When using an IR camera, funny things can happen. I can show you images of an entire set of steps disappear, even though the IR camera is looking at them from a few feet away. I have seen water flowing down a wall and the IR camera could not see it. How much more could sub-surface defects become invisible to the inspector and his IR camera.? It is far more tricky than it seems. Do you have to spend $10K on an IR camera for a home inspection? No one ever said you did.
The primary benefit of an IR camera is finding unseen defects (no stains, not hot to the touch, no visible signs). Why buy an IR camera for defects that are already revealing easy to verify symptoms. That makes no sense.
If a person advertises they are using an IR camera, then they are also telling the world they can find certain unseen defects that are not detectable by any other means.
This is not a to be taken as a casual endeavor. Knowing the limitation of a low resolution IR camera is a moving target as well. I would lean toward gleaning my advise from someone who done IR for a living. It just does not ring true to me that good training and a quality IR camera will not be a benefit… and no training and any IR camera will do the job just as well. That does not pass the smell test.
Can someone please explain, when inspecting a house and choosing to use a Thermal imaging camera, what the difference is, with respect to the home inspection, between a Thermal Camera that measures temperatures in the range -10°C to 150°C (14 to 302°F) with an accuracy of ±2°C (±3.6°F) or 2%, whichever is greater, at 25°C (77°F) nominal and a camera that measures temperature in the range –4° F to 482°F (–20° to 250°C) with an accuracy of ±2% or 2°C?
Home many homes do you go into that have temperature of below 14°F or above 110°F in the standard building components? When many inspectors are “giving away” thermal imaging to look for evaporative cooling, I can’t see why, as long as you know the focus point of the lens of the C2, the C2 won’t suffice just as well as my E8.
If you want to perform full thermal diagnostics, then yes, I can see how the more expensive camera would benefit you, but come on guys, a snick says, this is a home inspection, with a limited SoP. The C2 would likely do fine.
Range and temperature accuracy are irrelevant to most of what a home inspector would be using an imager for. It’s a non-factor. Range and accuracy are not the same thing as span and sensitivity. The inability to focus; adjust span and level in real-time; lack of thermal sensitivity; lack of image detail due to poor lenses, sensors, etc. on the other hand are big factors.
You sure have a fixation Chuck.
I do not hate you for being gay and have many Gay friends and Clients but I simply hate you because you are a self important Hillbilly that goes all over this forum along with with your goofy buddies here insulting all who disagree with your twisted logic and making poo caa jokes on the Private side thinking that makes it Okay because you are on a keyboard .
I do not care for your racism either.
Chicago has a mix of people from all over the world and small minded types such as yourself have no place to go other than behind a keyboard belittling everyone.
Now move on as I dislike having to think about you.
If you can find anything that I have ever done or said that is racist, put up or shut-up, Windbag. I have absolutely no idea where in your sick mind you came up with “poo caa jokes” or what it’s even supposed to mean. If you ever get brave enough to call me a racist in-person, I can assure you that you will instantly regret it. It’s a manifestation of your own bigotry Bob Elliot, because you have convinced yourself that anyone who isn’t a a democrat or lives in Texas must be racist and you feel you have license to freely throw that vile term around and slander others at will.
Now, you on the other hand, have made numerous derogatory gay references to slur other people. You definitely have some deep seated animosity toward gays.
You’re not nearly the urban sophisticate that you think you are and we know you don’t really have any friends, gay or otherwise. I’ve lived and worked in more big cities than you and Houston is more diverse than Chicago.
Why don’t you put up some more posts of your thermography discoveries? it’s time to bring some levity to this thread. We could all use a laugh.
“You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common,” the Doctor said. “They don’t alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views.”
So you are finally seeking help from a psychiatrist… Good for you! I’m sorry that it hasn’t helped you more. Stick with it, it might eventually help you gain a little self-awareness and get that anger under control, maybe even find a lasting relationship. I’m optimistic for you.
I came here to read about the C2 and see a couple of level III trying to swing the meat around. I have used thermal imaging in refineries for 20 years. Detail is required. Cameras capable of seeing through a wind box, refractory and flame to pinpoint on a boiler tube. That’s where a 50k dollar camera is used. We use a 3k dollar camera to look for hot spots in pipes through refractory from the ground up to the pipe racks. Inspecting pumps and machinery for premature wear. Tank levels etc…
When doing a visual home inspection there use is to verify or pinpoint a finding. Its not intended to say you have 102 deg water dripping on to your floor joist. You may want a professional to look at that. Only someone with more knowledge than they should have will tell you that you need it. The tool is applicable to situations to help and aid a home inspector. I can tell you if you are missing insulation or have a hot wire in the ceiling. I can also tell you if you have a critters nest in wall. Beyond those needs it really is not necessary to purchase a 5k dollar camera. I don’t think you would need one to even do an Energy audit. Moe and Curly will continue to tell you otherwise though, because they have a Level III oooooohhhh!!!
Flir in fact does advertise this camera for building inspections. I was sitting in a meeting about a new camera a couple of weeks ago. I specifically asked about this camera for our field inspectors. I was told it would be better suited for energy audits, home inspections, and personal use. Since I was going to be moving to home inspections I decided to check out their website. http://www.flir.com/instruments/c-series/. After reading these Level III comments, I was convinced the C2 camera was better suited for looking through a woman’s clothing. I was amazed at what this camera can actually do. Yes it can aid in a visual home inspection.