Damnit, now I have another toy to add to my “need” list.
this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026
61 points (100.0% liked)
DIY
4009 readers
170 users here now
Share your self-made stuff and half-baked projects here.
Also check out !diy@beehaw.org
There is also a related XMPP chat.
founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
Anyone have any reccomendations for a decently priced IR camera that isn't dependent on a phone app? Don't want something that will just stop working because the manufacturer can't be bothered to keep updating the app later on.
If you don't mind buying from Guangdong and being hit with import and customs fees, then on Linux, this gadget presents a standard V4L (Video4Linux) USB camera.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007938478574.html
The cable is delicate, you'd have to find a way to secure it against damage (e.g. tape). For the 256 x 192 pixel sensor, focal length 4 mm will get you an ordinary field of view (e.g. 45 degrees), while 9 mm will get you a very narrow field of view (e.g. 20 degrees). Grayscale image, very fast frame rates, automatic calibration against a shutter (occasional sub-second stops in video).
Note: never ever point at the Sun. It has poor solar protection, I almost ruined it when my code erred and scanned across the Sun, leaving a massive black track which took several hours to fade. The shutter closes when it sees the Sun, but not fast enough.
Used my Topodon this morning to find where I was losing the most heat around the house after all the weatherization and prepping I'd done. Was pleasantly surprised how most areas were holding up, but it definitely helped narrow focus where I still had plenty of gaps, definitely worth it for the insights.
Pro tip, works in hot weather too.
also a 10 dollar studbuddy will be your best friend any time you need to find a stud
Old lath and plaster for me, so they don't work that well.
A string of small magnets generally works pretty well. They stick to the nail/screw heads fixing the lath to the studs, and then you can draw a line.
Coincidentally, it is cold here too. Walked around the house with a USB drone camera. Window edges are radiating like crazy. There was no difference between a window with shades down vs. a window with shades up (I hoped to find a difference, but was disappointed). However, edges need considerable extra foam.
This is why ventilators can make sense to run in tall rooms even during the winter.
Ceiling fans
yeah its hard to see but looks like its catching my body right behind the wall. Very accurate!