Cheap Laser Temp Gun

   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #1  

DFB

Elite Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
2,897
Location
Southern VT, Southern ME
Tractor
John Deere 4100 HST /410 FEL, R4s
So quite a while back we had a good long thread on the Non Contact Infrared Thermometers when I was looking to buy one. I was really concerned about their accuracy at that time. Online reviews seemed to be all over the board. It was like a hit and miss it seemed.

And I did get one that I have been very pleased with for several years. It was on the higher end in price as these things go for now but had a plethora of features also like averaging, high and low point settings with sound, adjustable emissivity and 10 position log, among other features. I have a radiant heat system so I've used it often to constantly monitor room temp and floor temp check the accuracy of my mixing valve water temp at the circulating valve and return lines.

Anyhow I wanted a second one to bring to work double check things like the storage cooler temps in the packing building and heating areas in the new store. In my line of work produce handling temps can sometimes be critical so its good to stay aware on these things.

Seeing these things are kind of fragile, I didn't want to take the chance of have that more expensive one ruined or end up missing somehow. Stuff like that seems to happen easily where I work (sad to say so) I decided to get a cheap one to toss in my tool pouch. One less than $20.00 I decided on. And it seems like the reviews are steadily getting better on a lot of the inexpensive choices and one in particular caught my eye. I especially like it had a full overmold on the unit too. And my short review...for the money sans multiple features it reads every bit as accurate as the other gun both either matching the exact reading or with in a 10th or 2 tenths every single time. Its a less ranging unit with no adjustable emissivity, no case and a lot smaller overall but I am going to give it a 5 star recommendation. And it did come with a battery too!

A note here... When I first tried it not very long after it was delivered it read off by 10 degrees but as it acclimated to the indoor temperature the accuracy improved to match exactly the other gun readings, a digital thermostat, and a spring thermometer.

IR themometer.jpg
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #2  
I bought a Ryobe from Home Despot. Seems to work well and was fairly cheap.
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #3  
I have the one from Harbor Freight. It does good, too. I got it with a coupon for around $30.
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #5  
My Ryobi is green..Has a detachable battery with an external charger.
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #6  
Infrared thermometers are great tools. Since in my line of work exact temperature was not too important I bought a simple one on line for about $25. It is great tool to find bad connections in electrical switch gear or hot spots in electronic systems, troubleshoot heating and cooling, operation of compressors, steam and gas turbines (did that for living). Also great for grilling.
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun
  • Thread Starter
#7  
My Ryobi is green..Has a detachable battery with an external charger.

Rechargable? Now that is interesting. Milwaukee Tool has a couple of units under $100 but oddly enough even though it looks like they could be part of their 12V cordless tool line (which I have plenty of) they both still use AA batteries.
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #8  
I've got a Power Fist, it cost me $100.oo a few years ago. It measures temps from -60C to 500C or -76Fto932F. I got it for measuring the temperature of liquid asphalt when I was loading. The old spit on the pipe test worked, but only to temps of about 350F.
 
   / Cheap Laser Temp Gun #9  

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