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Q: How did the tool function as far as saving you time?
A: This particular tool is new to me as the price of these has been out of reach in the past. It is accurate enough to do a fast check on older HVAC systems to check temperatures at the suction side of the compressor and make a pretty good decision on refrigerant charge level. Checking both suction and discharge temperatures in virtually as little time as it takes to move the camera adapter is much faster than connecting a set of gauges or an A/C machine. The potential uses of this convenient tool are almost endless as anything that creates heat can be contrasted with the surrounding temperatures to draw diagnostic conclusions.
Q: How easy was it to use?
A: Fortunately, the learning curve on this tool is nearly flat as it is highly intuitive. Download the app, plug in the cable and the camera adapter, and the app automatically detects the camera and launches. There is a setup screen you can launch that allows you to adjust the ambient temperature.
Q: How was its packaging? Did it come with any accessories?
A: It came in a nice plastic case with an insertion spot for the camera adapter, a little pouch to hold the cable, and a lens cleaning cloth. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that the cable had an optional USB end plugged into it and I ordered a cable from Amazon, not realizing that under the standard USB adapter was an appropriate USB-C plug that fits my Samsung Android phone.
Q: Was there a manual included? If so, did you use it and was it easy to understand?
A: There was only an instruction sheet with a QR code, but the code only took you to the same instruction sheet you were holding in your hand. I hoped it would link to a YouTube video with better instructions. In TOPDON's defense, they were fast on their email response, but a link to a YouTube video would be a great addition to their single-sheet instructions in multiple languages.
Q: What features did you like?
A: The portability of this tool is virtually unmatched.
Q: Is there any way you could think to add to this tool?
A: An instructional video would go a long way toward adding value to the tool. I had hoped the tool might be accurate enough to check a fuse box for current draws. Perhaps there is a way to up the precision to that extent by experience with the tool, but at present, I’m going to say that it's too much to hope for. It's good enough to detect a fuel pump relay turned on versus one that is not, but beyond that, I couldn’t detect a difference in color on the camera between fuses flowing current for example, to a glove box lamp versus one flowing no current at all.
Q: What types of jobs/repairs did you use this tool for?
A: I had hoped to be able to spot differences in exhaust manifold temperatures to quickly identify a misfiring cylinder, and I expect it would be possible on certain engines with a tubular exhaust manifold design, but with today’s heat shields it isn’t possible to detect which cylinder is weak using the camera. I got the tool too late in the season to get much of a chance to use it on air conditioning, but I did easily detect good working condensers to such an extent that I’m certain the tool will work to show restricted ones.
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool overall? Why?
A: Given the almost endless list of possible uses and the very affordable cost, I’m going to rate it an eight. If it had come with a decent set of instructions, I’d give it a nine. I can’t give it a 10 since one of my hopes was disappointed as to its value in detecting current draws in fuse boxes. Whether any thermal camera has a high enough resolution to detect temperature differences in fuse boxes, I’m unprepared to say as I’ve only read about its potential rather than being able to use a more expensive unit. I do have high hopes that this tool will work to show voltage drops in wires or cables if you have a connection suffering from voltage drops. The voltage dropping doesn’t just disappear, it changes form into heat, and this thing is very good at detecting heat. I just didn’t have the chance to use the device in a real case during the time I had for testing.
