Cheap Laser Temp Gun

[DFB]

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.

 

[timswi]

I bought a Ryobe from Home Despot. Seems to work well and was fairly cheap.

 

[Redbug]

I have the one from Harbor Freight. It does good, too. I got it with a coupon for around $30.

 

[DFB]

I see online two different Ryobi a green one and the older blue one.

 

[timswi]

My Ryobi is green..Has a detachable battery with an external charger.

 

[Redneck in training]

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.

 

[DFB]

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.

 

[Looking4new]

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.

 

[timswi]

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.

Home Depot - Tek4 Professional 4-Volt Infrared Thermometer customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings

 

[polo1665]

Home Depot - Tek4 Professional 4-Volt Infrared Thermometer customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings

Looked good to me, but says it is now discontinued.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Anyone ever use theirs to check the bearing temperature of your tractors turbo during cool down? It would solve the question about just how much idle time after hard work is needed to avoid turbo damage.

 

[aczlan]

I have one of these: Amazon.com: BAFX Products Non Contact Infrared (IR) Thermometer Range of -58F to 1,022F Includes Battery: Industrial & Scientific that I have been very happy with for the past 2 years.

Aaron Z

 

[DFB]

Anyone ever use theirs to check the bearing temperature of your tractors turbo during cool down? It would solve the question about just how much idle time after hard work is needed to avoid turbo damage.

Sounds like an interesting application for the tool.

 

[newbury]

I have the one from Harbor Freight. It does good, too. I got it with a coupon for around $30.

I've bought two of the HF when they were marked down to $25 or less plus a 25% off coupon.

Anyone ever use theirs to check the bearing temperature of your tractors turbo during cool down? It would solve the question about just how much idle time after hard work is needed to avoid turbo damage.

No, but I use it to check my trailer and truck tire temps when I'm hauling. Lately it's usage was to check interior temps when we had subfreezing weather.
I keep a standard, accurate old style thermometer hanging in a shop and check them against that every so often. Always spot on.

It also makes a great toy for our Corgi who chases the red dot ALL over.

 

[tjcarguy]

Princess auto has em 20$ next week had a couple work fine, get lost easily or find legs ---Trevor

 

[heviduty]

Keep in mind the reading you get is not what is within the laser dot, but the average of temps within a circle whose origin or edge is the dot (depending on model). The diameter of this circle is determined by the distance from the gun to the object divided by the distance to spot ratio.

Cheaper guns usually have a low distance to spot ratio. For a quick reading of things close by, a D:S ratio of 12:1 or even 8:1 works fine, but to check the temp of a small object from several feet away, you may want to step up to a D:S of at least 30:1. But for 20 bucks who's complaining.

Also, infrared energy reflects just like visible light, which can cause shiny objects to give false readings.

 

[DFB]

I have the 30:1 on my WIC branded CEM

Several years back (TBN thread link in my original post) there was a whole series of the different CEM models being sold on Amazon at that time. It was like a one time deal maybe something similar will come around again sometime.

CEM,professional measuring instruments manufacturer,Shenzhen Everbest Machinery-Products

The one I have the DT8838H is super accurate to within 1.5* degrees across the ranges I use it at and matches the temp gauge exact just beyond the circulator pump when I scan the pump.

Now the cheapy $20.00 one is reading about 15 degrees less when I measure the same point but I think its due to some reflectiveness with the semi gloss black paint on the pump :confused3: It does seem to depends on the surface I'm reading.


Like it been said it is the reflectiveness of material that can create readout problems for users. Dark non reflective colors seem to read best especially with fixed emissivity. Sometimes a piece of black tape can make a big difference in taking the reading. I can make the two sensor guns I have match almost exact most times but not always, and flat black or a brown or dark blue surfaces seems to work better than others to get more uniform readings.

I do notice the more expensive unit has a shiny reflective disc in the tube...looks like a mirror almost, where as the cheapy unit has a like an opaque plastic disc. Does that make a difference? (I wouldn't begin to know.)


Let me tell ya though I have a laser tach and its just the opposite you need a good piece of reflective tape to get a truly accurate reading


I kind of kick myself not trying another one at the time for the prices the were ranging from $34.99 (8:1 range) to around $89.00 if I remember right. They even had a 50:1 model. I just looked its still available. I was a hit or miss in a way though. I did return the first one they sent at the time because the laser wouldn't come on no matter how I pressed the button but the replacement has been flawless, even has the original battery still.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've bought two of the HF when they were marked down to $25 or less plus a 25% off coupon.


No, but I use it to check my trailer and truck tire temps when I'm hauling. Lately it's usage was to check interior temps when we had subfreezing weather.
I keep a standard, accurate old style thermometer hanging in a shop and check them against that every so often. Always spot on.

It also makes a great toy for our Corgi who chases the red dot ALL over.

Thank you for answering my question before I asked it. I've often wondered if one of these would be accurate enough... It seems a lot cheaper than finding out that my front end is out AFTER ruining a $250 tire.