I purchased the TG165 on sale to help figure out exactly why my home was so cold in the winter. Within minutes, I was able to locate which windows/doors were drafty, which walls were under-insulated, and which floors were unusually cold. The usefulness didn't stop there though:

- It helps figure out which HVAC registers are working well, and which ones aren't

- In some cases, it helps figure out where (hot) plumbing lines, HVAC ducts and sometimes even studs/rafters are behind walls or ceilings

- It can help spot uneven loading in an electrical panel

- It can be used to identify electrical devices that are wasting power when plugged in

- It helps locate in-floor heating cables/piping

The only drawback for this particular model is that the field of view is a bit small, and everything in that view is dynamically-scaled so that the hottest thing is the brightest, and the coldest thing is the darkest. If what you're looking at has one really hot spot and many cold spots, then it becomes difficult to see the variation in the cold spots until you block out the hot spots. An example would be if you're looking at a ceiling with recessed lighting; you have to wait for the bulbs to cool down in order to see the cold spots correctly. Also take note that looking at shiny or reflective surfaces can confuse the sensor (glass, mirrors, or silver HVAC ducting).

I purchased this item a few weeks ago and have been using it locating cold spots in my home and other people's as well, and although it is not very precise, it performs quite well locating trouble spots.

Just don't expect too much in terms of image resolution as the imager is comprised of only 60x80 cells and there is no temperature scale you can interpret the result with, however it does comes with a very handy, narrow angle spot infrared thermometer that has a roughly +/-1 degree C accuracy.

Nevertheless, the result is quite useful, as you can judge from this picture showing heat loss behind an electrical outlet after I removed the front plate.

As for registering the product with Flir like they want you to do for warranty purposes - be aware that Flir does NOT have a secure website for registering the product. Considering all the personal information they require of you (including passwords), this practice is very puzzling and honestly, disturbing. Trying to get answers from Flir customer support was like pulling someone's teeth. Perhaps I will get better answers from their Facebook page.

Overall, however, it is a great product for the money considering how expensive thermal imagers are.

I have been using a similar tool from the same manufacturer (FLIR) to monitor hot & cold aisles in our computer data centre for a number of years so I am familiar with the functions and capabilities of such units.

When I saw this lower-end (but less pricey) model at Canadian Tire, it caught my attention and I have been following it in my favourite bookmarks for some time.

Even though it would go on special from time to time, I still thought it to be expensive to purchase for my personal use.

Recently, I noticed that it was on the discontinued list and that CTC was selling it at an even more reduced price so I jumped on it.

I haven't used it at home for anything worth of mention so it is still categorized as a gadget but hoping to upgrade it's status to eventually become an invaluable tool in my tool kit.

Stay tuned!

Before buying this make sure you know this isn't 'Thermal Camera', it's an infrared Thermometer with Thermal imaging capabilities. That said, if this suits your intended purpose the TG165 is definitely a worthy purchase.

The thermometer casing is rock solid. The accompanying carry case is definitely required as the lens remains exposed at all times, making it susceptible to becoming dirty and scratched if not stored away.

In terms of functionality, it works well to help identify hots pots in electronic circuits which aren't densely populated. The trigger which operates the two infrared averaging lasers helps when trying to pinpoint an area, however the feature of taking a photo when the trigger is released can be somewhat disruptive to workflow when the picture remains on the screen for a few seconds.

A quick list of pros and cons:

Pros:
-Very rugged.
-Reliable. Excellent quality.
-Low price (Relative to $Ks for an actual Thermal Camera)
-Sleek, ergonomic design. Feels pretty good to hold.
-Battery lasts a while before needing a recharge.

Cons:
-Picture Resolution may not be high enough for some applications.
-The battery is completely sealed within the case and is impossible to remove without damaging the case if it ever dies. So some hacking with a rotary tool will be required if the battery ever needs changing.

In short, this is a very handy tool to have around and has served me well.

I would also like to add that initially there was a mix up with my order, but Reduction Revolution has been totally top notch in their customer support, hence I highly recommend buying from them and look forward to dealing with them again myself.