Thought this topic might be better explained like this.
With proper equipment and training, you can provide additional value to your clients, hence your fees/revenue. Infrared inspections, performed properly will offset your costs for said equipment and training…
If the cheapest way to get in the door is sought, I would imagine the results would probably match the effort and outlay.
Off to work!
Since everything must be confirmed with a moisture meter why does the thought of other inspectors seeing heat signatures bother you ?
Do you have a HVAC tech degree on your route today or are you diagnostics only with your thermal camera ?
In order to do the heating section one needs proper diagnostic testing.
Oh wait perhaps what you meant was others have no right to take advantage of a drop in electronics items prices when you paid more for yours ?
My impression here is the typical Home Inspector mindset of every tool I buy is the standard or best while any less is below minimum .
We all feel that way for some reason.
Non the less would be curious if anyone has tried the tool.
Would assume it is refundable if no good and can not find wet lines at toilets which alone would be a nice addition.
as claimed by FLIR.
So maybe I can use it as a higher rated thermometer and come back here to say your thermometer sucks. 
Thanks for the link Bob. Wasn’t aware that even existed.
Bert
I watched the video and looked at the specs on it, I suppose its an upgrade from the IR thermometer and provides better info than that. But there are items “missing” off the specs sheet when compared to other thermographic imagers. Sensitivity, image resolution to name two.
It does not appear that you could get the same sensitivity and resolution of your heat signature images from this device, so using it to replace other IR cameras may not be prudent, but replacing your IR thermometer, I suppose, but it seems a bit expensive to get some “WOW” pictures?
Use as an addition to your HI, sure.
Use as true thermography reporting tool, probably no.
So you do not think it will point out wet areas of toilets or leaking shower pans ?
Seems to be ok for finding missing insulation as well.
Heck for $800 or so it is not bad.
We shall see .
The idea that this tool would be used to perform an IR inspection is a big fat joke. On the other hand, the idea that one must own an IR camera to properly interpret temp readings is just as wrong. This is a “more power” thermometer, not an IR camera. It has its applications and the visual would give a little more perspective than just a plain IR thermometer. Why anyone would drop a grand on this baby when it probably produces an image the size of a postage stamp is beyond me. Take note of the images all the advertising uses to promote it. They aren’t exactly HD.
So in your opinion it will not effectively show temp differential in broad areas ?
Will not show areas of wall missing insulation ?
Will not show areas where radiant heat is not functioning ?
Will not be able to tell if a toilet or shower wall are wet ?
All of the above are lies by FLIR in your opinion ?
Perhaps I could send a copy of this thread to someone over there and see if that might be true.
Bear in mind high res is not needed to find suspect areas and high res may not be needed to simply see a warming of needing a moisture meter confirmation.
It’s an expensive thermometer with a color screen. The thermal sensitivity of the thermometer is horrible (<250mk) compared to the cheapest IR cameras on the market. You would have a large Delta T detect any anomalies. Not worth it. Here is a comparison of thermal sensitivities of IR cameras:
OK so basically it will not detect temp difference in wet surfaces or show individual sections of tubes in the floor for radiant heat or electric ceil heat enough to indicate failure ?
I wouldn’t waste my money on it. It’s crap. You would be better off paying the same amount for a used camera with better sensitivity.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flir-E50-Compact-IR-Thermal-Imaging-Camera-240x180-IR-Res-Max-1202F-650C-/330910869402?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0bd3279a
Got ya.
Will need to see if they have it at that Graybar place in Glendale hts if I go out to look.
Supposedly they have a display of Flir products…
heat signature imaging looks “real fuzzy” perhaps too fuzzy for accuracy, that being said I have not had any classroom training and not earned a lev 1 thermographer etc…so i may be off here, just from what I can see, if you’re spending 1000, why not get the Ti9, or the Ti100 for like 2800? and have a much better tool?
Bob, I would love to hear from you or someone after a hands on test. Maybe that store you mentioned has one to check out?
Jim
I agree it might do some of those things, just not very well for the price point. I can use my hammer to install screws, doesn’t mean it’s a good screw driver.
I think you mean a cooling, moisture evaporating cools the surface.
So if the wet surface is exposed to sunlight, will it appear cooler as a result of evaporative cooling. Will a puddle reflect heat from the sun or show as a cool area due to evaporative cooling? Hmmmmm
I think it’s a safe assumption that Bob would not be confirming the presence of moisture in a warm reflecting puddle with his moisture meter, as he stated. 
I would bet he was imagining a surface with possible moisture behind it.
I do get your point though, there’s no absolutes. I’ll be better equipped to answer those kinds of question and make those evaluations after Level I. 
Ok, now I can’t get the image of Bob checking a puddle with his moisture meter out of my head. :mrgreen: LOL Somebody needs to make a graphic of that immediately!
Bob, if you do go out to see this meter, please post what you find. I’d be interested in hearing more about it. Thanks.
Bert
You are measuring the surface and not the air .
The water surface is heating as he molecules get excited and create more space to hold in heat.
Just guessing.
The answer is here. Read over and over and over again, eventually you will get it… or you won’t.
If you don’t have an understanding of building science and simple physics and heat transfer, just buy the $900 thermometer, get NACHI IR certified for $500 and sell yourself as a NACHI Certified Infrared specialist. Many do.