Bought a $400 thermal camera for my phone to check a panel, ended up finding a bad connection in the wall.

Was on a service call for a flickering light in a kitchen. Customer said it was just the bulb. My Fluke meter showed voltage was fine at the switch. Pulled out this little thermal camera that clips to my phone. Scanned the wall near the outlet. Saw a hot spot about six inches up from the floor. Cut a small hole, found a loose stab-in connection on a receptacle that was getting warm. Fixed it in ten minutes. The camera paid for itself on that one job. Anyone else use these for quick trouble shooting?

3 comments

3 Comments

loganbaker1mo ago

Honestly I used to think those things were just a cool toy for guys who like gadgets. Saw your post and it really shows the practical side. Tbh finding a hidden hot connection that fast is a game changer for tricky calls. Might have to finally get one for myself.

jamienguyen1mo ago

Still a toy, just a faster one.

rosek4423d ago

Hold up, you found a hot spot six inches ABOVE the floor? That's wild. I would have been scanning the wall right where the outlet box is, not way down low like that. Shows how much I still have to learn about thermal stuff.