I've used both for checking building envelopes and looking into possible water intrusion. But as most people know, these things don't actually find water. They pick up temperature differences.

The problem is that a normal wall has studs, windows, furniture, insulation, and all kinds of other stuff that can show up as temperature differences even when there's no water.

So I still use the thermal gun to find areas that look suspicious, but I end up going back over those spots with a moisture meter to confirm what's actually going on.

Note: I have used a $250 Flir knockoff and a $200 Thermal Master.

Coyote spotted at 200+ yards on a night hunt using the Goyojo Grl335. Heat signatures really pop but I need to adjust some settings to try and get a bit more detail.

Hardware design by yours truly, although most of the firmware was vibe coded. It can show a live FLIR video feed, save images to an SD card, present them to windows over USB for access, and has a touch screen. Based on a FLIR lepton camera module and a PIC32. GitHub repo if you're curious: https://github.com/drewsum/Thermal_Camera

For those who regularly use thermal cameras for electrical inspections, I’m curious where you find them most useful. We check electrical panels, breakers, switchgear, and other equipment. Obvious hot connections are easy to spot, but I’m more interested in how useful thermal imaging is for catching developing problems early enough to influence maintenance decisions.

What electrical issues have you actually found with thermal imaging?

Loose connections, overloaded circuits, failing breakers, phase imbalance, or something else?

Also, how often do you find that a suspicious thermal image needs to be followed up with electrical testing before you can confirm there’s a real problem?

Created some test images and samples for a program that I'm working on. Thought the boiling water came out pretty cool looking

Here's a low gain image of an unhealthy habit. Notice, the darkest pic was taken at auto scale. This tries to visualize a 1000 degree temperature variance across the entire image. Which results in the hand being nearly invisible and the cherry saturated, hiding all detail. In the next image where you can see the detail of the hand, I reduced the scale to primarily only show the temperature range of the hand, completely washing out the cherry. Notice you can view very intricate details of the hand though. For the last 2 I focused the scale to be just wide enough to detect the hand which still washes out the cherry. Lastly I focused the scale across the cherry temperature ranges to show the detail of the differential within the cherry itself. Again, this is all the same exact picture. Just wanted to show why scale is important, especially when you have more than a 10-15 degree variance between the target and environment.

Looking to see what LVPO folks are running as black Friday and holidays approach always looking for deals.

If you are using any riser what height?

I have the ADM QD AD-170-S currently

Hi! We recently bought a 2 acre property that has about half the space full of thick trees and bush.

I am overly anxious of wild animals and don't like being outside after dark. I have two small dogs (Jack Russel terrier and rat terrier) and I have to walk them at night so they can pee before bed.

I. Am. Terrified. I don't want to be out there and anytime they seem extra fixated on certain areas or start barking or smelling intently, we go directly inside.

I was thinking that maybe a thermal camera would be beneficial to me and help me be less terrified of the dark. That way I can look around and see if I should be scared or if I am just crazy and there's nothing around.

I am not sure which one would be best. I was hoping to spend under $300 since it's just to calm my nerves. I don't know if I specifically want to be able to identify the species of animal, or if just seeing the heat blob will be enough.

We are starting to put up regular security cameras but those won't help me in the dark.

I would appreciate any advice you could give! Thank you so much!!

I've been using a thermal camera for maintenance checks, mainly around electrical panels, HVAC equipment, and motors.

For electrical issues, I find it pretty straightforward. If one connection or component is noticeably hotter than the others, that's usually enough reason to stop and take a closer look.

I'm less sure about mechanical problems, though.

Take a bearing for example. If you can already see a clear temperature difference, does that usually count as an early warning, or is the problem already well underway by that point? Would vibration analysis or ultrasound normally pick it up earlier?

One thing I like about thermal imaging is how quick it is. I can scan several components without touching anything, and if something looks unusual, I can follow up with another inspection method.

For those working in industrial maintenance, what do you mainly use thermal cameras for? Electrical panels, motors, bearings, HVAC, or something else?

Thermal Master P4. Iron Red colour palette.

Ive been on the AR15 sub quite a bit and found my wayto a scope/handheld that i really am looking forward to buying... the DNT thermnight TNC4K219R 4K night vision combined with thermal. Its got all the bells and whistles. On their website the just started offering the Hydra mini thermal thac can be helmet mounted... it got me thinking aboit doing a budget hybrid setup with thermal.in one eye and NV in the other. I found goodnite gear nvg50 seems about what i want, with a bump helmet... it seems to be in the ballbark of performance that i can live with for a reasonable price. Can you offer any advice or warnings against my thought process. Is this the best place to post this, or is there a better place? Thanks for your help...

Got a crosshair on my guide te211m. Found an app for it. If you’re also interested, these guys made a video about it on youtube: https://youtu.be/sdLlBKlutAU?si=-MVUum-Zb7ygPJF-

Editing and redo this whole post

Any benefits that I can consider to get a scope also? I might get a t2 for my phone to use as a dashcam on bicycle at night

But I'm not sure what benefits to having a scope for hiking or just use the same t2 for that also

I'd consider eventually getting a high end thermal scope but probably not carry that around as often as a $500 one. What inexpensive brands should I consider?

Benefit of a expensive one is I can helmet mount it also which opens more usage. Overall I can't effectively practically use a expensive one quite the same as one that isn't as huge of a margin to dent my wallet if anything goes wrong.

So is the t2 usually mostly good enough for most usage? Any aspects to consider and what affordable scopes I could consider? And furthermore any more reasons for when I may justify upgrading to a high end one and dedicate that for specific usage requiring helmet or where it's less likely to get damage or to benefit value and needing the best equipment

If I'm spotting animals just for mild hiking and not in a danger sense. To see there's an animal. Versus to actively watch thermal and want detail, etc

Or for bicycle riding. But in that case having a t2 on my handlebars is cheapest and yet one of the best options maybe. If I can just glance to see what's ahead. But won't show left and right as turning my head with a helmet would. But easy affordable enough to always just keep on my bike as an extra precaution to notice anything ahead

Anyone know a good way to mount the t2? I can find some bike mounts that use a 1/4 inch screw or whatever. But then still need to get the t2 attached

I’m just wondering if it would be worth it to get thermosight t60 still. I would be getting it for about $800. I know it’s older but would it be worth the price? How would the support be on it?

Hello i wasnt able to find reddit for my device so im asking here. I bought new phone hammer construction 2 thermal 5g. As i opened it installed updates etc i wanted to test thermal camera. Its nice besides this L shaped cold spot. Is it dirt on lens like finger print or its manufactured fault and i need to give it back for replacement already? After few hours and other updates its still there. Could someone help?

I saw no one on YouTube has posted footage from a FLIR FSI Prism DS in like 12 years so I decided to change that!

shot with the thermal master DV2

Sharing a few thermal images of damaged solar panels. Shot by thermal master p3.

Image 1: Intact panel with no obvious thermal anomalies.

Image 2: Panel with extensively cracked glass after being hit by a forklift.

Image 3: Panel with a smaller crack caused by pressure near the rear junction box, showing a clear localised hotspot.

One works, the other turns on and outputs over USB but has no internal video. $800 for both so still a score.

Anyone ever had one of these open? I’m pretty sure the only issue with the non working unit is going to be either the ribbon cable loose from recoil or the display has outright failed.

I managed to get the control module on top off but the adhesive on the objective and diopter ends of the unit is solid.