PSA: That $80 thermal imager for your phone is a total waste

Bought one to spot heat leaks in fridge compressors, but the resolution is so bad it just shows a big blurry blob. It can't even tell the difference between a warm capacitor and the actual hot motor windings. Anyone have a real budget tool that actually works for this?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennifer3584d ago

Man, I feel your pain on those cheap thermal cameras! I tried one too and got the same blurry mess. What actually worked for me was grabbing a used Flir One from a pawn shop for like $40. It's not perfect but the resolution is way better than those $80 duds. @the_stella they cheap out on everything these days, even the sensors in these things. If you can find a used Flir or a Seek Compact, it's worth the extra hunt.

shah.zara1mo ago

Spot the same cheap-out trend in phone chargers and bluetooth speakers honestly.

the_stella1mo ago

Remember when chargers used to last for years? Now mine fray after a few months, it's so annoying lol.