Infrared Thermometer Choice ?

Uglysquirrel · Post by **Uglysquirrel** » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 6:13 pm

A quick search did'nt suggest this was not talked about too much before so here goes.

Does anyone have experience with these new "no touch" infrared thermometers ? My local Harbor freight store has a Cen-Tech (96452) for $39 and Amazon has several in the same price range including shipping. Most of these go up to ~ 950 deg F so measuring the stove wall and pipe would be duck soup. I guess the cone ratio is important with this Cen-Tech having a 8:1 ratio while some others having 12:1 (measures a 1" diameter spot at 12" away). Any info on your experiences with these type units is appreciated.

Thanks, Bruce

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 6:31 pm

Hi Bruce,, you won't notice the 'cone' spread very much.. I'd just get the one that is least expensive.. or convenient to buy.

Greg L.

VigIIPeaBurner · Post by **VigIIPeaBurner** » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 6:49 pm

Infrared, aka IR, is the way to go imho. I bought a Micro Temp MTPRO, 11:1 and up to ~ 950F last season when I began to doubt my third mag stove top thermometer. Price isn't exact but I think it was ~ $45-50 delivered. There are cheeper uints available. I don't think the ratio is that important if you keep it in mind when you use it. The mag calibrated okay at 210 suspended in boiling water but the fires looked/felt hotter. Turns out it was reading low by about 20+% compared to the IR unit. I use one at work that is NIST traceable and they read identically. Not only can I tell the stove and pipe skin temperates (from my chair - is there any other way?

) but I've found and sealed a lot of little leaks around the doors and windows. Also used it to balance my AC this past summer. Great tool.

zeeklu · Post by **zeeklu** » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 8:17 pm

I bought mine at Sears. Works great.http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03450466000P Chris

coalishot · Post by **coalishot** » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 8:26 pm

mine.

high quality starts at $100.00. There is a difference. However if just using on your stove a cheaper one will do. even a digital touch model would be ok,

Post by **Lightning** » Tue. Nov. 18, 2014 8:00 pm

I see this is an old thread. What model are you guys using for measuring stove and flue pipe temps?

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Tue. Nov. 18, 2014 8:16 pm

Lightning wrote:I see this is an old thread. What model are you guys using for measuring stove and flue pipe temps?

... the son of a gun (no pun intended), even came with a battery! It's 3 yrs old and works fine.

http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Non-Contact-Temperature ... hermometer

Post by **Lightning** » Tue. Nov. 18, 2014 8:56 pm

Thanks Mike

I've read that some IR guns have some difficulty with particular surfaces. How does this one do?

Sleeper735 · Post by **Sleeper735** » Tue. Nov. 25, 2014 8:19 pm

You know they don't work on anything shinny or glass. Also I found they are highly inaccurate I do commercials hvac The one I have is about 300. I am also a firefighter I can tell you even our $10,000 thermal iminging camera does the same exact thing then you will see what is reflecting.