Fluke Thermal Cameras Compared: PTi120, TiS and Ti PRO
Detector resolution decides how far back you can stand and still measure a small target. Here is how the Fluke thermal camera range fits together.
Choose a Fluke thermal camera by detector resolution first. Buy the PTi120 or TiS20+ if you can stand close to what you inspect, a TiS60+ or TiS75+ for regular surveys, and a Ti401 PRO or Ti480 PRO when the targets are small, far away or the report goes to a client.
Fluke's range runs to 14 thermal cameras on our shelves, and the names do not make the order obvious. This guide sorts them by the job.
The range at a glance
| Model | IR resolution | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| PTi120 | 120 × 90 | Pocket camera for daily rounds |
| TiS20+ | 120 × 90 | Entry inspection camera |
| TiS55+ | Higher than the TiS20+, check the datasheet | Regular electrical and mechanical work |
| TiS60+ | 320 × 240 | Detailed fault finding |
| TiS75+ | 384 × 288 | Top of the TiS range |
| Ti300+ | 320 × 240 | Professional camera with on-camera analysis |
| Ti401 PRO | 640 × 480 | Survey work |
| Ti480 PRO | 640 × 480 | High-resolution survey work |
Above these sit the TiX501 and TiX580 expert cameras. The TiX580 has an articulating lens. The RSE300 and RSE600 are fixed-mount cameras for continuous monitoring. Confirm the exact specification of your model against the current Fluke datasheet before you order.
Why resolution comes first
Each pixel on the detector reads the average temperature of the area it sees. As you move back, that area grows. If a hot terminal is smaller than one pixel's spot on the target, the camera averages it with the cooler metal around it and reports a lower temperature than the terminal has. The fault can pass unnoticed even though it is in the frame.
A 640 × 480 detector has 307,200 pixels and a 120 × 90 detector has 10,800, so the higher-resolution camera puts about 28 times as many measurements on the same scene. In a plant room where you can stand a metre from an open panel, a small detector is often fine. For busbars behind guards, overhead connections and outdoor switchyards, where you cannot get close, it is not.
What to buy, by job
- Maintenance rounds on panels and motors you can reach: the PTi120 or TiS20+.
- Electricians who want a meter and a camera in one tool: the Fluke 279 FC. You find the hot termination, then measure it.
- Regular inspections for a facilities team: the TiS60+ or TiS75+.
- Thermography contractors and client reports: the Ti401 PRO or Ti480 PRO.
- Harsh sites: the TiS20+ MAX is built for harder conditions.
Getting a reading you can trust
The camera is only part of the result. Inspect under load, because an unloaded joint does not run hot. Shiny copper and aluminium reflect heat from around them, so read a painted or taped surface, or an oxidised part of the conductor, where you can. Set the emissivity for the surface and shoot square to the target where possible.
Compare like with like. The most useful figure on a switchboard or an inverter is usually the temperature difference between identical components carrying a similar load, such as the three phases of one breaker. Our guide to delta-T thresholds for switchgear covers how to grade what you find.
Thermal cameras and acoustic imagers
A thermal camera shows heat. Compressed air leaks and partial discharge are better found by sound, which is what the Fluke ii900 and ii910 do. The ii910 adds partial discharge detection. If you inspect MV switchgear, you may want both types of instrument.
Common questions
Which Fluke thermal camera is best for electrical work?
For panels you can get close to, the TiS series. For high or distant targets, choose a 640 × 480 camera such as the Ti401 PRO or Ti480 PRO.
Is the PTi120 enough for an electrician?
For spotting a hot termination at close range, yes. For a formal survey, or for targets you cannot get close to, you will want more resolution.
Can a thermal camera see through a panel cover?
No. It reads the surface of the cover. You need a clear line of sight to the component, or an infrared window fitted to the panel.
Do you stock other brands of thermal camera?
Yes. We also hold Megger, Bosch and FLIR models in our thermal and acoustic imaging category.
Buying in Dubai
See the full list in our thermal imaging cameras category. We keep them at our counter on Naif Road, Deira, and deliver across the UAE in one to two working days. We are a supplier and stockist, not an authorised distributor. Send a model number on WhatsApp and we will reply with a price the same working day.
