ir thermometer?

[buffalobill]

Looking for a good IR thermometer, don't want cheap, would like something that will last a few years. Suggestions?

 

[srvctec]

I really like my Kintrex IRT0421. I've had it for several years and don't use it a lot but every time I do it works great. The selling point for me was the fact it runs on 2 AAA batteries. I put in a pair of Energizer lithium several years ago when I got it and they are still going strong- in fact the battery indicator still shows full.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I've had this Raytek for years. I bought it for working on cars. And when it's not doing that, it's in the kitchen! VERY handy for checking temps of hot cooking items.

Just for the heckuvit, I looked for this Raytek on Amazon, and I see it has 4.7 (out of 5) star rating. I guess most other folks like it too. It's $62.95 at Amazon.......

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[ihateminimumwage]

Fluke 59 is about $35-40. It's what I've been running for years.

 

[metaldad]

i like fluke

 

[rlitman]

I don't understand spending more than $30 on one of these when you can get a FLIR that works with an iPhone for under $100.

 

[rlitman]

Well, more expensive may get you better distance:spot ratio than the HF unit, but there's a diminishing return.

 

[UpNorther]

I have 3 of the Ryobi $30 ones, each at a different jobsite for work.
For $30 they've worked great, 4 years and still running.

 

[unslow1]

I have one I spent $100 for. The cheap ones I have of various brands all read the same as it.

 

[CudaChick1968]

I've had this Raytek for years. I bought it for working on cars. And when it's not doing that, it's in the kitchen! VERY handy for checking temps of hot cooking items.

Just for the heckuvit, I looked for this Raytek on Amazon, and I see it has 4.7 (out of 5) star rating. I guess most other folks like it too. It's $62.95 at Amazon.......

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X2. I've had it for almost 11 years and have changed the 9 volt three times. I use it often throughout the day when I'm curing powders.

 

[nikerret]

I have this one:
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/infrared-thermometers/121-infrared-thermometer

It a bit large, but has nice features and seems accurate.

 

[Shredwagon]

The good ones use a reflectivity coefficient you enter based on the density of material being measured. Can make upwards of a 25% difference in temp reading (i.e. steel manifold or rubber coolant hose). None of the ones above fall into the "accurate" category. Snap-on are accurate and come with the leads needed to figure out the coefficient for any material not listed. Takes some practice - and using the gun is not intuitive. I'm sure their suppliers brand is cheaper (S. Korea) - but I already had the 14.4V batteries and it came with a 4 or 5 (?) year warranty.

 

[rlitman]

The good ones use a reflectivity coefficient you enter based on the density of material being measured. Can make upwards of a 25% difference in temp reading (i.e. steel manifold or rubber coolant hose)...

It is "emissivity", and is based on the nature of the material and the texture of the surface, not density. However, if you do not know the material's emissivity, how do you think you can accurately get an IR reading from it?

You could take a surface temperature reading if you have a surface reading thermocouple (though those, by their very nature are far less accurate than an immersion thermometer), and calibrate off of that, but that calibration would only be good for that particular surface. Point the gun elsewhere with the emissivity setting, and it would be off again. Anyway, if you have a surface reading thermometer and need that kind of accuracy, why would you be using an IR thermometer.

At 0.95 emissivity (the standard number for painted surfaces), I've seen a polished stainless frying pan read at 120F when a water drop would skitter around on it's surface (around 450F). That's WAY more than 25% off BTW.

The only good answer I have, is to only trust readings off of surfaces that are around 0.95 emissivity. At that point, any no-name IR gun is going to be as good as a Snap On branded one.

 

[guy48065]

(SNIP) At that point, any no-name IR gun is going to be as good as a Snap On branded one.

I don't trust any IR gun unless I KNOW the emissivity of the target--as in, read it on a spec sheet.
95% is flat black--like the coolant hose example already mentioned (unless you are the type that sprays your hoses with Armor-All). They are calibrated against a "black body calibrator"...~95%. Few things we measure are ever that non-reflective, but rarely does anyone compensate the emissivity setting.
A true 1.00 (100% emissivity) source would **** you in and deposit you in another dimension.

 

[gungatim]

I have an expensive one from HF. It was about $36 IIRC, but it's been several years so it may be more expensive now. only changed the batteries once. has held up very well and definitely will last for years if you don't leave the batteries in it to leak (like anything with batteries). it does not come with a case though.

 

[sweet victory]

I've always used Fluke. I've had to use it to monitor preheat/interpass temps for welding procedures, and it has never let me down.

 

[Schurkey]

Mastercool 52225-A
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OCKHGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've had mine several years. The price was lower 'way back then.

Adjustable emissivity, comes with a thermocouple probe. Excellent distance-to-spot ratio, wide temperature range. The "kit" includes a thermometer and blow-molded box.

From the Amazon description:

The 52225-A Dual Temp Plus features both infrared and contact thermometer technologies. The infrared function includes advanced 30 : 1 optics to measure small targets at longer distances, laser targeting, programmable HI/LO alarms, adjustable emissivity and Lock Mode to capture temperature readings. The contact function offers a built-in K type jack and comes with a 3 ft. (1 meter) wire thermocouple probe.

Specifications:
• Non Contact Temperature Range: -76 to 1400˚F (-60 to 760˚C)
• Thermocouple Temperature Range: -83 to 1999˚F (-64 to 1400˚C)
• Field Of View: 30 : 1
• Display Illumination: Backlit LCD Color display
• Target Indicator: Single Laser Spot
• Emissivity: 0.10(10E) to 1.0 (100E)
• Resolution: 0.1˚F / 0.1˚C
• Modes: MIN, MAX, DIFF & AVG
• Accuracy: +/-2˚C (4˚F) or +/-2% of reading
• Thermocouple Probe Accuracy: +/-1% of reading or 1˚C (1.8˚F) whichever is greater
• Response Time: 1 seconds
• Power Off: Automatic after 60 seconds
• Battery Life: Approx. 14 hrs.
• Included Accessories: 2 AAA batteries, instruction manual, plastic molded carrying case and free dial thermometer

 

[rlitman]

I don't trust any IR gun unless I KNOW the emissivity of the target--as in, read it on a spec sheet.
95% is flat black--like the coolant hose example already mentioned (unless you are the type that sprays your hoses with Armor-All). They are calibrated against a "black body calibrator"...~95%. Few things we measure are ever that non-reflective, but rarely does anyone compensate the emissivity setting.
A true 1.00 (100% emissivity) source would **** you in and deposit you in another dimension.

Emissivity has no relationship with visible color.

Take a look here:
http://www.thermoworks.com/learning/emissivity_table

Aside from metals, almost everything in that chart is between 0.9 and 1.0.
That's why 0.95 is the default calibration point for most IR thermometers.

Also in that chart, both flat black paint and gloss grey were measured at 0.94.

The truth is that you can't expect super precision from an IR thermometer. It's a convenience that comes at a price. It has its uses, and for many uses it gets you close enough. Especially when considering that getting an accurate temperature measurement off of a solid surface is difficult to get accurately through any means.

But again, I don't understand spending $100 or more on a single point IR thermometer when you can get a thermal imager in that price range nowadays.

 

[JonnyMac]

My fluke has served me well. It has high,med,low options for emissivity. If you need balls on accuracy you should really use a contact type thermocouple.

 

[brownbagg]

the cheap one at lowes work pretty damn good. it was like $22 and has held up commerical work for three years within one degree of the high dollar units

 

[Coolabah]

My fluke has served me well. It has high,med,low options for emissivity. If you need balls on accuracy you should really use a contact type thermocouple.

totally agree with you on this. Love my Fluke- use it for a heap of stuff I never would have thought of ... eg where is the hot spot on the BBQ ? Balancing aircon vents at work, checking oil is up to temperature (also not too hot ! ) for cooking. Found an overloaded circuit on the fuseboard a year or so ago. Even scanned my wife and told her she was hot but she said she already knew that

 

[Bronson]

One of My best friends invented it.
He appreciates Your enthusiasm!!!!!!

 

[A-R-K]

Regarding accuracy, remember IR senors measure infrared light emitted or reflected from a surface. Surfaces which are mirrors in the infrared (most bare metals) will reflect IR quite well. So when you measure these things you'll see a combination of the emitted and reflected light, making it very inaccurate, regardless of the emissivity setting. Painted or diffuse surfaces can work quite well, but don't trust the reading on that stainless pan or copper pipes ;-)

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