Why Everyone Needs a Thermal Imaging Camera. Topdon TCView TC001 vs Flir One

15% off Topdon thermal imaging cameras at the moment.
TC001 - USB C For Android and PC
amzn.to/3vHXPJQ
TC002 - Lightning for iPhone/iPad
amzn.to/4aUgTF3
Flir One has a resolution of 80x60 pixels.
Topdon cameras have a resolution of 256x192 pixels. This gives a much clearer picture and more accurate readings.
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Use this link to sign up to Octopus Energy for a free £50 - share.octopus.energy/bold-mis...
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Are you a DIY enthusiast curious about your home's performance or a professional seeking a powerful new tool? Join me as I put the Topdon TC001 thermal imaging camera to the test! This video unpacks its features and real-world performance.
Get ready to see:
Unboxing and first impressions: We'll take a close look at the design, build quality, and included accessories, giving you a feel for the camera in your hands.
Putting it to the test: We'll fire up the camera and tackle real-world applications across various scenarios, from home diagnostics and insulation leaks to electrical issues and outdoor exploration.
Pros and cons: An honest review: No sugarcoating here! We'll highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the TC001, giving you a balanced perspective to inform your decision.
Whether you're a problem-solving DIYer, a curious homeowner, or a professional in the inspection or repair field, this video provides an exploration of the Topdon TC001. So grab your tools, open your mind's eye, and let's unlock the world of thermal imaging!
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My system :
Vaillant Arotherm Plus 7kW
200L UniStor Cylinder
45L Buffer tank
140sqM Detached 1997 built house
10mm copper microbore pipework downstairs
Installed by British Gas in November 2023
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[@christophbrun4059]

If you want to measure the temperature of glass, metal, or other materials which are reflective to IR you should put a piece of painters tape on it to show the true temperature.

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks for pointing that out. I used the masking tape trick when I use my IR thermometer, ashamed I didn't remember to try it with this!

[@steve_787]

Randomly I got this camera the other day as well 😅 For the loft hatches I had some left over 70mm PIR insulation when I converted our garage. I used some spray adhesive (floor tile stuff I happened to have) and stuck it to the back of the wooden board. Did 2 out of the 3 loft hatches (as I ran out of PIR). Checking them with the camera, the insulated ones are not much colder than the ceilings, maybe 1.5c, but the uninsulated one is 5c colder. Have a plastic inspection hatch in our en-suite and that's about 8c colder! If I get around to it I will get some draft seals around the hatches to reduce the air leakage as well.

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks for the comment! That's good to hear. I'll definitely be doing something similar very shortly. How tight did you manage to get your lift hatch insulation fitting? I'm worried about air gaps.

[@nortonansell]

Got one of these a couple of weeks ago for £150 (with a voucher on hot uk deals). really useful. Already confirmed a number of week points in the building fabric for me to address.

[@UpsideDownFork]

Great to hear! Good for you snapping up the bargain! I'm finding it a lot more useful than I anticipated. Thought it would be a bit of a gimmick to be honest.

[@tullgutten]

8:56 on the right you can se why "dot and dab" shouldn't ever be done there is clearly moving air in the wall. And this very often creates condensation and mold in the wall

[@simplethermalTV]

definitely need one for my house, guess this stuff is perfect for monitoring water leaks under the wall etc

[@MikeGleesonazelectrics]

Great vid! there are quite a few negative comments on here, mainly to do with the cost.. I always find it amazing that some people baulk at the one-off cost of buying a tool but presumably dont think twice at spending £100 or more on heating EVERY MONTH!

[@UpsideDownFork]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum...I clearly have a tool addiction and may need to build a house extension just for them!

[@MikeGleesonazelectrics]

@@UpsideDownFork well if you do, make sure it's south facing! 😀

[@David-bl1bt]

..and are more than happy to spend thousands on watching grown men kick a ball onto a goal or trying to put a ball in a hole with a stick!

[@joewentworth7856]

I have read for low flow temps. Plumbing flow into the top of vertical rads gives a more consistent temp on the rad. You can see difference at about 5mins. Probably a small difference. But for others adding vertical rads worth researching.

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks.for the comment! I hadn't considered that. When I lived in Germany and Austria all of the rads were plumbed into the top for better efficiency. I guess those gains will be even more pronounced with a taller rad.

[@warpcode]

Not mentioned here but these are also really great for monitoring damp, detecting minor leaks before they become an issue (eg a cold spot where there was none before), or even potential hotspots from old electric cables that are about to require replacing. These things have so many uses beyond just checking your insulation and are a worthwhile investment

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks for sharing those great ideas!

[@chessPrabu]

Nice work sir,can I use it for deduct water leak within walls

[@UpsideDownFork]

That sounds like a good use of one of these tools.

[@turbot-iv5zn]

I'm going to use expanding foam on loft hatch door to enable moulding around ladder.

[@norfolkmustard]

Some ideas on the "Insulwise Energy & Comfort Solutions" channel I watched recently too - build a box around the hatch on the loft-side of the ceiling, with wood & PIR

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks, that's an idea! I'll be back to the loft after I finish another 2 big projects that are nearing completion!

[@David-bl1bt]

Great idea!, I have a spare part used can in the garage, I may as well usu ot for something beneficial rather than leave it in the garage only to find in a few months time when i come to use it that it is useless!

[@m23605]

At around 18:17 you seem to have quite a lot of heat loss around the corner. A delta of around 25 degrees if I'm reading it right. I'm guessing there are pipe insulation joints in that area. Have you tried putting on one of those valve jackets to reduce the heat loss there as well? Or asking the installer if they think that's OK?

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks for the comment. That's the antifreeze valve which has to be exposed to operate.

[@m23605]

@@UpsideDownFork That makes sense. Couldn't make it out in Predator vision. Just a tip about spotting differences easier. Try to get as close as possible to whatever you're investigating. I assume your default setting is the auto-range. If you have too many things in frame, the camera will take the coldest part and make that the minimum (deep blue) and the hottest part the maximum (red/orange). You might end up with a very large range and then loose the ability to see small differences (such as a few degrees drop on your return pipe). There might be a way to set your own max/mins but I've found the auto range much easier if you know how it works. For example, I have UFH where you can barely see the drop between flow and return if the actuators are in frame as they're at around 50 degrees C. As soon as the actuators move out of frame, the deltas across the loops are much easier to spot. As you mentioned in the video, it's a good idea to do some sleuthing on a cold night as it's much easier to spot heat losses (cold bridges, drafts, etc...) as there's no solar gain to mask the problems. Another good thing to check are your car wheels on occasions after trip in traffic. If you see a wheel that's hotter or colder than the rest, you might spot brake issues early.

[@UpsideDownFork]

@@m23605 Predator Vision! Haha, very good! Yes, I have definitely learned that I have to move right in closely over the last few weeks as i've been using the tool more. I have also been using the tool for checking solar panels working uniformly as well as DPF monitoring. It's surprising how many uses i've found already.

[@MarbewRecords]

Is your intention to keep the camera or to sell it when you have finish with it? I am looking to buy the same for Android, but if you think you have done with it, I can buy yours for 40% less of the price I can see today on Amazon. Anyone out there available?

[@UpsideDownFork]

I definitely thought i'd get it, use it and then flip it on, but as the days go on I keep finding more uses for it! Good luck!

[@normanboyes4983]

Well done this will video will help you as you move through the house doing what you can to improve. Hopefully good material for a follow up.😉👍 PS: I do not think general door and window installers are up with the hunt. Fitting triple glazed units and mashing up the frame/opening junction with a wodge of squirty foam is a travesty. I would research what products (like ‘gappotape’ are available for ensure air tightness and insulate between frame and opening and specify it for the next door installation. Also, when you get the new front door - bin the letterbox and have a wall mounted postbox.😉😊

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks for the comment. I did use gappotape in my last loft conversion in our previous house. Good stuff but I can't honestly say it performs any better than expanding foam apart from being less messy but also a lot more expensive. I do agree about general window firms, this one is a well renowned local family firm.in our village that has an impeccable reputation but I am tempted to rip the UPVC beading off that utility room door and see what the exact situation is! I'm certainly using this camera far more than I expected! Very valuable tool already.

[@grantmidd]

Rip off the polly and glue on some 50-60mm foiled Celetex with an overlap.

[@UpsideDownFork]

I'm missing which bit you're referring to? Polly? Oh, do you mean the loft hatch? I have 50, 100 and 130mm off cuts left over from other jobs. Just need to find the time and need to figure out a way to get past my loft ladders!

[@grantmidd]

@@UpsideDownFork yes sorry the loft hatch. On mine I have also added seals

[@myhometvaccount9365]

£237!!! jeez

[@normanboyes4983]

how much did you pay for your phone?

[@UpsideDownFork]

Yes, I agree it's expensive but I do believe it to be worth every penny. I wish I'd bought one a year ago to do proper before and after measurements on all of my improvements. I'm also planning on helping lots.of friends and family too. Many of which are happy to pay £20-£30 for the use of it, not that I'll accept the money but it is a viable business model for investing in one of these.

[@Yorkshireasaurus]

Sorry but the cost of these can’t be justified, hiring them is no better. It’s a shame because they do have a one off use case for the homeowner.

[@stuartburns8657]

Agree, looked myself. Not willing to pay a few hundred for a one or 2 days of usage

[@normanboyes4983]

That depends on how well you are motivated to reduce unnecessary energy expenditure and or improve comfort - or if you retreat behind ‘excuseology’ to avoid doing anything.

[@stuartburns8657]

@@normanboyes4983 Well, I just spent 3 weekends putting in loft legs and ensuring loft insulation is 300mm and non compressed. Oh, insulating and sealing loft hatch as well etc. New seals and gaskets on windows, not not ignorant of the long term benefit. Octopus energy used to loan one to customers, but that sort of money isn't good value, and you can seemingly only rent high end models, which are equally outrageous cost wise

[@UpsideDownFork]

Yes, I agree it's expensive but I do believe it to be worth every penny. I wish I'd bought one a year ago to do proper before and after measurements on all of my improvements. I'm also planning on helping lots of friends and family too. Many of which are happy to offer £20-£30 for the use of it, not that I'll accept the money but it is a viable business model for investing in one of these. I admit I thought it would be more of a novelty item but for someone who is constantly doing DIY projects I'm finding it extremely helpful to confirm my suspicions about things and making informed decisions about how to do things. If you had asked me a month ago, I would have said the same as you, now I have it, I wouldn't be without it and wish I'd bought it sooner.

[@D230261]

Its the sort of thing you buy, use then sell on...So if it cost £200...you could probably sell it a week after buying it for £150...so works out about £10 a day hire...

[@TikTok-il9hx]

I've got a loft hatch with a ladder and was concerned that the hatch wasn't very insulated. I ended up getting 25 mm polystyrene boards and making a 2 layer box that sits in the hole. I just lift it out of the way everytime I go into the roof. Given your hatch is nearer the middle of the roof though you could probably make a secondary hatch out of PIR board.

[@UpsideDownFork]

Thanks for the comment! My pesky ladders are in my way at the moment so I may need to adjust them a bit to give me better clearances! I'll be back to the loft soon after I complete a couple of other big projects that are underway.

[@TikTok-il9hx]

@@UpsideDownFork One other thought - wouldn't you get a better appreciation of where the worst heat loss spots were by doing the survey from outside the house on a cold evening when the heating was on? As you showed, doing it from indoors is always going to be affected by the relative effects of convection from the radiators. And even the dot and dab - is that really significant heat loss or just slightly colder than the rest of the room?

[@TikTok-il9hx]

Or is that the next video!

[@UpsideDownFork]

@@TikTok-il9hx Yes, you're exactly right. I did an outdoor survey in the evening a few days later when there was no solar gain and a large contrast between inside and outside. I do have have the footage but thought it would make boring viewing for anyone other than me! The dot and dab spots are very minimal heat loss. They are clearly visible but only because of the camera's sensitivity.

[@UpsideDownFork]

@@TikTok-il9hx No spoiler alerts here! 😁