This thermal camera gives your iPhone super power

I have several Android smartphones that integrate a thermal camera (such as the Blackview BV8900 or the Ulefone Power Armor 18T), and I find them very useful. But my everyday smartphone is an iPhone. And since Apple will never add a thermal camera to its smartphone, it is still possible to add this feature.

One of the best ways to achieve this is to use the Topdon TC002 thermal imager.

The technical characteristics of the Topdon TC002 thermal camera

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  Ultra-high resolution of 256 x 192
  
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  Refresh rate of 25 Hz
  
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  Extended measuring range from -20°C to 550°C with a high level of accuracy of 0.1°C
  
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  Maximum error of ±2°C or 2%
  
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  Dimensions 14×10×4.5 cm and weight 230 g
  
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  Comes with a case, a cleaning cloth, a user guide and a 50 cm Lightning extension cable
  

The kit includes the thermal camera, a case, a cleaning cloth and a 50 cm Lightning extension cable, which prevents you from connecting the camera directly to the iPhone and offers you greater flexibility.

The Topdon TC002 Kit Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The Lightning extension cable is a welcome accessory, especially useful if your iPhone is housed in a case that is too thick to properly accommodate the camera.

The Lightning extension cable is a welcome accessory. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

As for the use of the thermal camera, the TC002 is brilliant for capturing photos and videos. The precision is such that we can see the heat zones produced by the fingerprints on a surface.

Thermal areas of fingerprints on a surface. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The software is very smooth and easy to use. In addition, it is not slow, a problem that I have encountered with some software from other thermal cameras.

The software necessary for the operation of the TC002 is one of the best on the market. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The video capture is also amazing: look at the details of this flame (which has been converted from a video file to a GIF file).

The Topdon TC002 does an excellent job of capturing thermal video. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Why do you need a thermal imager?

Why do you need a thermal imager? I could name dozens of good reasons, but here are some uses that I have found recently:

• Identify overheating electrical components. (Defective components are usually hotter).
  
• Diagnose all kinds of heating, ventilation and air conditioning problems, whether they are windows that let heat out, radiators that do not heat up properly or air conditioners that do not cool down.
  
• Discover rechargeable batteries that overheat dangerously.
  
• Find radiator hoses under the floors.
  
• Identify problems related to desktop and laptop cooling systems.
  
• Spot defective brakes on cars.

The Topdon TC002 is an efficient thermal camera. It has a good temperature measurement range, it is very accurate, the video image is fluid thanks to the 25Hz refresh rate, and the software does not lag or crash. This is a thermal imaging camera of industrial manufacturing quality. At € 294, you can buy it for a fraction of the usual cost of specialized thermal cameras. This is a fantastic addition to any repair toolkit.

Source: “ZDNet.com “