Thermal imaging cameras introduced a whole new field of technology when they were first developed into common use about twenty years ago and became affordable items for a range of testing purposes. Today they are a popular testing instrument for safety, emergency response and energy management, and the TIS range of thermal imaging cameras has developed as public interest in this technology has also increased.
What is a thermal imaging camera?
A thermal imaging camera is a handheld device with an integrated LED display screen, and it is used to detect heat energy. This is done via a sensor attached to a lens which works alongside image capture technology to quickly identify regions of excess temperature. The thermal sensor enables the user to see an otherwise invisible infrared spectrum, and the hotter regions are usually shown on the screen as red, orange or yellow, while cooler regions are blue or purple. Green is usually room temperature.
What can you use thermal imaging cameras for?
When you point a thermal imaging camera at a heat source it will give you a temperature reading and a visible indication of how hot the region is compared to its surrounding areas. This indicates an abnormality that you wouldn’t normally be able to see. So this can be used for checking excessive temperatures on surfaces or in overheating components, checking for sources of wasted energy and testing for thermal insulation gaps in building construction.
Thermal imaging cameras are commonly used in emergency response situations by medical professionals as well as maintenance staff, engineers and in energy management.
What makes a good thermal imaging camera?
In addition to the obvious elements of price, brand and practicality of use, the TIS range of thermal imaging cameras are based on the following key criteria:
- Certification
- Ergonomic design
- Image resolution
- Thermal range
- Lens interchangeability
- Calibration
Naturally you want the camera to be accurate and reliable across a number of different functions and adaptable to different applications, this means you want a range of heat sensitivities and different ergonomic designs.
The TIS range of thermal imaging cameras
TIS have designed and developed a range of different thermal imaging cameras to suit different needs and applications. The TIS1900 is a popular, affordable camera which has a wide temperature range of -20°C to 350°C, has a memory card, one hour of video recording potential and allows you to download your results. This makes it useful for most applications. Meanwhile, the THT80 is a much smaller compact camera with a higher resolution screen. This makes it suitable for more specialist applications in hydraulic, mechanical and electrical maintenance.
The THT100 is equipped with a measuring range of -20° c to 650° c and a field of view of 21° x 21°. This makes it suitable for the same applications, but also plumbing, ventilation and refrigeration systems. This camera produces high quality thermal images and videos, as well as allowing autofusion and picture-in-picture functions. The camera is equipped with a modern internal icon structure and a high brightness capacitive touch-screen display, it is also equipped with WiFi connection.
Finally, the THT600 is a professional thermal imaging camera with high sensitivity, which makes is suitable for both industrial and construction use, but perhaps most specifically it can be used to monitor human body temperatures, and hence can be used for health screening in work environments, for example.
The full range of TIS thermal imaging cameras includes ten different models, plus various leads and adaptor accessories. You are certain to find a product that suits your requirements and budget, but speak to our experts at TIS and we will help you find the model that is best for you.