TOPDON Thermal Camera TC001, Thermal Imaging Camera Android 256x192 Resolution, -20℃-550℃ Testing Range, 40mk Heat Sensitivity, Error Less Than 2℃, for Smartphones and Tablets

Product Information

I did mention in the intro that at the moment, there is only a USB-C option, but I am fairly sure they will release a version for the iPhone as well – maybe they’re just waiting to see if Apple will actually accept defeat and move to the USB-C standard, like everyone else. Also, the case is covered by a blue matte finish and no other color is currently available. The Installation How come its competitors are limited in this regard? The thermal cameras that are made in the US can be exported without a license as long as they has the frame rate less or equal to 9Hz. Since both Topdon and AGM are built outside the US, they can push the refresh rate a lot higher and it shows. I have captured a video of both AGM Glory Pro and the Topdon TC001 side by side (sort of) and the result was interesting. Equipped with an ultra-high IR camera resolution of 256x192 pixels, the TC001 can produce a thermal image with unmatched clarity. I think most people will prefer the TC001 over the FLIR models. This is especially true for android and windows users. The functionality is excellent and specs blow the competition out of the water, even the models at two and three times its price point.

The TC001, however, is powered directly from your phone. It powers on instantly. My phone had no problems running it and it didn’t make a noticeable impact on my battery life. Frame rate Featuring a DIY temperature range ability, the TOPDON infrared thermal camera allows users to set upper and lower limits, and corresponding colors. This device could be very useful if you’re evaluating or monitoring the temperature of things. In the image above, you can see my aging company Macbook is getting quite hot in the top center under light use, probably indicating the need to blow out the fans to clear built up dust.The TOPDON TC001 is a very interesting alternative to the Flir One Pro and Seek Compact. It is basically a smartphone attachment just like the others, but it is worth noting that this is compatible only with Android devices. Right after we took it out of the box we noticed that it has a minimalistic but very attractive design. Basically what you get is a thermal sensor on the front and that’s it. No battery, no visual camera, no storage. The camera itself feels very light. But there’s an advantage to missing all those components: It has a very low price. We recently got our hands on the TOPDON TC001 Thermal Camera. It is a compact unit that attaches to the USB-C Port of any Android Phone or Windows System. With a resolution of 256 × 192 pixels and a frame rate of 25Hz, you can expect high-quality images and videos. It also comes with a companion app/software for Android and Windows. Professionals such as electricians and electronics repairmen, home inspectors, HVAC and car technicians One downside is that there is no visual camera to enhance the image through fusion however the app can make use of your smartphone’s camera to enhance the image. Now this isn’t as good as one that’s built-in because you have to do a bit of alignment since the position of the camera on each smartphone differs quite a bit. Sure, it may not be as good as the MSX image enhancement technology but then remember that you’re paying a very low price for this piece of equipment. Because the thermal image quality is was so good, we didn’t really need to use the visual image as well.

The hardware installation involves connecting the Topdon TC001 thermal camera to an Android phone which will power it up but, to see the image, you do need to install the app. I searched Topdon in the Play Store and there is a dedicated one for the TC001, so there is no general app for multiple products. The Topdon TC001 attached to a smartphone. The Topdon TC001 is a thermal imaging camera that’s perfect for those who want to get an instant view of the heat generated by not only electronic devices but also by anything in the surrounding environment. Whether you want to know if you should clean your laptop’s cooling fans or to see where your home needs insulation, the Topdon TC001 can do it. Moreover, the image quality and the fast refresh rate are excellent for real-time heat monitoring. After comparing its price and features to those of other similar thermal cameras on the market, I can warmly recommend the Topdon TC001 to everyone with a passion for DIY projects. Unboxing the Topdon TC001 thermal imaging cameraiPhone users cannot use this device yet. They plan on releasing a version for the iPhone, eventually. I am really impressed by the high resolution of the thermal camera. The TC001 resolution is over three times higher than the FLIR version in the same generation. Compared to FLIR, the images are sharp, and it’s easy to distinguish what you are looking at. With a wide temperature range of -4℉ to 1022℉(-20℃ to 550℃) , the camera can perform temperature readings for all kinds of objects. This infrared thermal camera is not waterproof or dustproof so we had to be a bit more careful when handling it but it is worth mentioning that no thermal camera for Android or iOS is. Not even the new Flir One Edge Pro which in theory could have been built to be waterproof has it. This waveform graph makes thermal reading observation much clearer, and allows for easier thermal temperature analysis.

The main complaints that people have about the module-type thermal cameras include the annoying constant calibration (which is something that happens with the Topdon TC001), the reliance of the USB port, which may lead to the module either slipping out or breaking, and there have been complaints about loss of connection, which I found a bit strange, but possible. The TC001 is not going to fall out of the phone due to both the properly-made connector and the low weight of the module, while the loss of connection is unlikely when it’s done via the USB port. I am not sure it works that well to be honest, but I suppose that it’s better than nothing. Lastly, you can manually select the temperature range or simply let the camera recognize the correct range by itself. Note: The potential thermal error will be less than ±1.8°F (1ºC) when the target temperature is below 212°F (100ºC). Compared to traditional infrared cameras, the TOPDON TC001 infrared thermal camera attaches to a smartphone or a tablet’s input and is powered by the device, eliminating the fear of running out of power outside with low power consumption of only 0.35W. The TC001 is a fantastic device. Adopting a normal name for it would make it feel a little more natural to discuss. Maybe “The Thermonator 2000” or “TC 007”? But that may be over-criticizing.Designed with mobility in mind, the TC001 can easily pair with most Android smartphones; the device only weighs 30g, and measures 71x42x14mm; further adding to the TC001’s mobility. Apart from taking images, the TC001 also allows you to record videos. The advantage of TC001 in this regard is its frame rate of 25Hz. The videos are smooth without any stuttering. WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Now they claim it has a thermal sensitivity of 50 mK NETD. That would be really good because it means it is highly sensitive to temperature changes but this is a claim I am a bit skeptical of after looking at the thermal images, so I would take it with a grain of salt. Heat sensitivity is usually what gives thermal infrared cameras their detail, the more sensitive it is, the more detailed the image will be.

I assume this is a general policy for all Topdon devices and not everything applies to the TC001. That being said, after accepting the aforementioned policies, I was asked for access to the camera and media, which makes sense, followed by the request that I connect the thermal camera. After attaching the module, the camera appeared as being connected and online (the side LED also started shining blue). Installing the app. The Mobile Application Includes 10 different color palettes, sharpness and contrast adjustment, picture-in-picture and many other functions. Image enhancement technology makes the field of view clearer and more detailed, and enhances the target recognition function.The user interface of the TC001 app is simple and easy to use. You get four large tiles corresponding to the four sections of the app: Temperature Monitoring: this allows you to continuously record the temperature of a certain spot or location and generate a chart with the changes recorded over time.