Over the past two years or so, the prices of thermal cameras have declined, making the technology more accessible to a broader number of end users. This lower barrier to usage not only makes thermal more practical for more applications, but it also opens the door to more revenue opportunities for installers and integrators. As in many facets of life, the single-biggest key to seizing on these opportunities is knowledge.
The first thing to understand is that while lower costs make them possible for a wider range of customers and deployments, thermal cameras are not always practical. There are a number of things thermal cameras do well, but they’re not for every job. With thermal, every application fits into one of two categories: Temperature measurement and non-temperature measurement (or detection). Without fail, every deployment fits within those two categories, so it’s important to understand which, if either, of these buckets a particular customer or installation belongs in.