Niche product, but may help someone. This thing gets great reviews, comparable to flir but at a reasonable price. This is from the Uni-T store on AliExpress, they are selling a competitors product for some reason, and far cheaper than any others I could find.
This has much better thermal resolution, sensitivity, and temperature range than anything else near this price range.
What's the difference between my orange $7 meat thermometer and this one.
This has 256 x 192 pixels. Yours has one pixel. Do the maths.
I have done the maths. Mine comes out with ONE juicy leg of lamb. How many does yours make?
Maybe good for DIY termite inspections?
I've been looking at thios in Amazon for some time now:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R3P292S/
Item Specifics:
Is_customized: Yes
Brand Name: Noyafa
Model Number: NF-521
Place of Origin: Shenzhen.China
Temperature measurement range: -10~400邃
Color: Red+Grey
Power: 3.7V Lithium battery
Warranty: 1Year
Product description:
NF-521 has thermal imaging function and can display hot and cold spots on the screen, enabing users to oberve the object temperature changes more effectively. It helpls you to quickly lock the target area. The standard 8GB memory card can save a large number of images and data and generate high-quality infrared images, which is a useful tool for fault maintenance.
Main function:
1. 2-megapixel white lens
2. 2.4 TFT LCD Display
3. Temperature testing range: -10ﾂｰC ~ 400ﾂｰC
4. 32ﾃ32 pixel resolution, 33ﾂｰ Field of View
5. Merging visible and infrared image display
6. Chargeable Li-ion battery (charge by micro USB interface)
Package Including
Memory card1pcs
Charging cable1pcs
Manual*1pcs
It looks better in terms of pixel resolution 200K vs 50K from OP, but unsure about the brand/reviews, etc
Seems cheaper too. Hence I was hoping to see some comparative analysis/feedback as OP seems to know a bit about the product.
What's your use case if you don't mind me asking?
It looks better in terms of pixel resolution 200K vs 50K from OP, but unsure about the brand/reviews, etc
The specs say 32x32 which is absolutely terrible. OP's is 256x192 at 25Hz which is really good for the price. They even copied FLIR's patented MSX that combines the IR image with a visible-light image to make the final image clearer.
The $225 (+ship+gst) UTi120S (120x90, 25Hz, no image fusion) in OP's link will be far superior to that Amazon one.
I was thinking the same. Unit in the deal is super cheap.
The "image fusion" isn't quite MSX, which is edge detection and other misc. image processing laid over the thermal image, rather than a simple blend.
256x192 resolution is pretty high end for a microbolometer unit. I assume this is a Chinese bolometer and not a SEEK Thermal one (which has a reputation for giving a very muddy/unfocused thermal image) For those interested there is a very good thermal imagery section on eevblog forums.
You aren't going to get 25Hz from a FLIR brand unit without a five-digit price tag and an ITAR clearance certificate.
A thread on eevblog is what inspired me to buy this thing. They seem to love it.
The sensor is their own, not a seek.
The "image fusion" isn't quite MSX, which is edge detection and other misc. image processing laid over the thermal image, rather than a simple blend.
Apparently this thing does have edge detection available.
The one you have linked has terrible thermal resolution, 1024 pixels vs 49,152 for the one in op. Also likely a max of 4-5Hz refresh.
Can this show silhouettes clearly through a wall? Can it be set up for hands-free operation? Asking for a friend.
If the silhouettes are also generating a lot of heat, you might pick up something. A drill and a pinhole camera might be more suitable for you r friend. ;)
You are in luck, as it has a threaded insert in the bottom so you can put it on a tripod. Hopefully this helps your friend with his legitimate use case.
It won't show anything through a wall unless the thing that you are trying to look at is hot enough to heat up your side of the wall.
In other words, sadly no.
Yeah, it does have to pass through. It can be used to locate hot water pipes through a tiled wall. If you pour hot water down a sink, depending on the route and construction, you could possibly locate clogs too.
Camera with usb c for phone would be good. Should be cheaper as Save cost on screen.
You'd think so, but they're very similar in price.
The USB-C UTi120Mobile is $215+gst while the comparable UTi120S is $225+$10 shipping + gst.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages. A USB one lets you share or backup the images easily but is more hassle to use and is more fragile, a handheld one is quick and easy to use but it's harder to share images.
Looks like the model is incorrect in the title.
I have the Uni-T model which you attach to your phone via USB-C, uses the phone's camera to do a blended thermal and visable light image. Used for energy efficiency upgrades at home. Cost me $230 on AliExpress and have been really happy with it, have read good things about the high resolution handheld model linked.
Looks like the model is incorrect in the title.
It is, there are just 4 models in that listing, you have to select the correct one.
Sorry, I assumed you were referring to the UTi260B in the post. Uni-Trend is a somewhat reputable brand, not sure about Infiray.
Infiray literally make their own thermal cores.
Perfect for finding hot chicks
Good for finding leaks in a roof?
If you live near a volcano.
Not sure if you are trolling or if you actually know if this product isnt good for finding leaks?
Only reason I ask is the termite guys that use guns like this to find the heat signatures of Termites but they also see cold patches in walls and roofs too.
I would assume so, can show up differences of approx 0.4°c in real life looking at reviews. Shows up framing behind gyprock as well apparently.
This should be sensitive enough to see the studs and noggings in your wall, let alone leaks.
I have the infiray t3s, cost $1100au is an awesome usb c camera for finding faults on Electronic PCBs. Yes expensive no where near flir prices though. For those looking for decent pcb camera cheap UTi260B with macro lens is best bang for buck.
I used a thermal camera to check the insulation and air leaks in my home. Found lots of spots which needed to get fixed (eaves, manhole, missing spots in the walls). After making the house more airtight and better insulated it saves a lot in heating and cooling costs. Not sure if it would warrant a purchase at this price - but a great tool to check insulation.
do you have link the the camera you used?
Needed one to check if a possum was in the wall. Does anyone know if thermal imagers can be rented?
Mate - we it's hard enough to find RATs at the moment, you should find it near on impossible coming up with a POSSUM (Pretty Awful Silly Suggestion Unnecessarily Made)
What are you on about?
Rapid Antigen test
@justaddwater: Yeah, I get that, but what does that have to do with old mate wanting to see a possum in the wall?
That's a bit of a stretch. 😂
Needed one to check if a possum was in the wall.
Unlikely. I don't think your possum is hot enough to heat up the wall.
Could I use this to shoot a cheap knock off sequel to the Predator movies?
Absolutely. I used to use my FLIR to locate the cat when he hid in the dark - but he could evade it by hanging out near the fireplace.
Good find OP. I paid ~$550 for a FLIR ONE Pro Android phone accessory about a year ago, and this would have been a very serious contender.
The FLIR is 2017 era tech and has fewer pixels from a more well known chipset (FLIR Lepton, 160x120 pixels compared with 256x192 on this), probably a lower framerate (I'm guessing 20Hz) but easier integration with phone and better quality software & software ecosystem. This device's hands free design would have been better than the 'hanging off a USB with friction and faith' approach of my smartphone-augmenting version.
I mainly got it to detect leaks (both thermal and water) but have found it a very useful troubleshooting tool since - eg. to convince work IT there actually was a hardware fault in my PC, to measure my parents water & LPG tanks, to find wiring/pipes/studs, and to compare the performance of various stoves. Also shared a link above from hide n seek with the cat.
probably a lower framerate (I'm guessing 20Hz)
It's actually an awful 9Hz thanks to, of all things, ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) restrictions. Basically they're worried you'll build a missile or drone with it.
It's really pointless nowadays as anyone can buy high-res higher-framerate modules from Aliexpress.
My million dollar business idea is to resell the modern Chinese high-framerate units with a range of modular cradles allowing for different use cases. Such as:
No plans to progress it at this stage - I've seen enough Kickstarters go off the rails on manufacturing, and know my own app development skills aren't up to snuff - but I'd happily back someone with the time, skillset and willingness to take on inventory risk.
ATTENTION ASIO: I do not know tplen1!
How do you use this to find hardware faults in IT?
A range of ways - it can detect damaged components (localised sections far hotter than the rest) or being hotter than spec generally.
It's also remarkably good at getting L1 support to stop the script and escalate. "I don't think reimaging this again will provide meaningful diagnostic data - based on this thermal image it looks like a hardware fault. Would you mind diagnosing for hardware issues?"
Any one know which is the better unit to get? UTi260B OR C200 mentioned in the post title? (I'm getting slightly cheaper pricing as weel to what what is listed in this post)
UTi260B @ US$291.39 + $7.24 Shipping = US$298.63
C200 @ US$281.05 + $7.24 Shipping = US$288.29
I found the following link for more stock for those that would like it:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003483540145.html @ US $284.43 + Free shipping to Australia it seems!
Running through the specs there is little (no) difference - battery life maybe. Either device would be suitable and they are as well known as each other - Infiray seems to have a following as an outdoors device (in a monocular arrangement) (there are some videos). If you can find the C210 at the same price (they are not made anymore it seems) then you will also have video recording - which would be the way to go.
If you can find the C210 at the same price (they are not made anymore
From what I can see, they've taken the c210, removed video over USB, and made the c200. The c210 is now the c200 pro.
Thanks for the details, would I be correct in saying the UTi260B might be the better unit then at around the same price as it seems to support video feed to the computer with software included… where the C200 just seems to offer a larger battery above that model then?
Also, does anyone know if it's easy to replace the battery in either of these units as I don't think I'll use it much but hopefully will last many years to come but I suspect I might need to change the batteries to keep it alive over the years but can't see a mention of what battery or how easy it is to change from either unit?
Battery Details found so far:
UTi260B - Li-ion 3.6V 5000mAh 26650 single cell
Partially related:
"I believe the [Infiray] Tiny1 to be used in the UTI-260b"
Quote Source:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/roundup-of-cur…
Found the UTi260B for US $289.99 (After discount coupons: US $283.99)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001486771461.html
Back in stock!
I was looking at getting the c200 for home inspections but then stumbled across the UNI-T UTI690B…both around the same price …can anyone advise on the key differences and which is the better unit?
Sorry…the actual model number is UNI690B….
Given that this is a niche product, what is the typical price for it relative to similar ones in the market? Looking at the 53% discount, I couldn't tell if its an inflated RRP to start off with…?
Seems like a cool gadget to have.