TR20 Pro vs TR384C: Why Certified Thermal Electricians Should Own Both

Thermal Imaging for Electricians: More Than Just “Heat Pictures”

A Certified Thermal Electrician™ is not just pointing a camera and looking for “red spots.” Instead, they are:

• Applying I²R heating principles to understand why a conductor, lug, or breaker is hot.
• Scanning equipment under appropriate load conditions (often 40% or more when possible) to comply with good practices informed by NFPA 70B.
• Comparing components to similar phases and adjacent terminations to detect abnormal temperature rise.
• Using thermal images to justify corrective actions, develop maintenance plans, and document their professional judgment.

For this level of work, the quality of your camera matters. That is why the TR20 Pro and TR384C were selected as recommended tools for serious thermography in the Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program.

The Mileseey TR20 Pro – Your 50 Hz Everyday Thermography Workhorse

The TR20 Pro is designed to be an electrician’s daily companion. It combines a responsive 50 Hz refresh rate with solid native resolution, making it ideal for service work, quick diagnostics, and routine thermal checks.

Key Characteristics of the TR20 Pro

• Native IR Resolution: 320 × 240 – enough pixels to clearly see breakers, lugs, bus bars, and conductor groupings.
• Refresh Rate: 50 Hz – very smooth image movement when panning across panels and equipment.
• Temperature Range: suitable for typical electrical and mechanical applications, from cold ambient surfaces up to high-load equipment.
• Thermal Sensitivity: capable of detecting modest temperature differences and revealing abnormal heating.
• Dual Imaging: thermal and visible imaging with fusion modes for easier orientation in complex panels.
• Rugged & Portable: made to handle job-site environments, with enough battery life for a day’s worth of inspections.

How a Certified Thermal Electrician Might Use the TR20 Pro

1. Service Call Troubleshooting

Imagine a homeowner reporting lights dimming when large appliances start, or a breaker that “feels hot.” A Certified Thermal Electrician can:

• Use the TR20 Pro to scan the main and branch breakers under load.
• Identify a single breaker or neutral bar running hotter than adjacent components.
• Spot a loose lug, corroded termination, or overloaded circuit visually in seconds.
• Document a “before” image, perform the repair or tightening, then capture an “after” image for proof.

2. Routine Panel and Subpanel Inspections

For commercial clients on a basic maintenance plan, the TR20 Pro is ideal for routine scans of:

• Main service equipment and distribution panels.
• Subpanels feeding key areas such as kitchens, mechanical rooms, or IT spaces.
• Feeders and large branch circuits supplying high-demand equipment.

The 50 Hz refresh rate allows the electrician to smoothly pan across rows of breakers and lugs, quickly identifying any anomalies that need deeper investigation.

3. Verifying Repairs and Upgrades

After replacing a breaker, tightening a suspected loose connection, or rebalancing loads, the TR20 Pro can be used to:

• Rescan the same equipment under load.
• Show a clear reduction in temperature at problem points.
• Capture “before and after” images the customer can understand and appreciate.

4. Supporting Thermal Imaging as an Add-On Service

Many electrical contractors add a “Thermal Safety Check” as an upgrade on service calls. With the TR20 Pro, a Certified Thermal Electrician can:

• Offer quick scans of main panels and critical equipment.
• Include images in customer reports or invoices.
• Use findings to recommend additional work or periodic maintenance contracts.

The Mileseey TR384C – High-Resolution Precision for Advanced Work

Once an electrician moves beyond basic troubleshooting and into formal thermography services, higher resolution becomes more important. This is where the TR384C shines.

With a 384 × 288 native thermal sensor, the TR384C delivers significantly more thermal detail than the TR20 Pro. That additional pixel density matters when analyzing complex equipment and building assemblies.

Key Characteristics of the TR384C

• Native IR Resolution: 384 × 288 – over 110,000 thermal data points per frame.
• Refresh Rate: 25 Hz – more than sufficient for the slow, methodical scans used in serious thermography.
• Laser Distance Measurement: allows precise distance readings for reports and documentation.
• GPS Tagging (where supported): helps link thermal images to specific locations in larger facilities.
• Longer Battery Life: suitable for extended survey work and larger projects.
• Enhanced Reporting Capability: crisp, detailed images that look professional in customer deliverables.

How a Certified Thermal Electrician Might Use the TR384C

1. Detailed Building and Energy Assessments

When performing thermal imaging as part of an energy audit or building assessment, the TR384C makes it easier to see:

• Heat loss at framing transitions, headers, and junctions in exterior walls.
• Insulation voids in ceilings, attics, and knee walls.
• Air leakage around windows, doors, and penetrations.
• Temperature anomalies near recessed lighting and exhaust fans.

The added resolution helps distinguish framing members, cavities, and subtle gradients that lower-resolution cameras might smear together.

2. Complex Commercial and Industrial Equipment

In facilities with dense equipment, such as motor control centers, VFD banks, data center gear, or large distribution boards, the TR384C allows a Certified Thermal Electrician to:

• Zoom in more effectively on individual terminations, small cables, and connectors.
• See phase imbalance more clearly across multiple parallel conductors or bus bars.
• Document small but meaningful temperature rises that might indicate early failure.

This level of clarity is particularly valuable when working under a formal maintenance contract where clients expect professional-level reports and clear, actionable findings.

3. Premium Predictive Maintenance Contracts

For clients who want ongoing monitoring of their electrical systems, the TR384C supports:

• Periodic scans of critical gear with consistent camera settings.
• Trend analysis as minor temperature increases develop over time.
• High-quality images that can be linked to asset IDs, GPS locations, and distance data.

These capabilities help a Certified Thermal Electrician build a recurring revenue stream around thermography and energy services.

4. High-Impact Customer Reports and Presentations

Higher-resolution images simply look more professional in reports. A Certified Thermal Electrician can use TR384C images to:

• Produce polished PDF or printed reports for facility managers and owners.
• Include annotated thermal images in proposals and presentations.
• Differentiate their services from competitors using low-end “toy” cameras.

TR20 Pro vs TR384C – Side-by-Side Comparison

Why a Certified Thermal Electrician Should Consider Owning Both

1. Tiered Service Levels

By owning both cameras, a Certified Thermal Electrician can create clear service tiers:

• Basic Thermal Scan: Performed with the TR20 Pro as part of routine maintenance or service calls.
• Advanced Thermography & Energy Assessment: Performed with the TR384C, including building envelope checks, detailed electrical surveys, and comprehensive reporting.

This allows you to upsell customers naturally. A homeowner may start with a basic panel scan; a facility manager may invest in a full TR384C-based survey after seeing the value of the initial findings.

2. Redundancy and Professionalism

Having two capable cameras is a mark of professionalism and preparedness. If one camera is out for recalibration, charging, or repair, you are not out of business. You can:

• Use the TR20 Pro as a backup on days when the TR384C is doing most of the heavy lifting.
• Deploy the TR384C for major projects while keeping the TR20 Pro ready for everyday calls.

3. Matching the Tool to the Task

Not every job requires maximum resolution, and not every job can be done efficiently with only a high-end, heavier camera. Owning both lets you choose the right tool:

• Quick troubleshooting or a busy day of service calls? Grab the TR20 Pro.
• Scheduled thermography survey for a commercial building? Bring the TR384C and plan to create a polished report.

4. Growing from Electrician to Thermography Specialist

Many electricians begin by adding basic thermal imaging as an add-on service. As they gain confidence, training, and customer demand, they evolve into specialists who:

• Offer premium thermography packages.
• Perform regular NFPA 70B style inspections.
• Support energy audit teams and building performance projects.

Starting with the TR20 Pro and then adding the TR384C is a natural growth path that matches the progression encouraged by the Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program.

Final Thoughts

A Certified Thermal Electrician™ should be equipped with tools that support both everyday electrical work and advanced thermography services. The Mileseey TR20 Pro and Mileseey TR384C together provide that balance.

• The TR20 Pro keeps you fast, efficient, and effective on daily electrical calls.
• The TR384C gives you the detail, documentation, and professional presence needed for higher-level thermography and energy work.

For electricians who want to stand out, build recurring revenue, and fully utilize the skills taught in the Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program, owning both cameras is not just a luxury — it is a smart business decision.

Always follow NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E, manufacturer instructions, and applicable electrical codes when performing live thermography and electrical work. The right camera is powerful, but your training, procedures, and judgment are what make you a true professional.