The FLIR TG165-X is not your average thermal camera. It’s definitely an upgrade from its predecessor - the Flir TG165. And after five years, the company has come back with great improvements (and some limitations, too).
The TG165-X has some unique features like high accuracy, commendable thermal imaging quality, Flir’s exclusive MSX technology, and great storage capacity.
It allows you to easily identify and view any electrical faults or leakage problems on its large screen and is very convenient and easy to use.
- The thermal range of the Flir TG165-X allows you to use it to examine freezing chambers, refrigerators, home freezers, or heating and cooling issues in other HVAC equipment. You can also use it to detect gas or other leaks or perform home inspections and maintenance tests.
- You can also use it to detect overheating issues, troubleshoot hotspots, or any other temperature-sensitive problems in any component of your equipment.
- It doesn’t just diagnose the problems for you but also helps you to understand the severity.
- With the help of before and after images, you can see whether the right problem was identified and if the problem still exists.
Noteworthy Features
The FLIR TG165-X significantly reduces diagnostic and inspection time. This is possible because of the following features:
Thermal Imaging Quality
Like the TG165, the resolution of the TG165-X is also 80 x 60. Some might consider this to be a little below average, but Flir balances that with the 2 Megapixel visual camera.
The infrared image that the camera takes has cold and hot zones clearly identified that allow you to detect any anomalies.
The TG165X uses Flir's exclusive MSX technology. It combines your thermal image and the image from the visual camera into one image where you can distinguish the elements a lot better.
The MSX enhancement element adds visual details to the infrared image. This allows you to read labels or identify wires and components more easily to figure out where the problem is.
Flir’s technology really seems to be unparalleled in this regard.
Compared to other 80 x 60 infrared cameras in the market, the images produced with Flir’s MSX technology blending the 2MP camera image are much better.
The refresh rate of this unit is 9 Hz, which is standard for almost all thermal handheld cameras.
Since this is a fixed focus thermal camera, it doesn’t have a manual focus mode.
Accuracy
The temperature accuracy of the Flir TG165-X is pretty great and only has a +/-1.5°C error.
The industry standard for this price range is a +/-2.5°C error, so this really makes this thermal camera stand out.
Remember, a thermal camera's accuracy varies depending on the temperature of the place where you intend to use it.
To give you an idea, if you are working around -25 to 0° C, the error will hike up to 3 degrees.
But, if the temperature of your working conditions is between 50 and 100° C, then the error will be around 1.5° C.
Storage
The images that you capture with the TG165X are stored in the device in radiometric form and JPEG file format.
The radiometric form means that for all 4800 pixels, you can also view their temperature - for each individual pixel.
And while the TG165 has an option for an SD card, the TG165-X has a storage capacity of 4GB internal memory. This translates into roughly 50,000 images that you can capture and save.
It also has a USB-C port that you can use to transfer images in case you run out of space.
Temperature Range
The TG165X has a thermal sensitivity of 0.07° C, which is industry standard.
It can measure temperatures from -25°C to 300°C. So, you can use it to check the insulation status of your roofing and windows in winters and to check the working of your engine or other appliances where working temperatures are high.
Battery Life
A battery powers the TG165-X like it did with the TG165. However, since the new version has a 2.4-inch display screen with a screen resolution of 320 x 240 pixels as compared to the 2-inch screen of the older model, the TG165-X consumes more battery to keep the screen lit.
So while the TG165 could last for 8 hours, the TG165-X has a battery life of only 5 hours. However, this is still pretty decent.
The battery takes 6 hours to charge fully and approximately 4 hours to charge up to 90%.
Warranty
By default, the TG-165X comes with a one-year warranty. However, as is standard for all Flir thermal cameras, you can extend it and get a 2-10 warranty (2 years for the entire device, 10 years for the thermal sensor).
Durability
The TG165X is IP54-certified. So it’s not just waterproof; it is also protected against dust ingress. It is also drop-tested for 2 meters, so it’s pretty robust.
Convenience
There are quite a few features in the TG165-X that add user convenience. The buttons are not hard and are easy to use, allowing you to get the job done quickly without any hassle.
It also features an LED work light that helps in poorly lit conditions or hard-to-reach areas.
The large 2.4-inch display comes with an adjustable palate with six different options: Iron, Rainbow, White-hot, Black hot, Arctic and Lava.
Lastly, it also has a bullseye laser pointer that marks a clear circle to identify where exactly you are working.
Limitations
The FLIR TG165-X came out five years after the release of the TG165. However, the IR resolution still remains the same at 80 x 60 (4800 pixels). The industry standard for this price range is 20,000, so that’s a huge difference.
- IR Resolution: 80 × 60 pixels
- Thermal Sensitivity/NETD: <70 mK
- Accuracy: ±1.5°C at 50°C to 100°C, ±2.5°C at 0°C to 50°C and 100°C to 300°C, and ±3°C at -25°C to 0°C
- Field of view (FOV): 51° × 66°
- Image Modes: MSX® (Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging), visual
- Storage Media: eMMC 4 GB
- Display resolution: 320 × 240 pixels
- 8.7 Hz image frequency
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3 m (0.98 ft)
- Minimum Measurement Distance: 0.26 m (0.85 ft.)
- Object Temperature Range: -25°C to 300°C (-13°F to 572°F)
Summary
The FLIR TG165-X is a great option for professionals and home workers alike and is very easy to use.
It has high accuracy and temperature sensitivity, a temperature range of 25°C to 300°C, and a bullseye laser pointer. Plus, Flir’s MSX technology is pretty hard to beat at this price point.
It is also IP54 certified and comes with a 2-10 warranty.
The FLIR TG165-X is good enough if you want clear and detailed pictures of electrical faults, mechanical break-downs, or air and water leaks.
