Voltage Drop? Mini THERMAL CAMERA Showdown! (TOPDON vs. HIKMICRO vs InfiRay) 

Years ago i was a certified level 3 thermographer. I left the petrochemical industry and became a certified master mechanic. You have just scrathed the surface of how those are useful. Example the water leak on the camry hybrid. Even bearings to plugged radiator tubes. And even that is just the beginning. You gotta pull a fuel tank? It will show you exactly how much fuel is in it.

I got InfiRay P2 PRO last month and love it so much! INFIRAY P2 Pro would be amazing for home daily things and electronics with that macro Lens.

The more you use a good thermal imager, the more uses you will find in just about every trade. My first camera was the FLIR One with a crappy 80x60 resolution, was always dead and needed to be charged independant of the phone. I also have a SEEK Pro with a 320x240 resolution but not as convenient as my Klein TI250 which is my everyday carry. The Klein isn't great resolution but is very convenient due to it being a stand-alone device, independent of my phone. The temperature calculation is pretty accurate too. In the HVAC trade, I use it quickly identify system performace (temperature difference from return air and supply air), duct air leakage, building infiltration, bearing failures and of course electrical hot spots (as you demonstrated). For automotive I use it to look for hot wheel bearings, driveline friction and brake diagnosis. Thanks for the video, Ivan

I bought the same TOPDON just a month or so ago and it came with a dual function cable. The cable can be used as an extension or plug into a computer USB port which I thought was nice. Thanks Ivan.

Ivan, the T2Pro app has min / max and you can fix the scale too - you have to go to settings, and turn on "Professional Thermometry", and then go back to the main view and turn on the "Scale". I don't know why they hide that behind 2 different settings - it's really dumb. Just like it's dumb that the app for the T2S+ is worse than the P2pro when they're both from infiray, and they could be using the same software for both (but each app is restricted to the device ID it's meant to work with). An InfiRay makes the IR core that's in all of those cameras - why they don't put a little more effort into their app to fix the few things that need fixing baffles me.

This P2pro is much better than so many other cell phone thermal imaging cameras on the market. But it is too low-profile. There are not many videos of relevant reviews that can be found online. Thank you for making such a great video!

I never really understood what you meant by "voltage drop" in previous videos. I now understand that increased resistance in a circuit will lower the voltage, which will cause a problem for whatever is at the end of a circuit, like a motor or something that needs an exact voltage. Thanks, Ivan! 😊

The NON FLIR sensor that was brewed outside the US with no Framerate restrictions are impressive.

Thanx for all the great diagnostic videos! I've been a shadetree mechanic for 50 years, but had no clue on the new bus systems. You make it easy. I was in need of a thermal camera, decided the Topdon fit my needs. Just an update, Topdon must have seen your review, because it now comes with an adapter (not USB-C extension) for camera to PC USB (mentioned in another comment below). The software has been updated as well, you can now do fusion images with the standard camera.

Very good comparison with an actual problem to demonstrate what each camera will do, especially for ease of operation (user friendly).

Thank you Ivan. I appreciate your real world reviews and trust your opinions.

The other day I was using the oscilloscope on some of my classic Honda twins and now I'm bringing home my thermal camera from work ! No issues to speak of but it will be fun

I got the topdon last month and I love it. I haven't used it too much, but like you said, great to have in your arsenal when you need it!

I just bought the TopDon TC100 and mine came with a cable. Great video, man.

I used infrared camera MANY years ago. (It cost over $5000 and had to be cooled with liquid nitrogen to work in 1980s) As electronic tech at IBM, I was asked to isolate short between power/ground on a newly designed 8-layer printed-circuit board (about 2ft x2ft size) It found the design-fault within a couple minutes.

Excellent tutorial on the flir cameras on variety of them, great showdown! I learned a lot on those you showed! I enjoyed your fixing the problem and cleaning them up! Now i feel i want one lol!!

I just purchased the TOPDON for work, thanks to your review.

Great side by side test Ivan. I haven't used a thermal camera yet, but it seems to be a useful tool for a multitude of testing processes. Thanks for sharing !

Really appreciate this review I've been wanting to pick up one of these phone connected cameras for a while now. I've used handheld FLIR cams for home inspections, great for checking water intrusion and doing energy efficiency reports. As well as drone mounted FLIR for roof inspections. Incredibly useful tech

Seeing the terminal with the corrosion reminds me of my 1200 Goldwing and the issues that the charging systems had. The recognized fix was to remove the block and hard wire the connections, adding a relay for the battery circuit so that it received the total voltage from the regulator (which fixed a lot of other issues that series was having since they used the same alternator as the 1100 on a bike that needed quite a bit more voltage power).

I just bought an Infiray p2 pro and it's so frigging cool. Can even see the studs in the wall just after sunset as they hold more thermal mass being denser than the wall panels. So many other use cases.

Hi Ivan, this connectors can be changed by new ones waterproof, PA-66 or better, It will be a good improvement to your ride, less pron to failures. also renew the wiring

Love the Velcro hack! Thank you for the Idea!

great video, also a milliohm meter is great for voltage drop troubleshooting as well . also great for solar system installations- keeping battery connection resistance low!

Was just working on my 81 Honda 750 F. Always a cold blooded mother . It would take a while for a 4th cylinder to kick in . Easy to check which carb is slow by checking header temperatures. FYI it wasn't charging , After checking rectifier , diodes,and rotor , all good , I noticed that one of the brushes was worn down . New brushes , all good now . Peace bro . Jack

Very clever use of Infrared as another diagnostic tool. I think this type is more versatile than a stand alone unit. The difference in connectors on the Yamaha and modern automobiles is striking! That open wire side of the connector positioned vertically is inviting any moisture to enter. It sounds like the starter could use a little attention judging by the sound it makes. I noticed that your left muffler has corroded some because of the sheet metal and hose clamps.

This is great: A real-world comparison. I badly miss the FLIR I had. Thanks to this review, maybe I can realize some options. Thanks ivan

Hikmicro has now also a module with focusable lens, nevertheless i just bought my first IR-camera, the infaray P2. App has customizable scaling, it can have automatic low and high point, or custom points, image is flipable, rotable, it can record video with sound, etc, for me it has everything working right. I fixed the cable on a small stick with a tiewrap. CE-marking is missing on the module.

Interesting comparison. I'd seen one in a parasitic draw video, but didn't know there were choices. Thanks!

Interesting thermal camera comparison! Really liked the Infiray TS2+, with adjustable focus, but the software... Good case study of current overload on a perfectly good JST bullet-ring connector (tried to find the max recommended current, but a quick search scored nothing)! Probably has been like that from factory and only became a problem when the rectifier connector got green crusties and added a secondary voltage drop. The thermal images make it so easy to spot these problems :-)

Interesting diagnosis, thank you for sharing

Good general comparison of equipment. Naturally there are some that will prioritize features differently, like price vs quality. Overall, great info, thanks Ivan.

INFIRAY P2 Pro would be amazing for electronics with that macro Lens.

Good info, Ivan, thanks. On the voltage drop- the crimp at the back of the connectors is highly suspect. Acid can easily intrude and corrode the wire and pins/blades, whatever. Nice bike, btw. Kudos on all your work.

Used a Flir handheld last 15yrs or so of work. so many uses besides what you show. a cold draft in the house and more.

Excellent review, Thanks will be getting a TopDone, I was waiting for someone to do this. 🇺🇸👍

IR can be a real good tool in diagnostic work. It does have some limits though. We trained a lot with them in the fire service. They were big handheld monsters, these days they make units attached to your helmet. I have a 79 XS1100 Special myself. Rode it all over the country including up to Alaska and ran a few iron butt events as well. It sets in storage now.

I had the XS750 triple shaft drive, it was fairly rapid and handled very well

My cousin repairs underwater and damp area electrics. These thermal cameras can be very helpful in that line of work.

OMG! I bought a silver and red XS750E in 1978. Quit riding when I hit 60 and sold it. It sure wasn't perfect but it sure was fun.

Nice review and diag. I have the Topdon TC004 stand alone thermal camera and it's pretty nice.

Sir u always give very informative knowledge that's a lot

Good review...Yes they are getting better year by year. I liked the test example on the Yamaha wires. My second repair on the Yamaha would be the starter...sounds like something maybe the bendix needs some TLC lube or other.

The Bees Knees! You don't look as old as I am my friend. Great video information my friend.

Great video showing how and when to use one of these devices! All of them seems capable enough for their purpose. If you dont mind I'd just like to correct you on the sftware for the P2Pro. I own one for about a year and usually use it to detect wildlife (or other heat sources) and the app does show min, max and average temperature as well as option for several points of reading throughout the screen (randomly selected by user) and also has the capability for "split screen" (or thermal image and phone's camera image simultaneously). By the way, nice classic bike! Safe riding and cheers!!

Yes indeed, was fun to watch

I learned more than I wanted to in your vid.

Nice video and great looking bike!

brilliant. another great Ivan video.

Great video I just got the topdon today after watching this video and it now comes with a USB c to USB c/USB a dual head cable, also the app has thay same fusion feature its called image in image, clear winner in my opinion

Great video Ivan, definitively the TopDon camera is the best in my opinion. if you want to solve all the "heat" produced by the connectors on the bike and reduce the voltage drop to nearly zero, you have to dissasemble the "faston" connector terminals and with a pliers gently close the female end of the terminals to improve the tight fit of the connector when plugged in. Also clean them very well. Do it to one by one cable on each connector taking the terminal out and then reinstalling it again. Then you will notice the connectors are much hard to plug in together, and the heat and voltage drop will dissapear. Do it on any of the connectors that show some heat in the camera and you are done. I did it on my Honda CBR1000F some time ago and now it starts and charges the battery way more better.

Man, that brought back memories. I had one just like it. I wish I had kept it, but life got in the way. Marriage kids, etc.

Hi, Ivan. I own the topdon camera and i think it's great. I purchased it to help seal up drafts in my house , it was very useful. Its also on standby for auto diagnostics. Do you suppose we can get an email campaign going for topdon to develop a macro lens ? Hope so. Thanks for the great content you provide.

Thanks Ivan!

These are interesting, better resolution than my Klein TI250, about the same price. Lots of good options in this field right now.

32:10 Horse whinnies when you say "ah crap". Like it's laughing at you.

Very interesting comparison video, after watching it I think I prefer the P2 Pro

79 750 triple!! The only brand new motorcycle I have ever bought. Great sound great torque. Put 20,000 on it the first year.

Nice to see you working on your own vehicle for a change :-D Now what are you going to charge yourself ha ha 😀

🤝.The moment when you have Ymaha R1 (2002) Is the author of the channel a fan of two-wheel speed 😎🌪️My first motorcycle at the age of 15 IZH PLANET 5. Thanks for the informative video Ivan!

Good job.

Thanks for your reply. Yeah that's right. It's deisel direct injection. I think I may have found the problem, well I hope so anyway. Found a missing power to the pcm. It comes from the glow plug relay on pin 7. Pins 1 & 2 are control side and 3 & 5 load side. Pin 3 being ignition and internally linked to pin 7 pcm power. There's battery voltage on pin 7 but a 9.5 volt drop from pin 7 to pcm. Does that sound like that could be the cause of low supply voltage to injectors? Literally getting around 5 volts supply to injectors and multiple miss fire on all cylinders. At the pcm, continuity test showed all supply pins are linked together internally while pcm control are separated. Michael C

The Infiray app has a temperature scale and min/max points, you just gotta turn them on in the app settings

nice bike im sure you enjoy very much

"The bees knees"? Really, is that how russians speak? Seriously, Love your shows and very glad you are here!

Any chance that you can mix and match hardware and software?

Ivan, do any of these thermal cameras run off the phone battery? I know some of them have their own internal batteries that need to be charged.

I think the fact that Ivan owns a Yamaha motorcycle is where the name "MotoYam82" comes from. Great video!

I love my Topdon Camera! I'm surprised yours didn't come with the extension cable though as mine did. _FMG_

I highly recommend using an old phone with these thermal cameras. I had the Flir version of one of these and it would often lock up my phone. I got a new phone and when I eventually went to use it, it crashed my phone. My phone never worked right again and I had to buy a new phone. I later bought a Flir C5 because I want it to have its own screen and not mess up any phones in the future.

Horses saying neigh to Infiray PS2 pro is hilarious! Two thumbs up.

Infiray is the brand I trust for years, and I also recommend for yall!

0.5v volts is still kind of high voltage drop over such short cables. I think should be less than 0.1v in that kind of situation on a motorcycle.

Ivan, you have reviewed the FLIR one before. How do you feel it compares to the Topdon?

One little nit about your comment about the battery: it will charge to 12 volts only, and cannot be charged to any other voltage. The voltage is a function of the chemistry of the battery, and aside from internal resistance if it is charged at all it is charged to 12 volts. What is happening in your case is that it is not charging effectively, so when you go to draw a current, the internal resistance is higher so the cold cranking amp capacity is reduced.

correct me if I am wrong, but i think, the AGM battery is not compatible with this type of charging system. It may working, but the AGM battery has a different charging strategy.

You need to take a closer look at the P2 pro software because it has more features than I think you are aware of

Can you switch the cameras?

I have a Seek COpact Pro and I love it so far. I had tried the Amazon 120 dollar special and its junk hardly able to recognize anything. THe Seek is a phone add on and that part of it kinda sucks but also its a good unit. Had I known there is a phone I cannot remember its name but its around 400 bucks with a good thermal camera built in.

Can you use the topdon app with any of the camera?

Only the Infiray is available for iOs.

Half a volt drop across a foot of wire? That's ridiculous! There should be a couple of hundredths of a volt drop more like it, & NO temperature rise in the wiring except maybe near fuses. Wiring faults just waiting to happen. You got a dried out bearing in your starter motor too by the way mate!

Hi Ivan. Can you show us how to do a volt drop test on injector circuit where both supply and ground come straight from the pcm. I know that the circuit needs to be loaded from your videos but seeing that the pcm is involved, can you show us how to perform the test safely with just a basic multimetre and test light. I know how to do this test with a load that is permanently on like a light but not sure if it will be different with injector circuit because injectors are pulsed on and off. Do we just disconnect the injectors and connect a bulb across the terminals??? I'm an electrical engineer/electrical inspector by trade and you have definitely taught me more than I learnt in college all them years ago. Really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. Regards: Michael C

All hail thermal energy

Did I see the hot image of the cylinders in the reflection on the laptop screen.

The "fusion" feature improves IMAGE resolution a lot; FLIR offers it and does it well. If INFIRAY TS2+ improves the app, that lens setup makes them easy winner. Crisp images on a densely populated PCB very helpful when searching for a single, shorted, SMD component. Another useful software feature is to be able to filter temps. Sometimes the scales are useless due to something in the field of view is MUCH hotter than the area of interest, and glowing like the SUN, and subtle changes of interest become invisible. In late 70's, my buddy had a wrecked, Yamaha 750, and I tried to adapt the running gear to a two-seat go cart. Luckily the challenge exceeded my skill level, i lost interest and sold the project... OR i might not be alive to tell this tale 😂. We were very reckless with our Briggs & Stratton creations, and this would have been 1000x more dangerous! 💀

I'm going with Infiray off the bat!

Like Project Farm but with a diagnosis and repair.

This is the story of the cobbler, whose kids had holes in their shoes. Poor Ivan with the green crusties in his connectors.

Velcro loops are the soft side. Velcro hooks are the rougher side.

my CAT S62 Pro cell ph has FLIR is in the cell ph and works graet

Hello Ivan from Australia 🙃 How many Kms has your Yamaha done?

Ivan would you ever say how much you charging for diagnoses. I'm not a tax man just curious. Sometimes I think that your diagnosis time and parts are more expensive than value of the car.

When he said it’s not charging to 14.5 he’s not referring to the battery being able to charge to that voltage. A good healthy battery can hold a charge up to 13 volts. Anything over 12.65 is surface charge. He was only pointing out the difference in voltage at the rectifier versus at the battery terminal. Same as checking charging output on an alternator charging system. You check at the back of the alternator and at the battery…typically within half a volt difference is acceptable.

😎💙👍 Nice!

Hey Ivan, does Topdon have a version that works with IOS?

The TOPDON TC View is now $70 off. Just ordered one for myself.

Topdon have an updated version the TC002, your current version in this comparison appears to be the TC001. Ignore me I'm an idiot sometimes, I blame old age. The TC002 is for iOS and the TC001 is for Android. They also have a TC003 which is a wireless stand alone with large screen

The TOPDON TC001 currently has a $70.00 off coupon. At $230.00 it's a no-brainer.

7:20 - FLIR has thought about this and they have an adjustable USB-plug. Too bad their fps is limited...