Smallest Portable Wireless Video Thermal Camera

Portable Thermal Camera for thermal temperature sensing providing live thermal image and video both on dispay and also wirelessly to any phone laptop alsong with recording . super portable and chargable easy to use and carry. It also include the wirless video streaming .

Imagine holding the world’s smallest portable wireless video thermal camera right in the palm of your hand — a pocket-sized gadget that lets you see heat like never before.

It measures exact object temperatures without any contact using the powerful AMG88 infrared thermal sensor, shows real-time readings (min, max, average), records everything live, and streams the video wirelessly to any phone or laptop through a webpage it hosts itself.

Whether you’re hunting for electrical hotspots, finding heat leaks in your home, checking PCB temperatures, or just having fun exploring the invisible thermal world around you — this tiny orange beast does it all in real time, completely wirelessly.

I built it because I wanted something truly portable, truly wireless, and actually useful — not another bulky, expensive thermal camera that needs a phone app or computer to work. This one is 100% standalone: screen on the device + web streaming + recording, all running off a single small battery.

It’s super compact, rugged, and ridiculously fun to use. And the best part? You can build your own!

Unique Features (Never Seen Before in Any Similar Design)

This project introduces several groundbreaking features that are not available together in any existing portable thermal camera — whether commercial or DIY:

1. True Wireless Video Streaming Over WiFi Connects directly to your phone, laptop, or any device. View and perform thermal analysis remotely from anywhere in the house or workshop — no cables, no apps required. Just open a browser on the same WiFi network.
2. Super Compact Size with Built-in Display + Onboard SD Card Recording One of the smallest portable thermal cameras with its own high-quality color display for instant on-device viewing, plus full video recording directly to the built-in microSD card.
3. Built-in Charging System Includes integrated USB-C charging with battery management — no external power banks or complicated setups needed. Just plug in and charge like a modern smartphone.
4. Fully Wireless Recording Facility Start, stop, and download recordings wirelessly from any phone or laptop via the beautiful web interface hosted by the device itself. All thermal video data is captured and saved in real time without touching the camera.

1. M5Stack Core2
2. Amg8833 Thermal Camera sensor
3. USB C Conenctor
4. M5 Stack Core 2 I2C Connector

Alright, let’s get started! First turn off teh M5Stack using teh power button

Grab your AMG8833 Thermal Camera sensor (also known as the Thermal Unit) along with some short jumper wires or header pins. We’ll be connecting it using the I2C bus. This part is super simple and fun!

Step 1: Wiring the AMG8833 Thermal Sensor

Here’s how to connect the AMG8833 to your M5Stack Core2:

1. Connect VCC from the AMG8833 to the 3.3V pin on the M5Stack Core2.
2. Connect GND from the AMG8833 to any GND pin on the Core2.
3. Connect SDA from the AMG8833 to Pin 21 (I2C Data line).
4. Connect SCL from the AMG8833 to Pin 22 (I2C Clock line).

Pro Tip: The easiest way is to plug the official M5Stack Thermal Unit directly into Port A (the Grove connector on the left side of the Core2). If you’re using a bare AMG8833 breakout board, use short wires as mentioned above.

Soldering Tips (If Using Bare Breakout)

1. Keep your wires as short as possible to keep everything neat and compact.
2. Solder the connections cleanly — no cold joints!
3. Slide heat-shrink tubing over the soldered joints for a clean, professional, and safe finish.
4. After soldering, use a multimeter in continuity mode to double-check that there are no accidental short circuits between pins.

Mounting the Sensor for a Clean Look

Now let’s make it look pro:

1. Position the AMG8833 on the back or top of the M5Stack Core2 so the sensor array (the grid of tiny lenses) faces outward.
2. Use strong double-sided adhesive tape to securely mount the sensor.
3. If you have a 3D printer, design a simple enclosure with a cutout for the thermal sensor — it will give your project a factory-finished look.
4. Route the wires neatly along the edges and secure them with small cable ties or tape so nothing dangles.

Setting Up the Arduino IDE for M5Stack Core2

Before we start building, we need to get your Arduino IDE ready. Don’t worry — it’s easier than it sounds!

1. Add the ESP32 Board Support

1. Open the Arduino IDE.
2. Go to File > Preferences (on macOS: Arduino IDE > Preferences).
3. In the field labeled “Additional Boards Manager URLs”, paste the following link:
4. text
5. 
   

1. Click OK to save.

2. Install M5Stack Board Support

1. Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager.
2. In the search bar, type “M5Stack”.
3. Find “M5Stack by M5Stack Official” and click Install.
4. Once installed, go to Tools > Board > M5Stack Arduino and select M5Stack-Core2.

Great! Your Arduino IDE now fully supports the M5Stack Core2.

3. Install the Required Libraries

Now let’s add the libraries we need:

1. Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
2. Search for and install the following libraries one by one:
3. M5Unified — (Essential for controlling the Core2 screen, touch, and hardware)
4. Adafruit_AMG88xx — For the AMG8833 thermal camera sensor
5. After installing, restart the Arduino IDE to make sure everything loads properly.

Note: In this version of the project, we’re focusing only on the AMG8833 thermal sensor, so we don’t need the distance sensor or IMU libraries right now.

Step 4: Download and Upload the Code

1. Copy the Code Copy the attached below
2. Paste it into Arduino IDE Open a new sketch (File > New) and paste the entire code.
3. Select the Correct Board and Port
4. Go to Tools > Board > M5Stack Arduino > M5Stack-Core2
5. Connect your M5Stack Core2 to your computer using a USB-C cable.
6. Go to Tools > Port and select the port that appears (it usually starts with COM on Windows or /dev/tty on macOS/Linux).
7. Upload the Code
8. Click the Upload button (the right arrow icon) in the toolbar.
9. Wait while it compiles and uploads.
10. When you see “Done uploading” at the bottom, you’re good to go!

Quick Tip: If you get any errors during upload, double-check that you selected M5Stack-Core2 as the board and the correct COM port. Also make sure the USB cable supports data transfer (some charging-only cables don’t work).

🎉 Congratulations! Your Thermal Camera is Ready!

You did it! Your compact wireless thermal camera is now fully assembled and programmed.

Time to Test It Out

Let’s bring it to life with some real fun tests:

1. Test with a Flame Light a candle or a burning incense stick and slowly bring it near the AMG8833 sensor You should immediately see a bright, glowing thermal image of the flame on the screen — with a strong hot center in red/yellow and cooler areas in blue/green. Move the flame around and watch how beautifully the colors change in real time!
2. Check Electronic Components Point the camera at your Raspberry Pi, laptop, or any electronic motherboard while it’s running. You’ll clearly see the hotspots on the board — especially around the CPU, voltage regulators, or any chips that are working hard. This is perfect for spotting overheating components without touching anything.
3. Measure Without Contact Try pointing it at different objects: a hot cup of tea, your hand, a running motor, or even the back of your phone while charging. Watch how the colors shift and the temperature distribution changes in real time.
4. Record Thermal Footage While viewing something interesting (like a CPU under load or a hot component), tap the RECORD button on the screen (or use the red RECORD button on the web interface). Let it run for a while to capture thermal throttling or heat buildup. Then tap STOP and download the recording from your phone or laptop via the webpage. You can later open the CSV file to analyze how the temperature changed over time.

Pro Tip: For the best results, keep the sensor about 15–40 cm away from the object. The closer you get, the more detailed the thermal image becomes.

How to Connect and View Live Thermal Video:

1. Attach the Device (Optional) You can stick the M5Stack Core2 on the back of your phone using double-sided tape or a small phone holder. It feels like a professional phone attachment!
2. Connect to the Camera’s WiFi On your phone, go to WiFi settings and connect to the network: Network Name (SSID): ThermalCam Password: 12345678
3. Open the Live Stream Open any web browser on your phone (Chrome, Safari, etc.) and type in the address: http://192.168.4.1
4. Enjoy Real-Time Thermal Video You will now see the live thermal video streaming directly from the camera — smooth, full color, and in real time!
5. You can move the camera around and watch the heat signatures update instantly on your phone screen.
6. Record Wirelessly On the beautiful web interface, simply tap the big ● RECORD button (red). The camera will start recording the thermal video stream to its SD card. When you're done, tap ■ STOP. Then tap ↓ DOWNLOAD to save the recording directly to your phone as a CSV file.

1. Turn on your M5Stack Core2. It will automatically create a WiFi Access Point named ThermalCam.
2. Connect from Your Phone or Laptop
3. On your phone or laptop, go to WiFi settings.
4. Connect to the network: SSID:ThermalCamPassword:12345678
5. Open the Live Thermal Video Open any web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) and type the following address:
6. http://192.168.4.1
7. You should now see the live thermal video streaming in real time from the AMG8833 sensor.
8. Test on Phone
9. Hold the camera and point it at different objects (hot coffee, your hand, electronics, etc.).
10. Watch the thermal image update smoothly on your phone screen.
11. Try walking around — the wireless connection remains stable within ~10–15 meters.
12. Test on Laptop
13. Connect your laptop to the ThermalCam WiFi.
14. Open the browser and go to http://192.168.4.1.
15. The larger screen gives you a better view of temperature details.
16. Great for detailed inspection of circuit boards or heat leaks.
17. Wireless Recording Test
18. On the web page, click the big red ● RECORD button.
19. Point the camera at something interesting (e.g., a running Raspberry Pi or a hot component).
20. Let it record for 10–30 seconds.
21. Click ■ STOP.
22. Then click ↓ DOWNLOAD — the recording will be saved directly to your phone or laptop as a CSV file.

What You Can Test Remotely

1. Heat distribution on electronic boards (without touching)
2. Hotspots in electrical panels
3. Insulation leaks in walls
4. Temperature of motors or appliances
5. Human hand thermal signature (as shown in the simulation)

Tip: For the best wireless performance, stay within 8–12 meters line-of-sight. The camera hosts its own WiFi, so it works even without any home router.

You now have a fully functional pocket-sized wireless thermal camera that you can control and view from both your phone and laptop!