those sound effects were great. lol Thanks...

[@TheGuitologist]

:D that was one ridiculously strong spring.

[@stevehogan8829]

I saw your vid with the inspection of your house... that was cool.. Very cool review. Thanks.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks bro.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

With a name like Banggood you can't go wrong.

[@TheGuitologist]

Once you hear it, you won't forget it. Crafty Chinese.

[@ronaldr9911]

yes, you can - their prices used to be good but now they are very expensive and their After Sales Service is virtually non-exsistant - had Door camera that did not work they offered me 10% credit and no satisfactory outcome was reached, Had another item arrive that was broken in transit due to being badly packed.

[@Dubnot]

Solid review.

[@gringopig]

Looks like a good unit!

[@isoguy.]

Great fault finding tool. Thanks for demo.

[@TheGuitologist]

It'll take some getting used to, to figure out the false readings on reflections, etc, but I can see it being helpful.

[@oneflatlander]

When you look at a circuit, it will also tell you if a component that you expect to emit heat, is cold and probably dead. Loved the pop-up toaster effect.

[@mischef18]

Well for the price it seams to do all it is supposed to do, I guess time will tell. Loved the sound effects when the SD card popped out. All the best bro. ( had an electrical storm sunday and it scrambled our wifi modem so still catching up on videos now we are running again )

[@jadeveylupek5938]

I have that from Amazon....it costs only $189 dollars...no kidding. I will try to use this week. Right now, I am sick with flu from weird weather. Thank you for sharing.

[@Cavemaaaan]

Wow, how timely and coincidental...I'm working on our tv station's 18kW tube transmitter this week after a coaxial-hardline burnout last Friday cooked some pieces just outside of the cabinet. I looked on the Apple App-store for some thermal -imaging/FLIR apps and didn't find anything right away. I considered checking Harbor Freight , but I had to leave for work to go work on the transmitter. I took my HF $30 handheld pyrometer as a starting tool. ....and I come home to see you've created a video for an affordable version of what I needed today hehehe....veeeery cool :)

[@Cavemaaaan]

I was thinking at about the 13:00 mark while watching you view the heat signature of the rail resistors that this is a great tool for any designer and/or repairer to make amp circuitry more reliable by seeing the heat generated by a given part and then upping the power-handling value of the part to make it longer-lasting, and thus, more reliable...and within a few you touched on that concept so, very cool.

[@TheGuitologist]

It seems like every time I do a product review, someone says the same thing, they were just shopping for one.

[@Cavemaaaan]

No where like that B.. I watch a series of many different web streams. Check out :The Profit" series loved-out by mr. Marcus Lemonis...it is a refreshing reminder of the ways that our/his listen to a seemingly-solid-business-plan can be full of dark-brown-chunks that are brightly focused to the forward direction of Doom-dee-doom -dee-DOOM :).

[@mikep6967]

NeatO tool for the price. Honestly surprised if there isn't a smart phone attachment for this at a low level yet. Congrats on the new score! Very cool!

[@TheGuitologist]

There are a couple of those on the market too. The Flir version costs about $200 also. It's got good reviews, but I have not tried one.

[@KrotowX]

I have a wish to get my hands on simple thermal camera for DIY repair jobs (electric wiring and SMD circuits). This review convinced me that those sub-200 EUR thermal cameras can be used for my needs. Obviously these does not match with 500+ EUR FLIR cameras, but for casual DIY seems just fine. Thanks!

[@xeroinfinity]

Ive used a few different rechargeables, and Duracell seems to be the best imo. nice review on this ITC , and not a bad price too.

[@xeroinfinity]

Caterpillar also makes a cell phone with this built in, pricey tho. www.catphones.com/en_us/features/thermal-imaging-smartphone/

[@scottriddle5468]

I love the seek thermal camera. Mine attaches to the USB port on a smart phone and you down load the Seek app. I can check breakers and coils on Hvac equipment.

[@wefukthenwo]

Thank you

[@ForViewingOnly]

Banggood are hilarious. I remember looking at their website 5 years ago and all of the reviews on all of the items were 5 star. I've just looked again and nothing has changed in those 5 years! :-) The Chinese don't realise that people in free countries expect expect some products to be utterly useless... we expect bad reviews and criticism, and if everything is perfect we get very suspicious. In China, everything is sunshine and rainbows :-)

[@carlburgess9635]

I have one, it is helpful. Thanks for the videos.

[@KnaufL]

The capacitors metal surface is reflecting ir radioation from the light so it appears hotter, the emissivity setting is used to adjust when eg looking at an aluminium heatsink which also reflects some of the heat and also some of the sensors emitted lighr so it deflects the sensors accuracy

[@TheGuitologist]

That's what I'm learning. Thanks for the comment. It's interesting what reflected - the heatsink, the caps, and the transformer - because those are all things that COULD get hot. But through the comments on this video, I did learn something. Thanks!

[@Internutt2023]

That particular capacitor either had a ceramic or plastic body, so that was not the issue. If reflectivity was a problem with the emissivity setting, then the whole metal chassis of the amplifier would emit a higher value than it was too.

[@markbratton111]

That Infrared is pretty BangGood!

[@SeanDamonGreene]

The shattering glass sound-effect when the SD card ejected caused me to laugh hysterically.

[@TheGuitologist]

Never underestimate a well-placed sound effect.

[@MrBrymstond]

That could help massively. I've been wanting a Flir

[@TheGuitologist]

A Flir would be ideal. Definitely the one to get if money is no object. Or the $70k Fluke model! Yes, $70k.

[@MrBrymstond]

DAMN! That's 1/8 of the cost of my freaking house... I hope they let you keep it...

[@AlanW]

If you have an Android or iPhone, you can get a Flir One camera attachment for it for like $200, that performs a lot better. I have one and it's glorious!

[@TheGuitologist]

I saw those. They do look promising. I'd be a bit afraid of obsolescence being a cell phone attachment, but if it works, I guess you could always keep your old phone dedicated for that purpose.

[@phiksit]

But when the flir1 battery craps out, you can't replace it, which basically makes it a disposable camera.

[@KrotowX]

Well, Flir One is fine when it is not broken and match with your phone and OS version in phone. Android versions are working up to Android 8 which is already outdated. Similar story with IOS versions. However because it is easier to find used Android phone for peanuts and retrofit it with Flir One for use as thermal camera, it is not easy to find used Android Flir One in eBay etc. for low price. In comparing with IOS versions who are now full eBay for cheap but without old iPhone they are worthless.

[@Dinscurge]

might wanna lookup emissivity, but the tldr is basically different surfaces have different amounts of background radiation, but also some surfaces which are reflective can have issues, so you will get incorrect readings if you point it at shiny metal usually, but something like a marker to mask will improve the reading, or for say electrolytics which have the shiny top but colored side, might get better readings on the side (if you wanted more accurate numbers)

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks for the info. I did wonder that when I saw the reflection and "hot spot" on that transformer.

[@MarkTillotson]

Anodizing tends to cut the reflectivity right down on alumnium, and increase the emissivity - bare metal is usually very reflective in the far IR. When you buy alumium heatsinks always go for anodized for this reason, increases the effectiveness. Interestingly glass tends to be a bit reflective and a bit emissive in far IR, but usually completely blocks transmission (ie is opaque to heat).

[@td7456]

Cool ITC! I agree, why pay the big bucks for a tool that you wouldn't use that often. Thanks for the review.

[@cjmarsh504]

Nifty device

[@ED4action]

that's a cool camera. i have been using an ifrared thermomiter trying to locate hot parts, but that is a lot better. i might have to add that on my wish list,,, but first i need to get a good esr meter and a flux pen, i was thinking about checking ebay, but now i think i will see what baangood has on thier web site. Oo

[@TheGuitologist]

This one does ESR on larger caps, and a ton of other useful stuff too. It's a no-brainer purchase. It'll test almost anything automatically and even identify what it is. Geekcreit® GM328A Transistor Tester Graphic Wave Signal RLCESR Meter Inductance goo.gl/DHA8t3

[@kenhancock8931]

now u can check 4 cold spots "manifesting spirits" if u have any in your new house.

[@MrRondeezzee]

I wonder if this will help me find a termite colony in my attic studs 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@fireantsarestrange]

Thats funny that Guitar Center did an ad here... lolz

[@TheGuitologist]

Love when they do that. :D

[@subhan1641]

how much distance can it cover?

[@Dr_Satan]

I just wanted to note that if you buy rechargeable batteries, BUY A GOOD CHARGER to go with them. The cheapo charger that usually comes with what you'd likely buy is garbage and will ruin the batteries lifespan. I use a Nitecore D4 for all my rechargeables and it will charge ones that the cheapo sees as "dead" because the cheap charger is a quick charge and it will burn up the batteries if you try to quick charge them when they are "dead". The D4 (as well as many others) applies a variable rate charge that greatly extends the life of the batteries. Yes, it takes longer, but if you buy twice as many cells as you need, then you've always got a set to rotate in and a set that is charging or on standby. I found this out because after only about 4 months of use I had some Energizer AAA cells that were "dead" according to the quick charger, but I put them into the more sophisticated charger and it's been happily recharging them for at least 6~8 months with no issues at all- and they actually hold a charger LONGER than they did before. I will continue to use the Energizer brand batteries as I see no fault in them other than the charger provided with the ones I initially bought, as it is simply not good for longevity of the cells.

[@TheGuitologist]

Got a link to the charger you use?

[@Dr_Satan]

smile.amazon.com/Nitecore-D4-Charger-EdisonBright-Converter/dp/B00L10CO7U/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1517001792&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=nitecore+d4&psc=1 Not sure if the link will show up on youtube but if you search Amazon for Nitecore D4 it should come up. eBay too. Even your local vape shop would likely have one, but probably more expensive than online.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@stevehogan8829]

Hey Brad. I keep thinking back to the day of reel to reel and how easy it was to just slap on a big reel and tape songs, bands, etc. Could go back and erase parts, keep parts, even splice tapes when necessary... Seems like that was a lot easier than all the digital hard to figure out software available today. Is anyone still using reel to reel? Is it just me or wouldn't that be a better way of recording practice and stuff? Hope you see this. Thanks, love you vids as you know. Hope all is good at the new house.

[@TheGuitologist]

Digital editing is super easy compared to physically splicing tape. That's where digital shines - editing. A lot of bands are going back to tracking raw tracks on analog tape and then digitizing for editing, mixing, etc., then mastering back to analog. I think if you want the most "honest" sound possible, just grab an old reel to reel stereo machine and set up some mics in a good room, rehearse your asses off and cut tracks in one take, then go back and layer your solo parts and vocals separately. If you're a lone nut like me doing all the parts multi-track, digital is so easy it's hard to argue with it.

[@stevehogan8829]

I know you're right about the editing. Amazing how easy it is to edit today.

[@brockscutchfield]

Rechargeable AA heated socks!!!! Kills um.

[@angelisone]

ATG suggests put a little more & get a better one, HT-19 model. Great for troubleshooting vehicles and digital cameras.

[@p_mouse8676]

The standard Flirs are really nice and it's dead easy to hack the firmware to get a better one. I used to use these on a regular basis for a job I did. Don't see much use for tube amplifiers, but I was doing some development on Class-D amplifiers and with these tiny parts it's a must have. Like what is already said in the video, the resolution is pretty poor. In my experience it's not really usable. Btw, just one thing to keep in mind, reflections on surfaces WILL also appear as hot spots. So obviously that's not the right information. Just to let you know.

[@TheGuitologist]

Higher res would definitely be a plus. Also, the refresh rate is a little laggy. But, you know, $200 Banggood vs. $1000 Flir.

[@steveredenbaugh9058]

how is that soldering station you got doing? I was thinking of getting one

[@TheGuitologist]

Doing fine. I'm using it as we speak. I have another video comparing it to another one coming up.

[@georgekrabs6948]

Hey I'm getting one of these to check when my wife's hot to go Good brand name Bang good.

[@russellhltn1396]

I think thermal imaging has a lot of promise. The issue at this point is learning "how hot is too hot"? Some heat is normal, so it's figuring out what's "abnormal". Kind of like having a voltmeter without a reference to tell you what the voltages should be. I look forward to what you learn about it. I would study up on emissivity. That's what helps the camera convert what it sees to what the real temperature is. The problem is that different surfaces have different values - so you end up with inaccurate readings from some kinds of surfaces. That's going to be part of the learning curve. I'm sure it's going to be a good tool - it's just that right now we're all learning about it. There aren't too many old geezers we can run to for advice.

[@TheGuitologist]

Yes, exactly. It's a tool I need to learn to use. I'm sure there will be an art to it, knowing what I'm looking at.

[@GasNBullets]

The gradient adjustments, baselines etc are where you set it up for your specific uses. As in if 300o is normal and 325 is abnormal you should be able to set it to that scale

[@russellhltn1396]

Sure, it can be done, but what is normal? We're used to volts and amps and have spec sheets to follow. But temperature hasn't been used that much in diagnostics. That's the learning curve I'm talking about.

[@billkillernic]

They sell nail clippers in Banggood don't they ?

[@dryocum]

I have question that’s off topic. But, what do you think of the Eico model 1100 resistance box? Is it a must have item?

[@TheGuitologist]

Yes, I have and use one regularly. GET IT! Also pick up the Capacitor version.

[@dryocum]

The Guitologist Thank You!!! great! I’ll get it!!

[@dryocum]

The Guitologist oh, BTW what is the model number of the capacitor unit? Also should I get a manual for the Eico 1100? Or is it just that easy to use?

[@dryocum]

The Guitologist sorry, for being a pain... I took your advice and purchased the Eico 1100. But, was sent to me was a Eico 1140 RC parallel combination box. My question is.. Is the 1140 better then the 1100? Thanks for your help my friend..

[@baymonster4487]

Dear Friend, how many distance meter?

[@stillsupro46]

Hope you funnel some money there way and ultimately in your pocket as the wheel turns...or as the electrons flow

[@stillsupro46]

Bad ass!!! As a minor league repair man i need that pretty good

[@crazyuncleduke8012]

Will it tell me when my wife is in heat? lol.

[@TheGuitologist]

That was the FIRST thing I did! Pointed at the wife's crotch. :D

[@TheGuitologist]

I cut that out of the video.

[@crazyuncleduke8012]

HaHa...we share a similar sense of humor. Thanks!

[@audiotechlabs4650]

The Guitologist Foreigner said it best..."Are you, hot mama? You sure look that way to me!" What a wonderful thing, to excite a woman! Oh, and your review was great. Thankz

[@TheGuitologist]

Haha, Foreigner invented infrared. Not the camera, the section of the electromagnetic spectrum.

[@alexchesser5209]

So... 1 year on does the product still work?

[@TheGuitologist]

Yep.

[@movinginstereo40]

I believe that was what the predator was using. Does it have sound effects built in too ? (get to the choppa !!! )No in all seriousness thanks for the review vid. Have a safe weekend.

[@TheGuitologist]

No, but I spent half the night in a ditch covered with mud.

[@movinginstereo40]

Lmao Right On Ride On

[@bigg4454]

Flir has (or had) their TG130 for $199 which I have, but I've had mine for about a year now, so who knows what they have out now. It doesn't have the features that one you got there has.

[@TheGuitologist]

They have a product called "Flir One" now which attaches to your smart phone. It looks pretty decent, and the price is $199 also. No clue if it's better or worse than this one, but if the smartphone companies decide to brick old phones (which they do) or change their proprietary plugs (which they also do), it might render an attachment obsolete before its time. That would be my main concern.

[@bigg4454]

If that's the case, I'm glad I got what I have. I'm leary of stuff you attach to a phone. I have that Walabot thingy too. It's okay, but I gotta take my phone out it's case, then use this double sided sticky thing to join my phone and the device together in order to use th' thing. I think you've seen that Walabot device that with your phone, allows your phone to see into walls. Android phone that is!

[@mdrahman6732]

@@bigg4454 which Android phone do you have?

[@bigg4454]

@@mdrahman6732 Samsung J7 Perx.

[@Ped0772]

lol @ the micro sd card :D

[@danmick8645]

lol@breaking glass sfx. you nut.

[@TheGuitologist]

It kinda scared me when it happened.

[@DavidBerlind]

Good video evidence Brad. I think you were holding back though. Unless that was serious parallax (which it might have been, I admit), the resolution issue that you raised seems problematic. Imagine looking at a board with a ton of closely packed components? Between the resolution and the fact that the hot spot is hovering over something other than the actual hot component would make it very difficult to actually identify the offending part... thus calling the utility of this into serious question. It almost sounded like you were about to say something along those lines but decided to bite your tongue. For checking tube temps, maybe. But won't a decent temperature probe for your multimeter tell you what you need to know? The question is really, is this something I need? I think what you recorded leads me to believe "no."

[@TheGuitologist]

That's fair enough. But in tube amps, getting close is usually fine. If it's a packed PCB, you can get close with this, then narrow down further by evaporating alcohol on the board. If I'm thinking something, I'll say it. I edited the heck out of this video because it was long and rambling when I started.

[@petermichaelgreen]

I'm 99% sure the hot spots not lining up with the components is a parallax issue between the thermal and visible cameras.

[@DavidBerlind]

PETER GREEN so, in the device then? Not fixable with viewing angle? Brad, btw, love your work. I list it in the closing credits of my AmpMechanic videos as one of my inspirations. Thank you.

[@TheGuitologist]

How cool. Thank man.

[@ldcam21]

You say it could have more res on the screen. It looks like you have the plastic on the screen that it comes with 🧐

[@DBCisco]

What is the range on that cam. I would like to hunt bigfoot. lol Seriously, I would like one to watch wildlife activity at night.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Goes t6hrough batteries very quickly.

[@TheGuitologist]

I don't doubt it. Definitely use rechargeables.

[@keithhoward8651]

What’s the difference between the HT 02 and the HT 02D

[@TheGuitologist]

Here's the specs for the HT02D: goo.gl/MNFm3a Here's the specs for the HT02: goo.gl/n5e95e It looks to me like the only difference is one saves files in a BMP format and the other saves in JPG format. It's hard to tell though because the specs aren't written out in the same way. BMP is the better file format because the photos are not compressed like JPG.

[@AdamRainStopper]

Point it at me and see how red hot I am!

[@AdamRainStopper]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joke

[@nielsdaemen]

4:41 Up and down are reversed LOL You can something way better for that price nowadays

[@paulkerr2298]

sweet dude,,,, i want one. i want to go to the darkest corner of my world.. and check her over.... she is a cold one

[@haworthluke]

Oh my days I came to see if it was good for analysing circuit faults and found a guy who doesn't know what the emissivity setting does

[@gregg4164]

Man you scratched the shit out of the screen already.

[@paulkerr2298]

only 145 in unfunny money lol,,,, you get me.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Banggods is shit! I've ordered from them and every time all my orders where wrong. Plus shipping takes for ever! Im sure it went to the moon first then to me....

[@ronaldr9911]

wait till you receive an item that does not work or is broken because it was not packed sufficiently for mailing.

[@NathanChisholm041]

@@ronaldr9911 I stopped buying their crap long ago!