The Fluke VT04 manufacturer’s recommended price is now £399 and the VT04A is £369. Fluke Visual IR Thermometers can fill the gap for when a single-spot temperature reading is not enough and a high-resolution thermal image is more than users need: the one tool combines the visual insight of a thermal imager, the visual images of a digital camera, and the point-and-shoot convenience of an IR thermometer.

Fluke says using the VT04 or VT04A is faster for conducting inspections of electrical, industrial, HVAC/R and automotive applications than an infrared thermometer, which requires multiple readings and manually recorded results. 

The Fluke VT04 and VT04A offer a wide 28°x28° field of view for scanning and up-close evaluation and sharp images. They also feature a Hi/Lo temperature alarm which enables hot spots to be found in seconds, and time-lapse functionality which automatically monitors equipment over time or automatically captures images after an alarm has been triggered. Images are saved to a micro-SD card, eliminating the need to write down single or multiple measurements: analysis and reporting software is included. The VT04A is powered by AA batteries as opposed to an integral rechargeable battery in the VT04, offering flexibility to technicians who may wish to replace batteries in the field.

The Fluke VT04 and VT04A instantly detect problems using blended thermal and digital imagery. They will display and save images as full visual, full infrared, or in three blended modes (25, 50, and 75 percent). Markers pinpoint hot and cold spots indicating the hottest temperature with a red box and the coldest with a blue box. A temperature reading is provided at the centre point.