Thermal imager in cars for driving and repairs – is it worth buying?

For most car owners in the budget and mid-price segments, a thermal imager is an unavailable option. It can only be found in premium cars. But once upon a time, an ordinary navigator or DVR was also considered “toys for the rich.” Progress does not stand still and today we can say that such interesting devices as thermal imagers have become available to many.


In the world of cars, these devices appeared at the beginning of the 150st century: entire systems were built on their basis. The pioneer in this regard was the Cadillac Deville. Vehicles equipped with thermal imagers could move more safely in thick fog, smoke, and at night. In the city, the device is not so necessary, but on highways it allows you to see an animal or person 600-XNUMX m away that is indistinguishable, for example, behind bushes or other obstacles.


But thermal imagers have another area of ​​application, which is familiar to many. For example, devices are actively used in security systems and construction. If everything is clear with the first point, then the second involves searching for places in the house where, for example, heated air comes out. This means that there is a “leakage” here: it is necessary to take measures for insulation. Also, this feature of the device can be used in diagnosing and repairing a car. But first things first.

Thermal cameras for driving

These devices are most widely implemented in their cars by designers from the famous concern Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). Its products are distinguished not only by their prestige, reliability, technical equipment, but also by safety.


Previously, the image was displayed as a projection on the windshield, but today automakers prefer that the situation on the road be displayed on multimedia. Do thermal imagers really provide security?

Statistics

In Germany, half of the fatal accidents occur at night. And this despite the fact that 75% of drivers drive cars during the day. Almost the same can be said about the USA. Here the difference between the figures is even greater: 55% of accidents with fatalities occur at night, and 28% drive in the dark.

Manufacturers of standard thermal imagers

Flir is considered the pioneer in this area. Its PathfindIR models of the first and second generations are installed on the BMW seventh series and Audi A8.


The cost of these thermal imagers is hundreds of thousands of rubles. The Chinese offer their own version of the American product for cars. By the way, matrices for devices are produced in Europe. In terms of cost, alas, both products are approximately the same. But the device from China has a sound warning function and can separately identify cars, people, and animals. The price of N-Driver 384 complete with a seven-inch monitor in its homeland (Ali Express) averages 125 thousand rubles. But what about "cheaper"? There are options - the Chinese manufacturer sells relatively inexpensive models that work in conjunction with telephone programs and smartphones. Below is a review of one of these devices.

Seek Thermal Compact XR

It does not have its own power source, so the thermal imager must be kept connected to the phone. The latter must support OTG. To verify this, connect a flash drive through the adapter: if the smartphone sees it, everything is fine. But first, download the free app. By the way: the device is compact and its dimensions are comparable to a five-ruble coin!


The characteristics at first glance are not very good. Resolution is 206x165, although this is enough. However, to achieve better sharpness, you can use the focusing ring. The temperature range of measurements is wide – from -40° to +330°.


True, the error is also quite large and amounts to several degrees. And the price is not encouraging, because it is comparable to the cost of some used, albeit “half-killed” car. Then you can see how much non-specialized devices cost.

Guide Mobile Air

The thermal imager must be used with a smartphone running Android OS. The object detection range reaches 200 m at a viewing angle of 50°. The device is considered intended for builders, but no one bothers to use it in a car. Data is transferred using the Type-C interface.


However, the device has a protection degree of IP43, which recommends using the device in a dry room, although moisture penetration is allowed. But still, it is better to use Guide Mobir Air to diagnose the technical condition of the machine: more about this method of using the device below.

Thermal imager in the hands of a master

Almost everything that works in a car gets hot. And the described device is capable of identifying hot spots, which we will use. For example, you can observe the lower radiator pipe after starting the engine. If it starts to warm up (the device shows “warm”), it means that the coolant is circulating in a large circle: the thermostat is open. You can also check the radiator itself: Cold spots indicate that it is clogged.


Also, when diagnosing, it is worth taking into account the pairing of some nodes. For example, by comparing the degree of heating of wheel rims, one can draw a conclusion about the condition of the wheel bearings. It is also worth checking the brake discs: if one of them is hotter than its “colleague” on the other side, it means that the working cylinder or caliper pin is jammed.


A thermal imager is also useful when diagnosing electrical problems. It is only advisable to do this immediately after stopping the engine. The place in the wiring where the contact (block) heats up will be shown by the device. It would be a good idea to check the fuse box: a higher temperature of one of them indicates questionable quality. If the ampere rating corresponds to the required one, then most likely the part is “left” and needs to be replaced. In the “best” case, something will fail; in the worst case, a fire is possible.


Detection of heat leaks from the interior is also diagnosed by this thing. By the way: bad seals are not only the reason for a decrease in the temperature in the cabin: moisture can penetrate through them, which leads to corrosion. To determine the location of the leak, turn on the heater at full power and walk outside with a thermal imager near the doors, windows, and trunk. You can also use the device to check the effectiveness of the thermal blanket under the hood and the performance of the rear window defogger filaments: the culprit is instantly calculated.

Eventually

What conclusions can be drawn from all of the above? Obviously, a thermal imager is a product that increases driving safety in low visibility conditions. And not only in this case: the human eye is not an ideal “device” and often, even in daylight, does not see what the described device will notice and signal.


However, the advantages are outweighed by the cost: the device is not yet so popular that it is “riveted” in every second Chinese basement, like, for example, smartphones. There is, of course, a way out if the device is necessary: ​​you can buy an inexpensive product (but it’s still around 20-30 thousand rubles) and adapt it for a car. But again, you need at least some experience or friends and comrades who are knowledgeable in such matters.


In addition, the technical data may not be suitable for installation on a car: power supply, degree of protection from moisture, detection distance, etc. So we can only wait until manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom pay attention to this market niche. We produce a similar product, but due to imported components (the same matrices, for example), it still turns out to be expensive.