# Thermal Camera with Display ## Overview https://youtu.be/ZjQEykbvb5w ## Heat-Vision Arduino Camera! In this project we’ll show you how to build simple a thermal camera. This mini thermal camera can sense the surface temperature of things and display them as a colorful heatmap. Temperatures are rendered in real-time and displayed as different colors to form a heat map. ## Fun & Useful Tool Thermographic cameras can be used for finding hidden problems from heating and cooling issues. They’re a neat tool for doing thermal home inspections and troubleshooting. It’s fun to take it in the garage to reveal embedded electrical systems and looking at automobiles. Maybe make a game out of spotting hidden features. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/050/184/medium800/camera_hero-heat-c.jpg?1516068337) ## DIY Thermal Camera [Thermographic Cameras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermographic_camera) normally have low resolution and the higher performance ones can be quite expensive. The AMG8833 thermal camera sensors are easier to come-by and easy to use with Arduino with the Adafruit Library and demo code. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/050/167/medium800/camera_hero-breadboard-b.jpg?1515944897) ## Enclosure Design Inspired by the classic [Diana Toy Camera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_(camera)), the enclosure features a kawaii aesthetic thats both simplistic and stylish. The IR thermal sensor is secured to the faux lens assembly while the TFT display and micro-controller are secured to the back cover. ## IR Thermal Camera Sensor [The Adafruit AMG8833 breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3538) features an IR thermal camera sensor from Panasonic. It uses an 8x8 array of IR thermal sensors. It's like those fancy thermal cameras, but compact and simple enough for easy integration. When connected to your microcontroller (or raspberry Pi) it will return an array of 64 individual infrared temperature readings over I2C. ![camera_amg-hero-panavise.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/050/170/medium640/camera_amg-hero-panavise.jpg?1515945239) ## Arduino Thermal Camera To make a cool thermal camera, we can add a small 2.4in TFT display,  500mAh battery and a Feather HUZZAH32. In this project, we're using the demo code included with the Adafruit AMG8833 Library for Arduino. This simple thermal camera displays a range of different colors that represent temperature readings. i.e, hot is red and cold is blue.  ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/050/168/medium800/camera_circuit-prototype.jpg?1515945112) ## Prerequisite Guides If your new to electronics and the _Adafruit Feather_, I suggest you walk through the following guides to get the basics. The Adafruit Feather HUZZAH32 guide will walk you through setting it up with the Arduino IDE. See the AMG8833 IR Thermal Camera guide for more information. - [Adafruit AMG8833 IR Thermal Camera](../../../adafruit-amg8833-8x8-thermal-camera-sensor) - [Adafruit HUZZAH32 – EPS32 Feather Board](../../../../adafruit-huzzah32-esp32-feather) - [TFT FeatherWing – 2.4" 320x240 Touchscreen](../../../adafruit-2-4-tft-touch-screen-featherwing) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/049/991/medium800/camera_parts.jpg?1515624504) ## Electronic Components The HUZZAH32 Feather, IR Thermal Camera breakout and TFT FeatherWing are the main electronic components used in this project. ### Part: Thermal Camera quantity: 1 Adafruit AMG8833 IR [Thermal Camera](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3538) ### Part: Adafruit HUZZAH32 quantity: 1 ESP32 Feather Board [Adafruit HUZZAH32](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3707) ### Part: TFT FeatherWing quantity: 1 2.4" 320x240 Touchscreen [TFT FeatherWing](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3315) ### Part: 500mAh Battery quantity: 1 Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh [500mAh Battery](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578) ### Part: Slide Switch quantity: 1 Breadboard-friendly SPDT [Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) ## Hardware and Supplies Just a few screws, stickers and wires.  ### Part: M2.5 x .45 x 5mm quantity: 6 Flat Phillips Machine Screws [M2.5 x .45 x 5mm ](https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/2-5-MM-x-45-Phillips-Flat-Head-Machine-Screw-p/1011-1002.htm) ### Part: Pimonoi Super Sticker Selection! quantity: 1 The cuttest, nerdiest stickers!! [Pimonoi Super Sticker Selection!](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/pimoroni-super-sticker-selection) ### Part: 30AWG Wire quantity: 1 Silicone Covered Stranded [30AWG Wire](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) ### Part: Solder Wire quantity: 1 Solder Spool - 1/4 lb SAC305 RoHS lead-free / 0.031" rosin-core - 0.25 lb / 100 g [Solder Wire](https://www.adafruit.com/product/734) ### Part: Heat Shrink Tubing quantity: 1 Multi-Colored Heat Shrink Pack - 3/32" + 1/8" + 3/16" Diameters [Heat Shrink Tubing](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1649) ### Part: Mounting Putty Tack quantity: 1 Loctite Fun-Tak Mounting Putty 2-Ounce [Mounting Putty Tack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F57ZPW/) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/050/185/medium800/camera_hero-heat-b.jpg?1516068364) ## Cool Tools! These help make the project a smooth building experience. You don't need them all of them, but I recommend them. ### Part: Ultimaker 3 quantity: 1 3D Printer [Ultimaker 3](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3300) ### Part: Wire Strippers quantity: 1 Hakko Professsional Quality 20-30 AWG Wire Strippers - CSP-30-1 [Wire Strippers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/527) ### Part: Wire Cutters quantity: 1 Flush diagonal cutters - CHP170 [Wire Cutters](https://www.adafruit.com/product/152) ### Part: Soldering Iron quantity: 1 Adjustable 30W 110V soldering iron - XY-258 110V [Soldering Iron](https://www.adafruit.com/product/180) ### Part: Panavise quantity: 1 Panavise Jr. - PV-201 [Panavise](https://www.adafruit.com/product/151) ### Part: Helping Third Hands quantity: 1 Helping Third Hand Magnifier W/Magnifying Glass Tool - MZ101 [Helping Third Hands](https://www.adafruit.com/product/291) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/050/186/medium800/camera_hero-tshirt-thumb.jpg?1516068389) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/thermal-camera-with-display/software.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit AMG8833 IR Thermal Camera Breakout [Adafruit AMG8833 IR Thermal Camera Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3538) Add heat-vision to your project with an Adafruit AMG8833 Grid-EYE Breakout! This sensor from Panasonic is an 8x8 array of IR thermal sensors. When connected to your microcontroller (or raspberry Pi) it will return an array of 64 individual infrared temperature readings over I2C. It's like... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3538) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3538/guides) ### Adafruit HUZZAH32 – ESP32 Feather Board [Adafruit HUZZAH32 – ESP32 Feather Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3707) Aww yeah, it's the Feather you have been waiting for! The **HUZZAH32** is our ESP32-based Feather, made with the official WROOM32 module. We packed everything you love about Feathers: built in USB-to-Serial converter, automatic bootloader reset, Lithium Ion/Polymer charger,... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3707) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3707/guides) ### TFT FeatherWing - 2.4" 320x240 Touchscreen For All Feathers [TFT FeatherWing - 2.4" 320x240 Touchscreen For All Feathers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3315) A Feather board without ambition is a Feather board without FeatherWings! Spice up your Feather project with a beautiful 2.4" touchscreen display shield with built in microSD card socket. This TFT display is 2.4" diagonal with a bright 4 white-LED backlight. You get  240x320... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3315) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3315/guides) ### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh [Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578) Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 500mAh for a total of about 1.9 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!) battery, In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1578/guides) ### Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch [Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch no matter what size fingers you have, but not so easy that they'll get flipped by accident. Work great as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/805/guides) ### Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors [Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire for being extremely supple and flexible, so it is great for wearables or projects where the wire-harness has to... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2051/guides) ### Helping Third Hand Magnifier W/Magnifying Glass Tool [Helping Third Hand Magnifier W/Magnifying Glass Tool](https://www.adafruit.com/product/291) The classic 'third hand tool,' as seen on every desk! We have one next to our [Panavise jr](//www.adafruit.com/products/151), they complement each other well. This tool is good for holding small PCBs and wires for tinning or soldering to parts.   - Every... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/291) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/291/guides) ### Panavise Jr. [Panavise Jr.](https://www.adafruit.com/product/151) The best mini-vise for working on smaller PCBs (2.875" or less in one dimension)! The jaws are strong plastic that wont damage the PCB and doesn't mind if you hit it with the soldering iron by accident. Made in the USA. - The easy-to-use single knob controls head movement... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/151) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/151/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit 2.4" TFT FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-2-4-tft-touch-screen-featherwing.md) - [CircuitPython displayio Setup for TFT FeatherWings](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-circuitpython-displayio-with-a-tft-featherwing.md) - [Building the Assistive Technology Ultimate Remote](https://learn.adafruit.com/building-the-assistive-technology-ultimate-remote.md) - [Using LittlevGL with Adafruit Displays](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-littlevgl-with-adafruit-displays.md) - [CircuitPython Display_Text Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-display-text-library.md) - [ESP8266 WiFi Weather Station with Color TFT Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/wifi-weather-station-with-tft-display.md) - [I2C Addresses and Troublesome Chips](https://learn.adafruit.com/i2c-addresses.md) - [CYBERDECK Expansion Plate](https://learn.adafruit.com/cyberdeck-plate.md) - [Creating Custom Symbol Fonts for Adafruit GFX Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/creating-custom-symbol-font-for-adafruit-gfx-library.md) - [Sketch Drawing Toy with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/sketch-drawing-toy.md) - [Adafruit AMG8833 8x8 Thermal Camera Sensor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-amg8833-8x8-thermal-camera-sensor.md) - [MicroPython Displays: Drawing Shapes](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-displays-drawing-shapes.md) - [3D Printed Case for Adafruit Feather](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-case-for-adafruit-feather.md) - [CircuitPython Hardware: ILI9341 TFT & FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-ili9341-tft-and-featherwing.md) - [All the Internet of Things - Episode Three: Services](https://learn.adafruit.com/all-the-internet-of-things-episode-three-services.md)