Recommend to a Friend
Incredibly useful
4.0
A surprisingly useful tool! I didn't realise just how handy it is to have. The 9 Hz frame rate is just passable but you wouldn't want it any slower. Yes it takes 30 seconds after powering on to give you more accurate temperature readings, but it does put a "~" in front of the reading when they are approximate. Yes the readings are a little out, so use a thermometer if you need accuracy. Instead, this unit excels at being able to see where the hot/cold points are so you know where to focus your other tools. Like all low-end thermal cameras it freezes for a second every 30 seconds or so when it recalibrates the sensor, but it's no big deal. There are no settings and the only thing I would like to have seen is a way to set the range of temperatures shown. It can only be set to automatic, which means the coldest temperature in view is always black, and the hottest is always white. This means if there's a wide range of temperatures in view then you won't see small temperature gradients, and likewise if there's hardly any temperature variation then you tend to see big colour changes for 0.1 degree differences. However this is just all part of getting used to a tool and for the price I am completely happy.
Verified Purchase
Adam on
Jan 13, 2018
Recommend to a Friend
you get what you pay for
4.0
Pros: aggressive price; fast power up
Cons: wildly inaccurate temperature readings; low quality images
It is an amazing price point for thermal imager, but you do get what you pay for.
The temperature display can be wildly inaccurate (more than 20F off), particularly for the first 10-20 seconds after booting.
The picture quality is notably inferior to FLIR's better models, even when compared to units with the same resolution. With the TG130, it is difficult to discern subtle temperature gradients; things have to be decisively very hot or cold to see them clearly.
So, the TG130's niche seems to be a low-end price point to check if any items are very hot or cold.
Verified Purchase
Peter L on
Feb 26, 2017
Recommend to a Friend
FLIR TG130
5.0
Works as advertised, got great price. Very handy.
brent on
Jan 24, 2017
Recommend to a Friend
Just what you need
5.0
I've been using this tool for over a year. It's amazing what it can show you. You will see things that you can't see with your naked eye. I use it for automotive circuit faults and it's a big time saver. And as you know, time is money in auto repair.
Duane Mariage on
Jan 06, 2017
Recommend to a Friend
Glitchy but worth it
3.0
Pauses ever 30 seconds or so for a second and resets.
Don't trust the temp readout, its accuracy depends highly on material.
The screen contrast varies wildly, coloring everything more and more red then jumping back to normal when it resets.
On the other hand you won't find FLIR at this price anywhere else, and none of the glitches limits its usefulness.
Ryan Elmendorf on
Dec 04, 2016
Recommend to a Friend
TG130 is an excellent product!!!
5.0
Finally, a thermal camera under $200!!!! I bought one of these to troubleshoot my house because the summer heat (appx. 110F) has been so overwhelming. I have found so many problems with my house, I cant possibly afford to fix them all right now. It gives me a plan for future improvements.
I was able to identify a garage closet (shared wall with the interior of my house and interior stairs) that was not insulated at all! I have been losing cooling through this since the house was built. I decided to convert the closet to an interior closet to avoid having to insulate the walls and the insides of the stairs. It made a significant improvement on the amount of time the AC was running. During this work, I was able to locate the hot water line after running it for a few minutes, in order to make sure I didn't open up a wall and have to deal with moving it.
I can see how lousy my windows are. I can see how poorly insulated my rood and walls are. I can see leaks under my doors. I can see where my foundation heats up from the inside.... the list goes on and on.
If your considering buying a thermal camera for home, or for quick spot checks on the job, without the need to save pictures (and don't mind using 3 AAA batteries every 4 hours) then this is the tool for you.
I am glad I bought this as it has already paid for itself. FLIR is my new favorite thermal imager company because they identified the need for the home owner and delivered!
Verified Purchase
Brice on
Aug 02, 2016
Recommend to a Friend
Fantastic for the price
5.0
Longwave IR thermal imaging is now available for under $200. This little gem does not store images, but it is more of a scope like device. It easily helped me find places in my home where electrical bits were plugged in and consuming energy by producing heat, even when they were not switched on. I will use this to also look for warm components in electrical circuits. The user interface is simple but effective.
Zoompig on
Jul 29, 2016
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