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TOPDON TC004 Mini Thermal Imaging Camera
$159.00 Price may change
30 videosCustomer photos & videos
From 28 customers
Scott Trevarthen
Very nice tool a very reasonable price
Very cool tool will definitely come in handy already has found a plugged radiator
RustyDusty
Found every draft in my basement in one afternoon
I picked up the TOPDON TC004 Mini mostly out of curiosity, expecting a novelty gadget. It's turned into one of the more genuinely useful tools I own.
First real test was in the basement. We've got a home gym setup down there, plus a bike hanging on a wall rack, and with cooler weather coming I wanted to check for drafts along the ceiling joists and rim area before it gets cold. Pointed the TC004 up along the exposed joists and immediately got a clear thermal map — blues and purples where the insulation was doing its job, warmer amber tones where the ceiling met the exterior wall. No guesswork, no cold-hand-against-the-wall testing like I've done in years past.
While I was down there, I also scanned the extension cords and power strips running to the gym equipment — general reassurance more than anything, but it's the kind of five-minute check that used to require an electrician's tool or just crossing your fingers. Everything read normal, no hot spots on any of the connections.
The bike on the wall rack made for a good test of detail — the TC004 picked out the frame, cables, and mounting hardware distinctly against the wall behind it, with center/max/min readings displayed live on screen so I could see exact temperature deltas without any interpretation needed.
On the hardware itself: the 2.4" screen is small but legible, even in a dim basement. Battery held up through an extended walkthrough of the whole lower level without any concern about running out mid-scan. The size is genuinely pocketable — nothing like the bulkier thermal cameras I'd looked at before.
For anyone doing home energy audits, checking for drafts, or just wanting peace of mind on extension cords and outlets before winter, this is a well-built, easy-to-use tool that delivers real diagnostic value without professional-tool pricing.
Ajanderson007
Easy to use
I just purchesed a new home and I wanted something that I could use to help me ensure im not missing something hidden behind the walls. The camera did just that. It has several different settings that allow you to get the best view. It has the ability to show the high and low.temperature and where it is on the screen. There are two temperature ranges you can adjust in the settings. One for really hot stuff like fire, and a cooler setting that is closer to room temp down to freezing. The overall temp range is from -4deg f to 842 deg f. It had a 500megabite internal storage for saving pictures. This can be done by pulling the trigger to save the picture. The setti g page is very easy to navigate. It charges with a USB type C connection. It has a power off function that can be adjusted so it does not die when not turned off. There are temperature alarms that you can set as well. So if you have a range you need to stay within, it helps notify you when outside that range. You can connect it to a computer with the provided USB cable to download the images that are saved which is a nifty feature.
MAmazon
Very glitchy when I first tried to turn it on and then wouldn’t work at all.
Extremely disappointed. Right out of the box, the thermal imaging camera was very glitchy when I tried to turn it on. Within minutes, it stopped working completely and now won’t even charge. This all happened on the very first day of use. Unfortunately, I was unable to use it at all. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this product.
Horse Lady
Used on my horse
Heat signatures were even side to side on my horse so no obvious injury seen. I will continue to experiment to see differences and evaluate results. How close/far the instrument is held to get even results is important. One star off because instruction is worthless
Edna Fredenburgh
Love this camera.
I love the thermal imaging camera, I use it to detect any problems with my miniature horses. I’ve noticed that it picks up blood flow in a late term pregnancy. It’s easy and fun to use.
Monster_Review
love at first sight, and it ended my faucet rage
When I turned this on, it was love at first sight. From the moment I first discovered what a thermal imaging camera was, I was hooked. I saw one in true action watching Buzzfeed Unsolved and just KNEW I had to have one. Not because I chase ghosts in my free time, that's just silly and a waste of a perfectly good thermal camera, but because I'm a DIYer, and the use cases are real.
Perfect example: changing out a faucet. It never fails. I install the new one and ALWAYS forget to mark which spigot is hot and which is cold. Then, every single time, I'm filled with rage when I realize I swapped the hot and cold lines. With a thermal camera, that never happens again, because you can see exactly which spigot is carrying hot water and which is cold.
I figured a cheap $90 thermal camera from Temu would do the trick. It was god awful. When I found this one I was skeptical, but I already own several Topdon products and know they're a reputable brand, so I took a chance. Man, has it been a blast. It's so accurate you can actually see the heat trails left by someone walking across a room.
Just don't expect all the bells and whistles. It doesn't record video, and there's no way to get the photos off the unit. If you're using it for a YouTube video like me, a simple rig with a camera pointed at the screen will get the job done. Not bad at all for a thermal camera under $200.
So, 5 stars. Accurate, well-built, from a brand I trust, and a massive upgrade over the cheap junk I tried first. Just know its limits going in and you'll be thrilled.
Kindle Customer
Excellent little camera for the price
Needed something to locate the radiant lines in concrete slab. This little camera is the perfect tool for the job. I found the grayscale setting the best for the job. The radiant lines clearly showed up nice and dark one they heated up making them easy to mark. I had a foundation repair firm out a few years back with a professional grade thermal camera that did not do any better of a job, in fact I think this camera did a better job, clearer visual definition of the lines. I can now proceed with my remodel with confidence that I will not be drilling into any of my radiant heat lines.
Eric
From burning wall outlets to wildlife, this works surprisingly well.
In the 3 months since I bought this for $160 I’ve used it almost daily & I would definitely buy it again.
It doesn’t make sense why normies like me spend so much money on $$$$ IR gear when I’ve used this thing to determine both if my 1970s wired house was burning in the walls and also to see if there are any critters in my yard late at night when I’m walking the dog.
No joke I had two outlets melt weeks apart and this eliminated the fire department visit. Then at night you can see how well your place is insulated & also every heat source within 100 yards. I don’t take a flashlight walking the dog anymore, just do a quick scan with this and you know you’re alone.
fwiw I haven’t used the image capture function, but it’s a great tool to have regardless & for <$150 now it’s a good deal.
Edit to add: thermal pic while walking the dog around the sleeping deer.
JCMegabyte (JCMDI)
A really cool, good-quality device with many uses.
This is a very cool and useful device. The temperature range auto-adjusts so it can show even slight temperature variations where even slight variation is present. It can of course handle large temperature variations as well, although the temperature resolution gets compressed where extremely hot and cold objects exist in the target area.
The numeric temperature reading of the target object in the center of the frame, combined with the temperature range on the right side of the screen is very useful. Several display modes make hot/cold object identification easier, and can be easily cycled-through with one button,
Photos include: Foot in sock and slipper; Thermal footprint on conctrete after about 1 minute (made by foot in slipper); Water heater flue; smoke detector on ceiling; Table-top alarmclock; Deer at 15 yards (2 color palettes).
Charging the deice, and downloading the images (in .jpeg format) is a breeze with USB data cable. It simply shows up as an external storage device when plugged in to the PC. The device feels solid and well-made.
The only issue I have is the image resolution. The native 180x180 is improved with TISR enhancement, but higher native resolution of 240x240 (also using TISR technology) may be available for less money, although I cannot speak to the quality of competing devices.
Kylie
No snakes but lots of insight.
I live in the desert and wanted to have a device that helped me find snakes. So far this just finds my cats and heat spots in my house that I didn’t know existed.
Ruth Quinones
Better Than It Says?
It also clears the "ghost" image every minute and 5 seconds. Although it can't record video, it makes images look good with TISR enhancement, from 128x128 to 240x240. It also has 5 different color pallets. It can also be mounted on a tripod for more stable images. The screen resolution is not the best, but it's what the buyers get for a cheaper, smaller and more compact thermal camera.
Rick
Must buy for home owners under warranty!
Does the trick on a new build with a super flaky general contractor. They removed insulation after there was a leak, didn’t reinstall it. The camera probably saved me $5k-$20k in future fixes. They failed to install an air barrier now my son’s room is 20 degrees colder by his head. Definitely recommend!
taylor frank
Easy to use!
This thing works great! I’ve used it for everything from finding shorts in my car wiring to making sure heating elements are working in my commercial appliances. Highly recommend!
Kaitlynn
Every homeowner NEEDS one!
⭐️ Budget friendly
⭐️ Easy to use
⭐️ Decent size screen
⭐️ Rechargeable
⭐️ Accurate
Super easy to use right out of the box. It showed up fully charged, which I appreciated, and it’s rechargeable so no messing with batteries. The screen is bigger than expected. Image is a little grainy, but that didn’t matter since I was looking for colder “blue” spots. Very accurate! I had a professional come out and got the same results. I will not be downloading any photos due to just taking a photo of the camera. Great little thermal camera for the price! Example photo: My attic door & kitchen exhaust fan.
S M
You'll find a reason to use this
I've been checking out thermal imaging cameras for a little while now and finally settled on the Topdon TC004 Mini. So far, it's been a fantastic piece of kit to have. I had a couple purposes in mind when looking for these, but now I've been using it non-stop and keep finding more reasons to pull this out.
This has been very useful for automotive work, like finding misfires, seized brakes/wheel bearings, leaks, and more. Inside the house, I've been finding underinsulated/unsealed areas with where heat is escaping, located devices running way too hot, and validated that some ventilation/airflow changes worked.
The device boots up pretty quickly, taking only a few seconds, then automatically goes right to thermal camera mode. You can cycle through the different color scales and modes with a single button press. Pulling the trigger saves the picture, including the whole scale and values, which is very convenient for referencing later. The images are easily accessed by connecting the included USB-C cable to the imager and to your computer and browsing through the on-board storage like any other removable drive. The device feels pretty good in the hand and isn't too big or too small.
The two devices I narrowed my search down to were the full size TC004 and the TC004 Mini. Compared to the Mini, the most important upgrades the full size unit has are higher thermal resolution (256x192 vs 128x128) and screen resolution (320x240 vs 240x240), as well as the ability to record videos (the Mini can only do still images), and a removable SD card.
The TC004 Mini was about half the cost of the full size TC004, so I decided to forgo those features, save some money, and go with the Mini. If you think you may need those things, it may be worth it to go with the higher tier TC004 or even TC005.
I'm happy with my decision to go with this and very happy with my unit in general. I was afraid this was going to be a one-time-use tool, but there are so many times this comes in handy that you don't even think about until you have one. I definitely recommend this to anyone that thinks they could benefit from it.
OldeWolfe
Faulty Cable?
The camera works fine, but I was unable to transfer saved images to my laptop. It's very well made and seems durable so far. The software menus are clunky and not intuitive, but are functional once you get used to them.
UPDATE: So it seems the cable that came with my camera is either unable to transfer files (charge only) or is defective. Using a fully functional USB-C to USB-C cable I was able to connect to my Windows 11 laptop. In File Explorer you will see "USB MTP Device". That is your camera storage. Click on that and you will see a sub-folder named "storage". Under that you will see a folder titled with a date. You will find your saved pictures there.
Bklyn674
Showed me what I need to see.
I just received it and straight out of the box it came with a full battery. My home was built in 1890 so I went around the house with it just to test it out. Decided to go down to basement where I know there are hot and cold things. The first pic is an old door that is rotting underneath so the cold air is clearly coming in through there. The second is the cold air intake and the exhaust for my furnace. The third is one of the reason I wanted it, I have been wondering why these breakers kept tripping. Clearly they are overloaded. The last is the water heater. I figured it would show a little of both.I think this was money well spent. As far as the rest of the house goes, I know what windows need to be insulated again. I now know what sections of my exterior walls need more insulation added or upgraded. It is a decent tool for the price. Is it the best tool ever?, I don't know but it was worth it.
Lys Forte
Not as described
Doesn't register above 311°F. Description says 800° +
S. Becket
Great value and features!
I bought this IR camera to aid in improving my home's insulation and sealing around doors and windows. I had an energy audit a few years ago and they used a much more expensive unit that I have coveted since. I finally decided to get one and have been extremely happy. The display is bright and of decent resolution. It's a solid build, with east-to-understand features that are easy to use. I have been able to identify quite a few opportunities for improvement in both air leakage and insulation.
I'm adding a few actual photos taken with the unit, so you can get an idea of the resolution and quality of it. One is of a heat vent that's active, one is a small wine storage fridge (man that thing puts out some heat), one of my front door showing I have 58 degree air coming in. Finally, just for fun, one of my dog. You can see that the display is more than adequate for my purposes.
I expect that with the improvements that I'm making, this will have paid for itself many times over before I'm done.
Jennifer Schumacher
My fridge is indeed cold
The auto adjusting scale means the color scale can vary from room to room. I wish there was a way to lock down the scale to not vary so I could better compare rooms. I did find consistent cool spots where ceiling and wall met on all my exterior walls, probably studs. I'm using this to evaluate what insulation & similar alterations are needed in my house.
Best to hunt for air leaks when there is a high temperature differential. Amusingly resting my hands on an exterior wall for 10 seconds results in a nice handprint effect.
Caution: It can also give the impression of a hot spot when shone at reflective metal like the edges of my cat's metal water bowl, my wooden bedframe, and metal tracks for my closet doors all spiked as hot spots inaccurately.
RegulusD
Great for saving money on power.
This works well and as stated. I have crossed referenced with my Thermoworks thermometer and accuracy is good. This helps with insulating windows and doors. Find leaks. Also, I use for my amps.
Narbel Medina
Great tool that often overlooked in the automotive industry
Very straightforward to use didnt even read the instructions at first. It takes pictures of the scan with the trigger and saves it. It comes with a usb. Its a good size feels good in the grip. Comes with a wristband in case you accidentally dropit doesnt hit the floor. Its not bulky easy fitting in any tool box or pocket.
The video show how i used it check the relays make sure they were activated. The red shows the heat made by relay when on. As a mechanic. It comes in handy for checking relays staying on after car should be off. That often drains the battery. Also check for over heating in a wiring circuits. I had a bad ground overheating in my subwoofer amp.
Alex Kovalik
Awesome Thermal camera
Thermal camera works great, able to see heat. Easy to use , comfortable in the hand. Battery life is very good. Great to have especially when installing can lights to make sure not going to drill into water lines or duct work.
Bristol
Versatile Thermal Tool for Home and Auto
This thermal camera is very easy to use and impressively well made. The controls feel solid, the ergonomics are slick, and the screen offers crisp imagery. It is perfect for automotive diagnostics. I have used it to check for misfires, faulty radiators and condensers, and even vent issues with ease.
Around the house, it is great for locating drafts or air leaks around doors. Just point, squeeze the trigger, and it takes snapshots instantly. The camera works beautifully, and I must say it is fun enough that I jokingly used it to playfully “search for ghosts” (so far, no paranormal sightings).
Alan
Good product
Good brand and accurate
Jesse
It was so easy to use!
Really pretty device, not very heavy, and worked straight out of the box. Came with a nice carry bag and was crystal clear on its display.
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