The human eye cannot be called anything other than amazing, but we see far from the entire light range. Thermal imagers help us to look into the infrared part of the spectrum. With the help of these devices, it is possible to analyze the operation of machines, assess the quality of thermal insulation, and look for leaks in cooling systems. At worst - to imagine yourself the Predator from the movie of the same name. How to choose a thermal imager and which 5 devices were included in our independent Top, read on.
CONTENT
- 1 How does a thermal imager work and what is it for?
- 2 What to look for when choosing a thermal imager
- 3 Top 5 thermal imagers
- 4 FAQ
How does a thermal imager work and what is it for?
All objects that are slightly warmer than absolute zero emit infrared radiation: even an iceberg, even an open-hearth furnace. We, unlike snakes or squids, do not see this radiation, although we perceive it with our skin as warm or cold. But measuring temperature from a distance is a damn useful skill that can come in handy. not only, say, hunting, like the same snakes, but also in energy, construction, scientific research. Corrects this annoying evolutionary miscalculation of the thermal imager - a device that is able to register IR radiation and convert the received information into a graphical form that is easy to read person. This is very similar to the operation of a digital camera, only the matrix of a thermal imager captures information not about color, but about temperature. As a result, on the screen of the device, we see a heat map of the environment, on which areas with different temperatures are presented in different colors: the coldest is black, followed by blue, green, yellow, orange, red and white colors.
This ability of the thermal imager has found wide application in various fields. Devices capable of remotely measuring temperature are used for hunting and for protecting important objects, because a thermal imager allows you to see a person or an animal even in complete darkness. Thermal imagers are used when troubleshooting equipment, during energy audits, searching for heat and cold leaks, gas leaks, oil spills, monitoring a wide variety of technological processes. Finally, the most accurate thermal imagers are used by scientists in their research. Of course, for different tasks, devices with different characteristics are needed, which we will discuss below.
What to look for when choosing a thermal imager
Permission. The resolution of the thermal imager matrix determines how detailed the final heat map will be. Usually this parameter ranges from 60 × 60 in simple household models to 640 × 480 in expensive professional devices. For most tasks, a resolution of 120 × 120 pixels is sufficient, especially if the instrument has a panning function and allows you to combine several small images into one large one.
Operating temperature range. It can be both very narrow and reach values from -50 to +3000 degrees in some models. It all depends on what you plan to measure, because to assess the quality of thermal insulation, you need a device that works in one thermal range, and for energy audit - in another. Most importantly, do not forget about a small margin of at least 15-20%.
Accuracy and speed of temperature measurement. Modern thermal imagers are capable of measuring temperature with an error of no more than 2% and at a speed of 0.2 seconds. This is usually sufficient for accurate and real-time measurements of changing temperatures. More accurate instruments are used in laboratory conditions.
Temperature sensitivity. Even inexpensive thermal imagers are able to capture the difference in temperature between adjacent points, which is measured in tenths or even hundredths of a degree. Typically, the temperature sensitivity of these devices is 0.1-0.02 degrees.
Information display mode. Inexpensive thermal imagers only display a thermal map of the environment in real time. More advanced models are capable of combining a heatmap and a regular image in picture-in-picture mode or even in image overlay mode. There are other functions: devices can display the temperature not only graphically, but also digitally, or display only areas with a certain temperature on a temperature map. These are all completely optional options, but they greatly simplify the use of the thermal imager, especially for beginners.
Top 5 thermal imagers
Best monocular thermal imager
1. Veber Night Eagle M35 / 384
An expensive and brutal thermal imager made in monocular format. The high sensor resolution of 384 × 288 pixels, coupled with high sensitivity, allows even small temperature changes to be detected. The eyepiece display has a resolution of 720 × 540 pixels, so everything is clearly visible on it. 2x and 4x digital zoom is available. The built-in 3600 mAh Li-Ion battery lasts for 4 hours of continuous operation. Information is displayed in 4 graphic modes. The device is protected from dust and moisture according to the IP66 standard, so it can be used in the most difficult conditions. It is possible to write to the internal memory of 8 gigabytes and connect to a smartphone via a proprietary application. It's not a pity to pay almost 114,500 rubles for such a miracle of technology.
Price: ₽ 114 478
Veber Night Eagle M35 / 384
The best building thermal imager
2. BOSCH GTC 400 C
Construction thermal imager from the professional "blue" line of the famous German manufacturer. The sensitivity of the sensor is 0.1 degrees, the measurement error does not exceed 3%. The minimum detectable temperature is -10 degrees, and the maximum is 400 degrees. The device is powered by 4 AA batteries. The instrument can transfer data via a MicroUSB cable or via Wi-Fi. The device is protected from dust and water according to the IP 53 standard, so it is not afraid of any weather conditions. The temperature for using the device is from -10 to +45 degrees. The price of the issue is an immodest 78,000 rubles.
Price: ₽ 78 050
BOSCH GTC 400 C
The best thermal imager for home
3. Seek Thermal Reveal PRO
A universal thermal imager with a price tag of just under 48,000 rubles, intended primarily for domestic use. Able to determine temperatures in the range from -40 to +330 degrees Celsius (it is also possible to work in Kelvin and Fahrenheit, if you suddenly have such a need). Measurements can be recorded on the built-in 4 GB memory card. The battery life on one battery charge reaches 4 hours. The thermal imager comes with a case for storage and carrying, a hand strap, a USB cable, and a mains power supply.
Price: ₽ 47 920
Seek Thermal Reveal PRO
Best inexpensive thermal imager
4. CONDTROL IR-CAM 1 [3-17-023]
With a price of less than 25,000 rubles, this thermal imager can even be called inexpensive against the general background. Despite the modest price, the device remains very functional and fully fulfills every ruble invested. There are 2 cameras that can display an image in 3 modes. The range of measured temperatures is from -50 to +1000 degrees. Thermograms can be saved to the built-in 1 gigabyte memory in .jpeg and .bmp formats. The battery with a capacity of 2500 mAh lasts about 3 hours of continuous use. The thermal imager is protected from dust and moisture according to the IP54 standard.
Price: ₽ 24 990
CONDTROL IR-CAM 1 [3-17-023]
The best thermal imager for your phone
5. Seek Thermal Compact
Very compact thermal imager designed to connect to iOS devices via the Lightning connector (there is a separate modification for Android, but you can just use the USB adapter Type-C). For this device they ask for about 20,000 rubles, but for such a price and modest dimensions, it has impressive capabilities. The resolution of the thermal sensor is 206 × 156 pixels, the viewing angle is 36 degrees, and the measured temperature range is from -40 to +330 degrees. The scanning frequency is rather low, only 9 hertz, but it is quite possible to close your eyes to this. The device is supplied with a water-resistant hard plastic case for storage and carrying.
Price: ₽ 19 465
Seek Thermal Compact
FAQ
Can a thermal imager see in the dark?
Of course, that's the whole point. A thermal imager registers infrared radiation, which the human eye does not perceive, and darkness (in our opinion) does not interfere with it.
How necessary is a thermal imager to build a house?
About the same as a roulette wheel is necessary: you can do without it, only then do not be surprised. Seriously, you can build a house without a thermal imager, but this device will help you find problems in thermal insulation, leaks in heat, water and gas supply systems, places where mold may appear and others problem areas. So saving on a thermal imager can come at a hefty expense in the future.