Less than a year after the introduction of its iPhone accessory Flir One, the thermal imaging manufacturer announces the TG165 imaging IR thermometer. Designed for thermal imaging beginners, the TG165 helps eliminate the blind guesswork of troubleshooting energy loss by combining a single spot IR thermometer with the power of a thermal camera in a rugged, compact device.
In operation, the TG165 emits a beam of infrared light that lands on an object and bounces back to determine the object's surface temperature. At the same time, the device's thermal imager uses a micro thermal camera that passively scans an area and displays images of hot and cold patterns on the LCD screen. The visual representation of infrared radiation gives users a new understanding and awareness of temperature readings. Being able to see hot and cold spots and show them to homeowners makes energy management work more efficient and reliable.
The TG165 has a Distance-to-Spot ratio of 24:1, meaning that from 24 inches the device can measure the temperature of a 1-inch spot; doubling the distance also doubles the measurable area. Since different materials emit thermal energy differently (e.g., shiny surfaces vs. dark matte finish surfaces), the tool also lets users adjust emissivity settings based on the material whose temperature is being measured. Flir provides a list of common materials and their emissivity ratings in the user manual.
Ideal for electrical, plumbing, and other construction trades, the TG165 IR Thermometer can help with a variety of tasks, including checking seals around windows and doors, spotting areas of missing insulation, pinpointing electrical hotspots, or locating water leaks and clogs. At $499, the TG165 has a slightly higher price tag than the Flir One introduced in January, but offers more flexibility. The Flir One requires an iPhone 5 or 5s to operate, whereas the TG165 has the look and feel of more standard test and measurement devices. It also offers a wider range of temperature readings from -13 to 716F, compared to 32 to 212F for the Flir One. Flir | flir.com
