You Need This Thermal Camera! (Topdon TC002)

[@svcpita]

As a firefighter and having a slightly different perspective of TICs, I want to commend you for your comments about reflective surfaces and cautions about just generally being aware of your environment and what you're looking at. I haven't looked into this particular device but it seems to be color ranged no matter temperature. The TICs I'm used to, are grey scaled until a certain temp threshold is met, then it will begin displaying colors above that temperature trigger. Keep in mind that what appears brightest may not be all that hit, it might just be the warmest in the current field of view. Pay attention to the color or temperature scale or range that the device is showing

[@MrVolodus]

Topdon has multiple modes, including grey scale (also inverted). By default scale is dynamic but there is option to set own range. It has also 2 modes - low temp. and high temp., up to 550C (1000F). And you can set reflectivity and emissivity, in case you know what you are measuring.

[@HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks]

I think for the vast majority of people who buy one this will be a toy used more for fun than because it's actually useful to solve some problem. I'm fighting my disdain of being part of any majority, but the force is strong~

[@Jude13able]

This is absolutely no toy. I have one and this is a game changer with clarity. Topdon has a great product at an affordable price.

[@patricknelson]

I think it’ll be useful for gathering data and for highlighting areas of interest in case there are any issues (e.g. warm wires, potential water leaks, potential insulation leaks you didn’t expect, rodents, etc). IMHO it’s worth having just for assisting when investigating stuff around the home when you need it.

[@dumdiversaspapalbull1452]

I used mine at work. The job wasn’t on my to do list, but I had mentioned the idea of using one to find a sewer smell that the tenants kept complaining about, to the plumber that had it on his. They have an expensive flir that is assigned to the electricians, but they didn’t want me to use it, but they were willing to allow one of them to come with me and use it. Word got back to me that the higher ups didn’t think it would work, so I was determined to prove that it would. I knew there was a vent in a concrete cinder block wall on the as built drawings (hand written), but there wasn’t a clean out protruding through it to be absolutely sure (there should have been a c/o. It’s code). I ran piping hot water through the trap, and the steam registered with my little ir, on the block wall surface. Cut it with a grinder and it was so rotted with rust, and missing portions of pipe, that it looked like a twisted cast iron spindle. They were so impressed that they just recently bought me one for work. I’ve only been here for one year. It had been a reoccurring w/o for 13 years. They kept cleaning the grease trap for 13 years, thinking that was fixing it. The bosses were about to give up and assign it to the task of a study, vs. a w/o. Another group of guys saw the pictures and w/o, and wanted to buy themselves one for their facility. They wanted to buy the equivalent flir. I didn’t say anything, but from the reviews that I’ve researched, this one beats the equivalent flir. Sorry for the lengthy comment.

[@mwsebastian]

I've had a stand-alone thermal camera for several years. I have used it several times to start the diagnosis of my air-conditioner/heat-pump - am I getting the expected temperature out of the air vents. It is good for inspecting the insulation in a home's walls and ceiling. It is also a fun toy.

[@EfficientRVer]

I'm an engineer who loves high tech toys. But I think most justifications for buying one, are a stretch. Even the few things it's useful for, you generally only need the answer once, then no ongoing need to check it again. It's the sort of thing that's better to borrow (or better yet, have your friend who owns it use it to check something for you) than own. On the other hand, it's not insane to get one with the intention of checking everything you want to check with it, then selling it for 2/3 what you paid. If you decide you can't give it up, because it was more useful than expected, that's fine too. Yep, boiling oil is hot, a grill is hot, and cold leaks into your house via doors and windows. Don't need FLIR to know that.

[@denoftools]

Going off your user name you could probably make some money with this. Offer thermal scans of people's RVs for $40 bucks. I might have to do that the next time we are in our RV. People at the parks are always curious about where heat is getting in our out.

[@Thumper68]

@@denoftoolswho pays 40 bucks for common sense?

[@jeanious2009]

I purchased one to make it much easier to find electrical components (which are small) that are heating to the point of failure which means it has problems. Any device with a short will get pretty hot and may damage other small devices in circuit. If I can locate it by powering it up for a second and tracking down the faulty device with this nice thermal camera than it will serve it’s purpose more than just once or twice. Also I could use it to find cold drafts due to missing insulation in exterior walls, a friend or family member purchasing a new home? I could go inspect it for thermal drafts/poorly insulated house. Now if ole smoe joe is buying it to play around and look at the sun or grill, then yes I agree no need for that.

[@CortezAutoServiceMobile]

@@Thumper68 common sense is not that common. 😊

[@yardner1963]

I purchased this to find how many rats are in my crawl space below my home. They all have to be gone before the soft ductwork can be replaced. Rats are a real nightmare.

[@Urugami45]

I've seen IR cameras (not video, still frames) used during construction inspections to look for thermal blooms in connection and breaker panels, to look for connection abnormalities. Loose fittings, loose screw connections, circuit overloads, stuff like that. This could be very useful if you do that kind of thing.

[@dumdiversaspapalbull1452]

Turn the lights off and find ducts inside your wall and joists in the ceiling. Hot water plumbing pipes. I just got mine today, but I know that it gives like three separate Celsius temperature points of reference in every image. Anything with power on it, I don’t care if it’s running off AA batteries, it’s gonna find it.

[@jeanious2009]

Just purchased one on eBay 3 days ago…crazy you come out with a video about it. Looks like I made a good purchase.

[@ACoustaDC]

I have the earlier version/android version. I have used it a ton. Depending on the weather I can find studs in my walls. I sealed some canned lights from the inside of the house to see if it was worth it.. it was not. It's can be useful in some engine diagnostics as well. Worth the money IMO.

[@Mike80528]

They have a stand alone unit I just picked up that is really impressive...

[@GalaxianGamer]

Do you know if its good for wildlife and people spotting in short to medium range, like upto 300-400 meters. I dont care about accuracy, just be able to spot wild predators in my open farm that is near a forest. it get pitch dark at night, there are sometimes bandits in the area and I want to be able to stealth see them approach and be able to survey the surroundings without giving myself away with a flashlight. It would help if i knew what mm lens it has. because its a dark forest, i dont want to install too many security lights.

[@justinsgarage1125]

While we thank Topdon for the sponsor, FLIR sells a similar version for iOS and android for $229. Just putting that info out there.

[@BobPritchard]

Would love to see a comparison.

[@Thumper68]

I hate to say the image looks to be higher quality on this then the FLIR. either way they both overpriced IMO.

[@dumdiversaspapalbull1452]

TOPDON beats the flir in comparisons on KZbin. TOPDON $226 on the zon right now. I paid 3. Put anything in your cart on the zon, and watch your google bring up better prices in the next couple of days. Jump on it.

[@blebleh666]

How far you can spot an animal using this... whats the range?

[@PeatedSander]

I’m curious how well it picks up heat signatures at a distance. I live in the inner city and would use it to check on tents of homeless people that have setup camp on our private property (bushes behind the parking lot) to see if there’s someone inside of it before I toss the tent back over the fence. I’d want to pick up signatures at about 60ft.

[@MrVolodus]

No issue picking up person at 200m. At 400m it was able to clearly show open window (in cold) on building. At 60ft you it should be more than capable of picking up heat signature of occupied tent.

[@newt2010]

You had mentioned the reflectivity of your tires because of the way they showed intensely hot but in fact they were not. Just wondering why the tires to the left side of the image did not display any heat whatsoever just a few feet away from the other ones look like the sun. so if you’re description or explanation of reflectivity on the one. Why would that not apply to the ones on the left? Just wondering. Thank you for the video

[@Grimmeute]

Would be perfect for electricians looking at a panel box for overloads and shorts.

[@calimesacox]

Been looking for a thermal image scope

[@arom8438]

Have you done one of the Harbor Freight one? If not you should very poor information online regarding it. It’s all about FLir online

[@thephysicschannelwithkenny314]

Glass is opque to heat.

[@lezbriddon]

If only they did it with a macro lens and ability to overlay visible image from camera phone

[@ts6640]

I will probably still buy but I must say after watching this video I honestly have no idea why I would need one; nonetheless, I am convinced there is an use case for me somehow somewhere

[@douglas2lee929]

Are these available with endoscope bendable leads?

[@thephysicschannelwithkenny314]

You can also look for water damage behind walls.

[@vladuroset]

this is what i want if for. but i suspect a cold water leak in the floor or in one of the walls. do you think this can help me identify it? thanks!

[@thephysicschannelwithkenny314]

@@vladuroset Yes, I have talked to a thremographer and thermoimage trainer and they have showed me a lot about different applications.

[@weeklyone]

I need a thermal camera! 😵‍💫

[@SiliconDrifter]

Difference from TC001?

[@RalfVogler]

This is iOS, TC001 is Android/USB C.

[@quinnhall24]

You stated “ why we need this camera “ so why in one sentence do I need this

[@garyrowe58]

I do t nred it. I dont have appel

[@craigdanielski]

@denoftools, do you know if the 10% promo is still supposed to be working for iOS?

[@denoftools]

Nope, it was only valid till the 21st. Sorry.

[@pavXX]

Bigfoot camera!

[@krismorgahan8589]

i suppose it could be useful for little things, maybe finding air leaks around doors and windows. I however don't believe its claimed temperature range. If it could handle up to 1,000F then you shouldn't be getting the noise at approx 350F. the video of the grill is telling the "snowed out" area even loosing the end of the spatula. I mean it is cheap but if you need accurate and high temps this may not be good enough.

[@riseup3403]

It has a high and low temp setting, you have to set it to "high" to avoid the static on high temperature targets.

[@iblackfeathers]

this is the second youtube video today i see reviewing this same thing. was there a youtuber giveaway saying to release their reviews today? seems to be too specific a product to be a coincidence.

[@richardt6980]

android version is back to 270 not worth it

[@wesleynelson8263]

Code does not work with Android version 👎

[@denoftools]

I did put a note in the video details right under the code that it only works for ios. But the Android version is already on sale for 70 off and there is an additional Amazon coupon for $20 off.

[@Zendrive13]

The predator mud test👍🏼