Gadgets versus tools for the job

Stacey Ward, sales manager at BSRIA Instrument Solutions, says: “Thermal imaging has limitless potential in trouble-shooting, predictive maintenance and fault finding. Formerly, the main decisions to be made when stepping into the world of thermography was what is the best camera for my application, what resolution do I require, what additional functionality could be beneficial to me? And, often more importantly, what does my budget actually buy?”

Now with the immergence of the smart phone camera attachment, even more difficult decisions abound: “Do I need a custom-designed camera if I already have a smart phone? What is the difference between the stand alone cameras and the phone add-ons? What are the pros and cons of the different devices, if any?”

The first question often asked, however, is cost. An entry level thermal imager usually starts at about £700 and for this you will get an instrument with a 'fairly decent resolution suitable for spot checking'. More advanced cameras can run into many thousands of pounds”.  

A smart phone camera attachment is priced typically about £250 and – considering the cost of a smartphone itself – you are already near the same price as an entry level thermal imaging camera. The advantage however is that most people already have a smartphone. As with anything you buy – the more money you spend – the better quality you get and image resolution is usually the main factor affecting the cost of a camera. 

The resolution may be of a decent standard but nothing can compare to the image definition of a camera with high pixilation. With a true thermal imager you have the added advantage of every pixel being effectively a thermometer, giving you accurate and precise measurements.

The perception of having the right tool for the job is 'priceless'. If you have a critical site visit or survey to conduct and your client sees you using a smartphone as your thermal imager eyebrows may be raised regarding your competency; however, if the purpose for the camera is to find a fault for 'quick fix' then the smartphone could be a suitable solution.

BSRIA believes that nothing can substitute the quality, accuracy and reliability of a professional model camera, but that it may be 'over kill' for some requirements. With some research and hands-on experience you can find the camera or add-on which best suits your requirements.