Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun

[dylanmitchell]

I went through the GJ forums but only saw older posts about IR temp guns. Is the recommendation still the same? Buy Fluke for the accuracy or just buy something cheap since most have decent accuracy? Looking to spend around $100 for something accurate, that can survive drops from a few feet and is water-resistant. For shop/ garage/ home use do I need dual lasers or a K type thermocouple?

Looking at the Raytek MiniTemp MT6 for $100 at Tooltopia

vs the almost the same Fluke 62 Max also about a $100 from several sellers

vs the Fluke 62 Max plus with dual laser about $180 from several sellers

vs other suggestions.

FLIR TG165 Spot Thermal is more than I want to spend and Fluke max 64 has some added and some subtracted features vs the 62 max plus. And Max plus it's better than Max because it's Max plus... maybe we should get a new marketing department...

 

[LMS]

Check out https://www.thermoworks.com

 

[jayemm]

I've had the the Fluke 62 MAX+ for about 6 years and it's been great.My uses are strictly around home with occasional automotive.I think the only differences is that the 62 MAX only has one laser and is slightly less accurate.I chose the dual lasers as it shows the area (circle bounded by the two dots) being measured without having to guess.That and the adjustable emissivity (which I don't use too much.) Your stated price for it at 180$ seems pretty high even with the premium above the 62 MAX.It's really a nice tool and feel confident in it's accuracy.Would I buy it again?Probably not at today's prices (IIRC it was around 100$ or slightly under at the time,I wanna say 92$ from TEQ)

I'd skip the built in thermocouple option and instead have that separately whether as a separate digital thermometer or as a function included in a digital multimeter.If accuracy is important then a surface probe for flat surfaces and an immersion probe for liquids.The ones that are just a piece of thermocouple wire with a bead at the end are of limited use and will get soaked and retain liquid in the insulation.
Take your time and look around,research a bit and try to assess your needs.

 

[engineer2]

I believe in this price range they are all made in China. Go for adjustable emissivity for better accuracy with different materials. A narrow measuring angle is more useful in most cases. Not sure if any in this price range split the laser for indicating the circular target area. Nice feature to have. Keep in mind these types won't work well measuring the temp of aluminum parts.

 

[Hands001]

Get an Exergen D501, or if you want new stuff, Exergen DX501.... solid one time purchase.

 

[jayemm]

@engineer2 --- not just aluminum but shiny metal surfaces in general.Also won't read objects thru glass but gives glass temp instead.Regarding emissivity,I downloaded and printed out a chart which is kept in the case with the IR gun.As far as multiple laser dots it should be the area between the dots.
Yes,a narrow measuring angle is definitely nice.My 2 prior IR guns were cheaper 8:1 distance/spot ratio.My fluke is 12:1 and if I had to do it again a 20:1 would be best.That measuring area really grows in size the further away you are.

 

[jayemm]

Just checked old purchase records.When subtracting other items from the order the price for my 62 MAX+ would have been around 110$ not 92$ as previously stated.

 

[unslow1]

I have 6 or 7. They all read within a couple of degrees. The cheapest being $15 and two were nearly $200 each. I'll never buy an expensive one again.

 

[MattT]

I'll never buy an expensive one again.

It's difficult to justify spending good money on a temp gun these days. You can get a cheap thermal camera under three hundred.

 

[Badger 13]

I have a Raytech and very happy with it. Since I don't use it daily, I remove the battery when not in use.

 

[BiggityBen]

i use a cheap Mastercool one at work and it has been going strong for 7 years of about once a week use, spending the rest of its life bouncing around in a side cabinet of the F450 work truck. i think it was $50-60. i have a Fluke at home that is wonderful as well. i haven't put them head to head to see varying readings but i know the MC one is accurate enough as it is usually spot on with various temperature sensors the equipment i use it on has.

 

[DFB]

A lot of the "big names" are just rebrands anyhow.

I have both an inexpensive 300 series 12:1 Unitrend 300C discontinued for the 300S (compare certain Amprobe's to UNI models) and a more costly 30:1 CEM (DT8833H) which is looks to be the same as the REED Instruments R2005 on Amazon though I think I paid around $90 on a special at the time

https://www.uni-trend.com/html/product/Environmental/Infrared _Thermometer/

http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/Product/type2/id/685

Anyhow they both pretty much read the same across the ranges I've use them in within a few degrees of each other mainly +60-200F. I have a digital thermostat they easily match and I have gone higher in experiments like checking them against oven temp and they do seem to match up well to those settings +350-400 settings too

I also use them in the storage cooler at work to check temp in various parts of the room. Of course our refrigeration service tech also uses one cant recall what brand he had though, maybe Amprobe but wasn't a Fluke I do know.

My boss like to keep it at +32F usually were good within a few degrees all around, but my boss has to believe what he wants to believe and goes by an old tin Coca Cola thermometer hanging on wall, It always gives him the temp he wants 32F (that because it never moves)

I did buy a cheap MeasurePro just to compare, It was like less than $15 from Amazon. It is really nice in a way has good display, great rubberized handle and dead accurate at room temperature but off a good 25-30 degrees from the other 2 brands at +200F and way wacky on the higher temps.

Repeatability is the key on any of them and if you take repetitive measurements the readouts will change slightly that's why an averaging setting is sometimes useful.

Can you always expect total accurate temperature perfection not really, but experience can often tell you what need to know depending on the application.

I remember some years ago I had service tech take some measurements around my oil fired boiler system he had an expensive AMPROBE he looked so confused

 

[dylanmitchell]

Thanks. I'll take some time to look around and think about what I need. Thermoworks has good products and we have a Thermapen in the kitchen. 62 MAX+ will be more accurate vs 62 Max or Raytek MT6 I'll have to look around for pricing. Like the Exergen D501 the DX501 is similar in price to the FLIR TG165 but they are different types of devices. FLIR E4 is more but supposed to be hackable from the native 80 x 60 px 320 x 240 px. Most or all of these will be from China or other overseas country.

Brand wise I know Fluke and Raytek are good and Fluke owns Raytek, Thermoworks is good but some of their temp guns are slow, less familiar with Amprobe, Mastercool (HVAC targeted?), and Exergen (step up in quality?). Milwaukee has some too not sure if they make them or are rebranded.

 

[MattT]

FLIR E4 is more but supposed to be hackable from the native 80 x 60 px 320 x 240 px.

E4s were hackable. Then FLIR locked them down a few years ago. Might be a hack for the locked down models out now?? Best to check on whether current production can be hacked before pulling the trigger on one.

 

[jayemm]

I wasn't aware that Fluke owns Raytek but do understand that they own Amprobe.Supposedly some Fluke and Amprobe products are made in the same factory and calibrated in the same labs.My 62 MAX + is made in China and so is my Fluke 115 digital multimeter.Both are quality instruments and nice to use.It's also nice to have something you can trust so you're not second guessing the readings.
This thread reminds me when I was investigating cheap IR guns that I got one from the great Harbor Freight (at a whole 26$) to check out.It was pathetic.After making coffee I "shot" the steaming coffee grounds.It read 72*F. The digital kitchen thermometer read 118*F.It said a hot stove burner was 200*F. Total fail,it went back.Sometimes you don't even get what you paid for. LOL.

 

[Mr. T]

I have a raytek at home. It’s great. Have a fluke at work, it’s about the same. Just bought an Extech IR267 for work too. The extech is just as good and a little les money. From $50-$150 they’re all about the same quality and accuracy. I wouldn’t overspend especially if it’s just for around the house use.

Also the IR267s thermocouple input is pretty handy. Say, if you’re measuring air temp from a vent where the air flow warming or cooling the unit can change its reading.

 

[jayemm]

Just came across this.May be worth a shot.https://www.radwell.com/Shop?source...MIj5nwgaXF5wIVCpyzCh1eLQmREAQYBSABEgKET_D_BwE

 

[mfewtrail]

Whatever you end up with, it may be worth giving this a read through if you haven't used one before: https://www.fluke.com/en-us/learn/b...et-great-results-with-an-infrared-thermometer

 

[BukitCase]

I have one of the simpler Flukes, 3-4 of the $20 range HF, and a couple years ago wanted a few more whistles and bells + higher temp range, so bought one of these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZBCU2JG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've compared ALL of 'em to each other, and don't think I've ever seen more than a degree or two variance from ANY of 'em. I DO like the adjustable emissivity/dual spot/ higher range of the Ennotek, especially for the price... Steve

 

[vga]

I have 3 Flukes. I swear by them

 

[Professional Tool User]

I use cheap ones. Accuracy isn't a priority for me. I'm more interested in the change in temperature than temperature measurements.

 

[dylanmitchell]

Thanks for the info. I ordered a Raytek MT6 form Tooltopia. From what I've read it's equivalent to the Fluke 62max but can sell for less. The 62 Max/ Raytek MT6 is a step down from the dual laser 62 MAX+ and some of the other options. Will be using for shop and home use circuit breaker temp, basic vehicle troubleshooting, checking dryer exhaust temps, HVAC returns and supply vent temps, air leaks and drafts, surface temperature of the cat, things like that.