The measuring instrument for every application: there are hardly any measuring instruments that are as versatile as a thermal imager.
Making temperatures visible with the help of thermography makes your work easier in these applications, among others:
In building thermography a Testo thermal camera helps you to detect thermal bridges and structural defects.
In heating construction, you can use thermography to check the function of underfloor heating systems or detect leaks non-destructively.
In maintenance a thermal camera enables you to see wear before systems fail.
Resolution: at least 160 x 120 pixels
Thermal sensitivity
Software for analysis and professional reports
Easy and intuitive operation
Applications, functions and further information on Testo thermal imaging cameras
Precise thermal visualization with powerful features
Thermal imagers are measuring instruments that allow you to visualize temperatures without physically touching the object.
Thermal imagers, also known as thermographic cameras or thermal cameras, detect the infrared (IR) radiation emitted by an object and visualize it in real time as a thermogram. This radiation is a form of electromagnetic wave and is invisible to the human eye.
As a result, thermal imagers provide an efficient, non-contact method of visualizing and analyzing temperature distributions and varying levels of heat. The technical term for this process is thermography.
Thermal imaging applications
Thermal imagers are used in a wide range of industries due to their versatility. Applications include:
Thermal imagers play a vital role in detecting energy loss, thermal bridging and construction defects. A building thermal imager helps energy consultants and architects identify thermal weaknesses in structures that can lead to energy loss. By visualizing temperature differences, areas of inadequate insulation can be quickly identified. They can also reliably detect penetrating moisture, such as that caused by roof leaks. This technology is also useful in detecting mould, as it clearly shows damp areas that are at increased risk of mould growth.
Glaziers, window fitters and carpenters also use thermal imagers to pinpoint thermal weaknesses in windows, doors and façades, allowing them to carry out targeted renovation and repair work.
In the heating industry, heating engineers and HVAC tradespeople use thermal imagers to assess the efficiency and functionality of heating systems, allowing them to identify potential problems early on. Leaks in heating systems can be quickly and accurately located without the need for structural intervention. Uniform heat distribution is critical to the comfort and efficiency of heating systems, and thermal imagers help identify and correct any irregularities. In addition, thermal imagers enable non-destructive leak detection in underfloor heating systems by revealing temperature differences in the floor.
Thermal imagers play a vital role in the inspection and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. By making temperature differences visible, problem areas or faulty components can be quickly and reliably identified during routine spot checks. In this way, these cameras make a significant contribution to the efficiency and operational safety of the systems.
Infrared cameras are an essential maintenance tool for the early detection of faults in electrical and mechanical systems. Service and maintenance engineers, technical facility managers, process engineers and electricians use this technology to detect thermal anomalies before they cause costly failures and downtime. With regular thermographic inspections, potential problems can be identified and rectified in good time. Thermal images can also be used to quickly identify overheating components so that action can be taken to prevent potentially dangerous damage.
In power generation and distribution, thermal imagers are essential for monitoring medium and high-voltage systems. Energy suppliers and network operators use thermal cameras to check the function and efficiency of transformers, substations, overhead lines, turbines, generators and other equipment for thermal anomalies. Regular thermographic inspections can identify and correct malfunctions, signs of wear or material fatigue, improving system reliability and helping to prevent outages. Thermal imagers are also used to monitor photovoltaic systems, where inefficient modules can be identified and replaced to optimize the overall performance of solar systems.
Thermal imagers assist design engineers, research institutions and universities in the development of new technologies. They help to analyze and optimize the thermal properties of materials and components. In research, detailed thermographic data can be used to validate models and theories. In addition, thermal imagers enable quality assurance in production by inspecting prototypes and products for thermal anomalies.
In quality assurance, thermal imagers are valuable tools for verifying product quality through thermal analysis. Quality managers, QA engineers and quality controllers use this technology to detect and correct thermal anomalies in products. Thermal analysis can reveal material defects that are invisible to the naked eye. Regular thermographic inspections ensure that production processes run efficiently and without error.
How do thermal imagers work?
Thermal imagers work by capturing the infrared radiation emitted by objects. Simply put, the thermal imager captures this radiation and converts it into an infrared thermal image, where the different temperatures are represented as colour variations.
How a thermal imager works in detail
The imager has a detector (usually a microbolometer) that responds to infrared radiation. Any object with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15°C) emits infrared radiation. When this hits the detector, it is absorbed and heats the detector elements. This heating causes a change in the electrical resistance of the elements.
The change in resistance is converted into an electrical signal which is then processed by the camera's electronics. This signal is proportional to the amount of infrared radiation detected.
The electrical signals are processed by the camera's internal image processing software, which converts them into a visible image. Different colours are assigned to different temperatures. The resulting image is called a thermogram.
The thermogram is displayed on the thermal imager's screen. Warmer areas appear brighter, while cooler areas appear darker. Typically, thermal imagers use a colour scale from blue (low temperature) through green and yellow to red (high temperature) to visualize temperatures.
Purchasing criteria for thermal imagers
Are you thinking of buying a thermal imager? Here's what to look for:
Thermal sensitivity of less than 120 mK (makes temperature differences of 0.12 °C visible)
Also known as thermal resolution and measured in millikelvin (mK), this is the smallest temperature difference that the thermal imager can detect.
Manual focus
Check that the thermal imager offers manual focus. Manual focus allows more precise adjustment of the focus on the target, which is especially important at varying distances.
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses greatly increase the versatility of your thermal imager. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for covering large areas from close range, while telephoto lenses are useful for detailed inspection of smaller areas from a greater distance. Make sure the imager offers compatible options for different lens types.
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses greatly increase the versatility of your thermal imager. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for covering large areas from close range, while telephoto lenses are useful for detailed inspection of smaller areas from a greater distance. Make sure the imager offers compatible options for different lens types.
Software for analysis and professional reports
For professional documentation we recommend our special thermography software testo IRSoft. In addition to processing thermal images, it offers many other analysis functions. Find out more here.
Simple and intuitive operation
Our products have a simple, intuitive interface, making them easy to use. They are operated via a highly sensitive touchscreen or an ergonomic joystick, providing precise and convenient control.
Testo thermal imager features
Purchasing a thermal imager is a wise investment, especially when you choose a thermal imager from Testo. Our instruments are renowned for their exceptional image quality. With a wide range of features, the Testo thermal imager enables the efficient use of infrared thermography for a variety of applications. These versatile features not only improve the quality of the thermal image, but also maximize the ease of use and precision to meet your specific requirements.
Compare Testo thermal imagers
Compare the Testo thermal imagers side by side!
Smart thermography with the highest image quality – this is what the testo 872 model stands for:
Infrared resolution 320 x 240 pixels (with testo SuperResolution technology 640 x 480 pixels)
Integrated digital camera and laser marker
Wireless measurement data transfer from the testo 770-3 clamp meter and testo 605i humidity measuring instrument
With testo Thermography App
With the testo 872, there are no longer any thermal bridges, missing insulation or leaks in underfloor heating that remain undetected. Simply switch on, get going and know more.
Emission monitoring must be carried out precisely. This means that the results you get here from the measuring devices should be representative. Moreover, it is helpful if these results are directly compared with each other. It must be possible to measure limit values with the exhaust gas measuring device. You do not have the option of letting everyone do the measurement. Instead, you need qualified personnel to carry out the measurements.
Depending on the application, you will still need more measuring instruments for efficient temperature measurement in addition to a thermal camera. We have put together a small selection of our bestsellers for you here.
Smart Probes are compact professional measuring instruments operated by smartphone. They are available for the most important measurement parameters and will make your day-to-day work somewhat more pleasant.
Temperature data loggers are used not only for measuring temperatures (and other measurement parameters), but also for monitoring and recording them over defined time periods.
Smart Probes are compact professional measuring instruments operated by smartphone. They are available for the most important measurement parameters and will make your day-to-day work somewhat more pleasant.
As the name makes clear, a surface temperature meter is used to measure the temperature on the surface of a measurement object. This category also includes infrared thermometers. Similar to an infrared thermal imaging camera, they measure the thermal radiation of an object. Temperature measuring strips, on the other hand, are used to quickly measure the surface temperature in a wide variety of applications.