Top 9 things about Thermal Imagers for Dummies

Have you ever seen images in different palettes but are very different from the Instagram filters? The likelihood is that the images you saw are a thermal image capture using a thermal imager device.

During the olden days, the main usage for thermal imagers is for navigation as well as for the military defenses. The technology has then been commercialized over the past decades and hence is used in other applications such as the commercial trades, fire-fighting, wildlife detection, law enforcement, hunting, and photography.

TOP 9 facts about thermal imagers for Dummies!

1.      Thermal Imagers, The eye of a snake!

Thermal imagers use Infrared (IR) to detect hotspot on surfaces. The vision of snakes replicates the capability of IR which enables them to detect hotspot and hunt for their preys in complete darkness.

2.      The cost of $249 USD

Manufacturers all around the world are competing fiercely in terms of price on IR lenses. A thermal camera can cost as low as USD 249 based on existing market rate. Can you believe it? This would mean that a commoner can simply own a thermal imager for their niche application such as ghost detection, wildlife detection, as well as just be finding out who sat on your chair a few minutes ago. Check it out here.

3.            Resolution is the main differences between thermal imagers

There are various types of the thermal imager in the market such as SEEK Thermal, Fluke, FLIR, Testo, etc and they vary in terms of pricing. Resolution is the key factor to the pricing differences in the market and they can vary from 80 X 60 pixels to as high as 1280 X 960 pixels - the cost of both resolutions can vary by a million in SGD! Not forgetting on the additional features where some of them can be analyzed via software.

4.      Thermal imagers do not penetrate through wall or glass

This is one of the most interesting parts of a thermal imager. it takes a measurement only against a surface and does not penetrate through any other surfaces such as walls, bricks as well as a clear glass wall. However, there are a few types of material that it can penetrate through such as Germanium, etc

5.      Thermal imager can be used on a smartphone - IOS/Android

SEEK Thermal has developed a new technology where a dongle-like thermal camera can be used on smartphones. You will be able to enjoy the thermal cameras right from your smartphone screen! How cool is that? If you ask me, we definitely exist at the best generation! Check out where to buy in your region here

6.      Thermal Imagers have bad accuracy

As much as we love the capture accuracy of a device, thermal imagers, unfortunately, do not possess good capture accuracy. Thermal imagers are generally suitable for detecting heat or cold signal on surfaces and definitely are not meant for a very accurate reading. The accuracy range could vary from +/- 5 degree Celsius. However, sensitivity comes into play in order to distinguish the thermal differences. Thermal imagers can detect thermal differences change up to 0.1 degrees. Check out one of the for elaboration images

7.      How does a thermal imager work?

In simple layman term, most of the thermal imagers use the IR technology to detect long wavelength (7.5 micron – 14 microns) as compared to visible eyes where we can only detect short wavelength (390nm – 740nm). From the detected IR, it is then converted into an electronic signal which has a few more other parameters such as the emissivity of the surface. Upon calculation with a standard formula and converts them into temperature reading

8.      The emissivity is the trick, introducing Epsilon!

The Epsilon or know as emissivity is the key. The common layman may always question on the temperature detected using thermal imagers, however, Thermographers often ponder on the correct emissivity of surfaces to be measured in order to achieve a good temperature reading. Different surfaces or objects have a unique emissivity value. In short, it is a percentage degree in IR emission of such surfaces and the Epsilon does not have an SI unit (ranges from 0.05 - 0.95).

To put this simply, have you ever wonder why a metal spoon is always cooler than a wooden plastic spoon though they are being left at the same room temperature? This is due to the differences in emissivity!

9. Last but not least...

Can thermal images detect fart? Find out here! :)