Fluke Corporation has introduced the Fluke VT02 visual IR thermometer, a troubleshooting camera with an infrared heat map.

Until now, electricians and industrial, HVAC and automotive technicians have had to choose between single-point infrared thermometers and high-resolution thermal imagers (infrared or “IR” cameras). The Fluke VT02 Visual IR Thermometer fills the gap, for when a single-spot temperature reading isn’t enough and a high-resolution thermal image is more than users need. One tool combines the visual insight of a thermal imager, the visual images of a digital camera, and the point-and-shoot convenience of an IR (infrared) thermometer.

Conducting inspections for electrical, industrial, HVAC/R and automotive applications is faster with the VT02 than an infrared thermometer, which requires multiple readings and manually recorded results. The VT02 instantly detects problems using blended thermal and digital imagery. It will display and save images as full visual, full infrared, or in three blended modes (25, 50, and 75%). Markers pinpoint hot and cold spots indicating the hottest temperature with a red box and the coldest with a blue box. A temperature reading is provided at the centre point. Images are saved to the micro-SD card, eliminating the need to write down single or multiple measurements.

Developing a tool that is easier to manufacture than traditional thermal imagers required significant innovation. Using hyper-thin pyroelectric technology, engineers discovered a way to push the limits of the technology, pioneering an array dense enough to create an infrared heat map.

Affordable, compact, and intuitive, the VT02 operates with focus-free simplicity, expanding the user base from senior to junior technicians and broadening the applications for in-house staff as well as creating new business opportunities for service contractors. Images from the VT02 can be imported into SmartView analysis and reporting software, included with the VT02, to produce professional reports that document problems detected or repairs made for management and customer review.