Topdon TC001/TC001 Plus/TC001 Max thermal imager tools frequently asked questions and answers.
1. Function Usage
1.1. TC001 Product Specifications/What Systems Does TC001 Support?
TC001 is compatible with Android phones/tablets & laptops.
1.2. TC001, the TCVIEW 0.6.9.1 installed on Windows 10 cannot open pictures taken by the phone camera. For example, when I tried to open a picture in “Secondary Analysis,” I received an error message saying “Current picture not supported.”
Does not support analyzing photos taken by the phone. The customer needs to connect to a computer and take photos to analyze.
1.3. Does TC001 Need Power to Operate/How to Plug in TC001?
Compared to traditional infrared cameras, the TOPDON TC001 thermal imaging camera connects to the input of a smartphone or tablet and is powered by the device, eliminating concerns about battery depletion outdoors due to its low power consumption of only 0.35W.
1.4. What Safety Inspection Scenarios is TC001 Suitable For?
This tool is very suitable for safety purposes, such as insulation detection, cylinder detection, water leakage detection, and HVAC system inspection.
1.5. Why is there no response after connecting TC001 to the phone?
Please follow these steps to identify the problem:
a) Check if the blue LED indicator on the side of TC001 is lit. If not, the device may not be properly connected to your phone, or your phone may not support OTG functionality.
b) Check if OTG functionality is supported and set to on in your phone settings. Most phones have OTG enabled by default and can be used directly. If not, search for “OTG” in the settings and manually enable it. Please note that TC001 is not compatible with phones that do not support OTG.
c) Check if the Android software version is 6.0 or higher.
d) Check if the TC001 app has been downloaded and necessary permissions have been granted.
e) Unplug TC001 and reconnect. If there is still no response, please contact after-sales support.
1.6. Can TC001 Detect Objects Underwater, Through Glass, or Walls?
No. Infrared detectors mainly detect the long-wave infrared region of 8~14μm and can only be used to measure surface temperature. They cannot observe through water, ordinary glass, or walls.
1.7. Can TC001/TC002 Measure Glass?
Yes. For translucent materials, such as plastic film or glass, ensure the background is uniform and the temperature is lower than the object being measured.
1.8. Why Does the Temperature Reading Increase When the Device is Close to an Object/Why is the Temperature Lower at a Distance and Higher When Close?
Infrared radiation attenuates as it travels through the atmosphere. The longer the distance, the greater the attenuation. Therefore, the accuracy of temperature measurement decreases at long distances. To ensure measurement accuracy, go to Profile-Settings-Temperature Calibration-Point to Distance, and enter the actual distance (maximum 5 meters) to obtain the corrected temperature.
1.9. Is TC001 Compatible with iOS Devices?
No. TC001 is only compatible with Android devices and Windows computers.
1.10. What to Do if There is Ghosting or Inaccurate Temperature When Capturing Thermal Images?
It is recommended to perform image calibration. Path: In the app, click on Personal Information-Image Calibration and follow the steps.
1.11. Does TC001 support iPhone 15?
TC001 only supports Android phones and Windows computers.
1.12. Does it support 3D editing of images?
Using the app or TCview, click on the gallery, select the image, and then click on 3D Edit below.
1.13. Where is the user manual for TCview?
Inside the program, click on File – Help – User Manual to access it.
1.14. What are the formats of the generated photos and videos?
The generated photos are in JPG format, and the videos are in MP4 format.
1.15. What is the FOV (Field of View) of TC001?
56.0°×42.2°×71.3°
1.16. What is the supported version of the Android operating system?
The minimum Android version supported by TC001 is 8.0.
1.17. Can the Android source code be provided?
The Android source code cannot be provided.
1.18. Can the original image be used without TCview when connected to a PC? Does the image capture 16-bit or 24-bit images?
The original image can be obtained, and it is 24-bit.
1.19. What is the recommended emissivity for different objects?
Go to Personal Information > Temperature Correction > Adjust according to the emissivity table at the bottom of the screen.
1.20. Why does the app image freeze for a second every 5 to 10 seconds and make a clicking sound when taking thermal imaging photos?
The clicking sound is the sound of the lens’s automatic shutter working. To turn it off: In the app, click on thermal imaging, click on the camera icon at the bottom left, on the pop-up page click on settings (three dots), then click on the second yellow shutter icon in the pop-up options, and the “auto” on the icon will change to “off.”
1.21. Does the device support exporting temperature data in Excel format?
Yes, you can share the Excel sheet by clicking “Export” in the temperature monitoring records.
1.22. Why does the device show -30 degrees when measuring the house temperature while the outdoor temperature is 0 degrees?
The recommended effective measurement distance is less than 5m; accuracy decreases beyond this distance.
1.23. Is there a time limit for recording videos in the TC001 app? For example, can I record a continuous 30-minute video?
There is no limit; the recording duration mainly depends on the phone’s storage. The screen must not turn off during recording. Six hours is possible, but longer durations may prevent exporting.
1.24. Can I add time and location information to the captured images?
Yes, click the three dots on the thermal imaging interface > Settings > Watermark, then enable location access and date/time.
1.25. How to change the temperature unit? / How to change the temperature unit on TC001?
Open the 【TopInfrared】APP –> Select 【Me】 –> Click 【Temperature Units】 to switch between Celsius (℃) and Fahrenheit (℉).
1.26. Is TC001 compatible with Google Pixel 7 Pro?
Yes, TC001 is compatible with Google Pixel 7 Pro.
1.27. TC001 cannot connect to my Lenovo Windows 11 laptop, and attempts to use your download website have failed. What should I do?
You can visit the TC001 official website page to download the PC software.
1.28. How to generate a thermal imaging report?
Select the corresponding thermal image > Click Report > Choose the parameters to display and click Next. On the preview interface, click Generate PDF to share or click Finish to save the report in the app.
1.29. Can the original image be used directly on a PC without using TCview? / Is the image capture 16-bit or 24-bit?
Dear user, yes, the original image can be directly obtained on the PC and is a 24-bit image.
1.30. Why can’t my phone recognize TC001?
- Open phone settings, search for OTG function, and enable it.
- Insert the device into the phone and check if the blue LED light on the device side is on. If not, the phone is not supplying power to the device. The Type-C port may not be properly inserted. Try removing the phone case and reconnecting, or use the USB cable we provided.
- If the LED light is on, restart the phone and try connecting again. If still unable to connect, the device may not be compatible with the phone.
- Install TCViewer on your computer (downloadable from the TC001 download page on the official website), then try connecting to see if it can be recognized.
- Confirm if the phone’s system is Android 10. If so, download the Android 10-specific app from the official website and try.
1.31. Can it detect air flow? / Can it detect air flow?
It cannot detect air flow because it is transparent. Only objects with temperature reflection can be detected. Unless the air flow appears as fog and is opaque.
1.32. What should I do when ghost images or inaccurate temperature readings occur?
When ghost images or inaccurate temperature readings occur, perform this operation.
Operation path: Enter the application > Personal Information > Image Calibration.
1.33. How to use the 3D editing feature?
You can find this feature in the application and TCview. Enter Gallery > Select Image > 3D Edit.
1.34. How to view the TCview user manual?
Read the TCview user manual (only for TC001)
Please download the TCview program from the Topdon website: https://www.topdon.com/pages/pro-down?fuzzy=TC001, enter the program, select File > Help > User Manual to download.
1.35. How to select different emissivity?
Use this function when you need to set different emissivity for different items.
Operation path: Enter the application > Personal Information > Temperature Correction.
1.36. How to export temperature data?
Please enter the application > Temperature Monitoring > Enter Temperature Monitoring Records > Select Export to obtain Excel data.
1.37. How to get an image with a timestamp on TC001?
Please follow steps 1-4 to get an image with a timestamp.
- Click the option button next to the capture button
- Click the settings button
- Enable the watermark function in “Learn More”
- Enable the time and date function
If you have any other questions in the future, please feel free to contact us.
1.38. Topdon TC001 device is not accurate in detecting cold metal temperatures.
If the metal surface is smooth and reflective, the measurement will be inaccurate.
Although the thermal imager measures the surface temperature of objects, it is heavily affected by reflections, such as glass or smooth metal. However, since different smooth surfaces have different emissivity, they may be as low as 0.5.
Therefore, in this case, it is recommended to stick a layer of matte tape or apply a non-reflective coating on the surface of the object to be measured for accurate measurement.
1.39. How to perform image calibration?
You can select “Image Calibration” in the “Me” section of the APP.
1.40. How to distinguish whether the imaging anomaly reported by the customer is due to device issues or improper operation/settings.
① Have the user try another phone or tablet to rule out device issues.
② Connect the device and check if the blue indicator light on the device side is on, and listen for the shutter sound. If the blue light is on and there is a shutter sound, the device is connected. It may be a system incompatibility or permissions not being opened.
③ The simplest way is to have the user reinstall the app and agree to all permission requests (USB connection permission, album permission, app privacy agreement, some phones also need to separately enable OTG permission).
1.41. Can TC001/TC002 detect insects (cockroaches/cicadas, etc.)?
Thermal imaging cameras generate thermal images by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by objects. As long as there is a temperature difference between the object and its surrounding environment, it can be detected.
In practical use, there are three main factors that affect measurement: emissivity + measurement distance + ambient temperature. Measuring insects is not easy, as the control of distance and the influence of ambient temperature are significant.
1.42. Can TC001/TC002 measure temperature on reflective metal surfaces?
Yes, it can measure. Glass and smooth surfaces reflect almost all infrared light, so the temperature is not accurate. We need you to adjust the emissivity before measuring. When measuring shiny objects, you can cover the surface of the object with spray paint, matte black powder, or masking tape. Measure the temperature of the covered or spray-painted surface, which is the true temperature. Operation path: In the APP, go to “My” — “Temperature Correction” — “Emissivity”, and manually input the corresponding emissivity. Emissivity refers to the ability of an object to radiate infrared energy. The radiated energy indicates the temperature of the object. The emissivity value ranges from 0 (a polished mirror) to 1.0 (a black body); the emissivity of most organic materials, paints, or oxidized surfaces is close to 0.95. We provide a common emissivity table. For niche objects, we recommend you consult relevant materials and input the accurate emissivity to ensure measurement accuracy.
1.43. Why can’t TC001 be directly recognized by some phones, but can be recognized when using an extension cable?
Some Type-C interfaces on phones lack a grounding pin. If TC001 is directly connected, it cannot be recognized. However, the extension cable itself has a grounding pin, so it can be recognized after connection. For such phones, it is recommended to use an extension cable for connection.
1.44. What is the maximum detection distance of TC001/TC002?
The maximum detection distance is 50m, and the effective temperature measurement distance is within 5m.
1.45. Why is the temperature measurement of TC001/TC002 not very accurate?
The temperature resolution of TC001/TC002 is ±2%. The temperature range for the normal temperature setting is: -10150℃ (14302°F), and for the high temperature setting is: 150－550℃ (302~1022°F). Please select the corresponding temperature setting in the APP before testing.
1.46. How to save the zoom factor and position settings to make the infrared image (TC001) and visible light image (phone) overlap.
We regret to inform you that the device does not support this feature. Since the APP uses the phone’s camera, their perspectives are quite different, and you can only manually adjust each time. We recommend purchasing TC001 Plus, where the visible light and thermal imaging are directly overlapped.
1.47. How to make the thermal imaging interface of TC001/TC002 not display temperature values?
Click the “Temperature Value” icon in the menu bar at the bottom of the thermal imaging interface, and select “Delete” to remove the temperature value display.
1.48. TC001/TC002 How to disable the pseudo-color bar on the thermal imaging interface?
Click the “Settings” icon in the menu bar at the bottom of the thermal imaging interface, and set the “Pseudo-color bar” status to off to remove the pseudo-color bar display.
1.49. Can thermal imaging pictures taken by TC001/TC001Plus/TS001 on the APP be opened and analyzed on TCView?
Not supported. The APP (Android) and TCView (Windows) are two different systems, and thermal imaging pictures taken by the phone cannot be opened and analyzed on the computer.
2. Download and Upgrade
2.1. How to Download the Thermal Imaging App (Android)
For TC001, please search and download TC001 in the Google Play Store, or click this link: https://www.topdon.com/pages/pro-down?fuzzy=TC001
3. Troubleshooting
3.1. Why does TC001 not display the thermal imaging screen but only shows -273.1℃ after connecting to the phone?
It is recommended to follow the steps below for troubleshooting:
- Try connecting to another phone to see if it displays normally. If it does, it might be a compatibility issue with the phone. If it doesn’t display, it could be a hardware issue.
- Check if the phone is running other USB software. If so, close it and then try connecting TC001 again. If it still doesn’t display, it might be a compatibility issue.
- Download a third-party thermal imaging software (such as “thermal eye X”) to test. If it still doesn’t display, it might be a compatibility issue.
3.2. TC001 Cannot Connect to the Phone
- Please provide the device’s serial number and check if the software is V1.0 or V2.0. If it is V1.0, please request to upgrade to the V2.0 version.
- V1.0 serial numbers, see the table below: 12000212F2000112000212F2010012000212G1000112000212G10600