Digital infrared thermometer up to 1,600 °C

With this infrared thermometer you can measure temperatures without touching the workpiece. The range runs from -50 to 1,600 °C, so you can handle both the forge and the melting furnace. The device is also known as an infrared temperature gauge, laser thermometer or IR pyrometer.

How the measuring works

Every surface emits infrared radiation. A lens in the meter captures that radiation and converts the amount into a temperature on the display. Because you don't have to touch the object, you can take measurements where contact is impossible.

What sets this model apart is the upper limit of 1,600 °C. Comparable meters often don't come close to that.

Setting the emissivity

The quality of the meter isn't the only thing that determines how accurately you measure. The measuring surface counts just as much, because it determines how much infrared radiation from the surroundings is reflected back. Matte and dull surfaces reflect little, while shiny surfaces reflect a lot. This property is called emissivity.

You set the emissivity yourself, between 0.1 and 1. By default the meter is set to 0.95. Below are the values per surface.

• Skin: 0.98
• Water: 0.92 to 0.96
• Ice: 0.96 to 0.98
• Asphalt and tar: 0.95 to 1.00
• Plastic: 0.90 to 1.00
• Glass: 0.85 to 1.00
• Steel, oxidised: 0.80
• Iron, oxidised: 0.78 to 0.84
• Copper, oxidised: 0.78
• Brass, oxidised: 0.56 to 0.64
• Aluminium, oxidised: 0.40
• Zinc, galvanised: 0.28

Measuring distance and interference

The optical ratio expresses the relationship between the measuring surface and the measuring distance. On cheaper meters it is around 1:1, on more expensive models around 1:50, which amounts to a measuring spot of 1 cm at a distance of 50 cm.

Hold the meter between 25 and 45 cm from the surface. At high temperatures, keep a distance of 35 cm. Make sure there are no other heat sources nearby, because they emit infrared radiation themselves. Also avoid standing in front of a window while measuring: you would then be measuring the heat of the glass.

Aiming lasers

The meter has two aiming lasers instead of one. That way you not only see which point you are measuring, but also how large the measuring spot is that you are reading at that moment.

Specifications

• Temperature range: -50 up to and including 1,600 °C
• Deviation: ± 2%
• Emissivity: 0.1 to 1.0, adjustable
• Wavelength: 500 ms and 8 to 14 um
• Display resolution: 0.1 °C / 0.1 °F
• Storage temperature: -20 to 50 °C
• Aiming lasers: 2
• Dimensions: 122 x 56 x 180 mm
• Battery: 9V
• Units: Celsius and Fahrenheit, adjustable
• Functions: battery voltage indicator, low alarm, adjustable backlight, data hold, automatic switch-off, high and low temperature alarm, maximum, minimum, average and differential measurement
• Included: storage bag and manual