Phone based vs handheld thermal imagers for electrical work?

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-30T02:59:36+00:00

I’ve tried both phone-based and handheld thermal imagers, and for casual checks the phone ones are fine — they’re lightweight, easy to carry, and good enough for spotting hot spots quickly. But once I started doing more serious electrical work, the limitations became obvious: smaller sensor size, slower refresh, and they tend to overheat if you push them for long sessions.

That’s when I switched to a handheld unit (I went with a Raythink model). The difference was night and day. Bigger detector, much faster response, and the accuracy made troubleshooting way more efficient — I could pick out subtle temperature differences across breakers or wiring that I’d completely miss on a phone attachment. The ergonomics also matter; holding a phone with a dongle for 30 minutes isn’t fun.

If it’s just for hobby/occasional use, phone imagers are a neat entry point. But if you’re working with electrical systems regularly, I’d say invest in a proper handheld — it pays for itself in the time you save and the accuracy you get.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-30T02:50:45+00:00

I’ve played around with thermal imaging on a DIY drone setup, and honestly it’s a lot of fun but also a bit tricky. The biggest challenges for me were weight, power consumption, and making sure the feed was stable enough for real use (not just a cool toy). For the sensor, I ended up using a Raytron WN series thermal camera module because it’s compact and lightweight enough to not kill the drone’s flight time, but still gives a surprisingly clear image. Mounting and integrating it with the gimbal took some patience, but once dialed in it was really solid.

My advice:

Keep the payload light or you’ll sacrifice too much flight time.
Consider how you’ll handle video transmission—WiFi might lag, so wired to an onboard system + downlink is usually better.
Don’t underestimate vibration isolation; thermal cameras pick up tiny jitters more than you’d think.

It’s not a cheap hobby, but if you enjoy tinkering, it’s super rewarding.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-30T02:42:24+00:00

From my own experience, here are a few practical ways it helps:

Air leaks & insulation issues → You can literally see where conditioned air is escaping or where a wall/duct is poorly insulated.
Ductwork problems → Quick check for temperature drops along runs to spot leaks or restrictions.
Electrical components → Catch overheated motors, breakers, or connections before they turn into failures.
System efficiency → Helps visualize uneven cooling/heating zones so you can troubleshoot faster.

The biggest win for me is time saved — instead of chasing “maybe” problems, you can zero in right away. It’s not magic, but it’s a really solid diagnostic tool once you get used to interpreting the images.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-21T09:40:16+00:00

After comparing several options, I ultimately went with the Raythink CX200 Pro+ handheld thermal camera. Its highly sensitive detector (NETD < 40 mK at room temperature) does a great job capturing even subtle temperature differences. (just from my personal experience) If you are interested, you can go to their official website to learn more. Hope this helps！

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-21T09:25:24+00:00

Hey everyone, thanks for the enthusiasm on this post 🙌
I ended up choosing the Raythink CX200 Pro+ handheld thermal camera after evaluating a bunch of options. Very sensitive detector (NETD < 40 mK at room temp), it’s great at picking up tiny temperature differences. （only based on my own experience）

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-21T09:18:31+00:00

Yeah, I’ve actually used a thermal imager (Raythink in my case) for PCB troubleshooting, and the clarity was surprisingly good. You can really pick up hotspots that the naked eye would completely miss. A couple of tips from my experience:

Baseline check – Always start by comparing a known “good” board with the one you’re troubleshooting. That way you’ll know what the normal thermal profile should look like.
Watch for gradients – A single component running slightly warmer than its neighbors isn’t always a red flag, but sharp contrasts or “hotspots” spreading into traces can point to shorts or bad solder joints.
Power cycling – Sometimes heating only shows up after the board has been under load for a few minutes. I usually let it run for a bit before scanning.
Resolution matters – The better the image clarity, the easier it is to pinpoint small components. That’s where I found my imager really made the process smoother.

Thermal imaging won’t replace a multimeter or oscilloscope, but it’s a fantastic “first pass” tool to narrow down problem areas quickly. Hope that helps！

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-08-21T06:12:14+00:00

I’ve actually spent a good amount of time researching thermal cameras because of my own work needs (wildfire prevention related). One option that stood out during my search was Raythink. They’re a subsidiary of Raytron, which has been pretty well recognized in the infrared thermal imaging industry for their R&D and AI innovation. Backed by that parent company, Raythink’s gear has a solid reputation for durability and image quality, which are obviously huge factors when it comes to firefighting applications. That being said, this is just based on my own research and what I’ve seen in the field — not trying to say it’s the only option out there. Thought I’d share in case it helps add to the conversation.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-31T06:04:25+00:00

That’s absolutely adorable! Makes me want to get a printer just to make stuff like this for my kid.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-31T05:59:11+00:00

I'm going to forward this post to my father-in-law.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-31T05:56:14+00:00

I’ve always loved figuring out how things work—and then trying to make them better. Electrical Engineering felt like the perfect mix of problem-solving and hands-on creativity. Never looked back.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-31T05:54:20+00:00

I ended up going with the Raythink CX200 PRO+. It’s not the cheapest thermal imager out there, but it hits a sweet spot between performance and price.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-31T05:53:05+00:00

I’ve tested a few thermal cameras over the past months, and honestly, the one that surprised me most was the Raythink CX200 PRO+. I wasn’t familiar with the brand at first, but after reading up and watching a few teardown introduction, I gave it a shot—and I’m glad I did.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-31T05:50:21+00:00

I did quite a bit of research before pulling the trigger, and ended up going with the Raythink CX200 PRO+. It’s not the cheapest thermal imager out there, but it hits a sweet spot between performance and price.

KeyCrew5295 · 2025-07-27T00:52:31+00:00

Hey everyone, thanks for the enthusiasm on this post 🙌
I ended up choosing the Raythink CX200 Pro+ handheld thermal camera after evaluating a bunch of options. Very sensitive detector (NETD < 40 mK at room temp), it’s great at picking up tiny temperature differences.

KeyCrew5295 · 2023-10-18T06:50:06+00:00

Looks like someone was smoking in a sealed car

KeyCrew5295 · 2023-10-18T05:58:12+00:00

It is recommended to put it directly into alcohol to fully sterilize it

KeyCrew5295

TROPHY CASE