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Rant: I don't buy the hype about needing fancy thermal cameras for diagnostics
A lot of techs act like you can't find heat issues without one, but a simple IR thermometer and careful touch works just fine. I've pinpointed bad components on boards for years this way, saving cash for better tools.
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verafoster7mo ago
Our old shop's IR gun missed a failing VRM because the heat spike only lasted three seconds on startup. You'd never catch that by touch either.
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claire_lewis7mo ago
Remember that single example doesn't trash the whole method. IR guns map heat across the entire board in real time, something fingers can never do. Relying on touch means you might miss gradual rises or differences too slight to feel. You also risk burns or static damage when poking around live electronics. Proper tools exist for a reason, and skipping them over one lucky find is just careless.
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mitchell.mary7mo ago
Totally agree, same here. Found a bad power supply last week just because one spot felt warm, idk why everyone acts like you need the expensive gear.
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