IR Thermometers

[JCsPlumbing]

Any recommendations or ones to avoid?

Thanks.

J.C.

[killavolt]

Avoid the cheap ones. Seriously though, Fluke, Raytek and Thermoworks are all good ones. Features a plumber or HVAC tech would be interested in are: type k thermocouple (faster, more accurate) adjustable emissivity (for testing a variety of materials) MAX, MIN, AVG, DIF and HOLD functions +/- 1% accuracy and a backlight for readability in low light conditions. Expect to pay $120 and up for a good one. Sorry not to answer your question about which to avoid but if you stick with a name brand, quality and service should be guaranteed. Just like with Ridgid Tools. If you've never owned one, you'll be amazed at the uses you can find for it from plumbing, automotive, HVAC and around the house.

[PLUMBER RICK]

i even use mine for drain cleaning:confused:

picture a 3 or more story building. you clear a stoppage on the upper floor fixture and don't know if it's actually draining or possibly backing up into a lower unit:eek:

if they're not home below, i will use my ir thermometer and shoot the waste pipe riser in the garage area below. i run hot water and get a temperature reading. if the waste line is warmer than the surrounding waste lines, i'm draining. the laser spotter is great and i can do it all without a ladder;)

rick.

[drtyhands]

Rick,What brand is yours:p

I bought a $75.00 craftsman.
First thing I did when I got it home was water heater flexes.Worked good up close.

Real world?
The sight cone expands too fast.Worthless at distance.
Reflexion is an issue.
Tailiece example:plastic trap riser and adapter gives good reading.As soon as you raise the laser up to the chrome tailpiece it changes.So your not getting a true reading on reflective radius.
I saved my packing box and reciept.I cannot trust this one for my intended use.

[ToUtahNow]

I use a Raytek MX which has an adjustable emissivity setting for different materials. Raytek is now part of Fluke so it would be one of their 570 series.

Mark

[plumberscrack]

I just bought the Ridgid IR-100

I'm less than happy with it. Can't change from Celsius to Fahrenheit :mad:

Seems less quality than the Raytek it replaced

[PLUMBER RICK]

I just bought the Ridgid IR-100

I'm less than happy with it. Can't change from Celsius to Fahrenheit :mad:

Seems less quality than the Raytek it replaced

did you read manual;)

http://www.ridgid.com/ASSETS/DED72422BAEA4457918459A417137C11/Microray_Thermometer_Man[1].pdf


it's pushing the function key and scrolling from c to f:D

if all else fails, i'll show you at the roundup.

go team geritol;)

rick.

[NHMaster3015]

Fluke

[OkieBill]

Fluke as well here.

Customers love it on the HVAC side when you put the laser on the register in the room with 10' ceilings:D (The averaging area at these distances makes the readings little more then a novelty though)



Mark: How can you dial in emissivity without knowing the actual temperature of the surface to start with:p

Bill

[papadan]

I use mine mostly for motors and gear boxes on cranes, but have checked a few pipes. Works great in C or F, has a range from -33c to +250c. I use it almost every day and it has never failed me. OK, I got my ear plugs in, so you guys can give me chit now. My IR thermometer is a Cen-Tech from HF, #93984 and with a coupon it cost me $19.95. :o:cool::D

[plumberscrack]

did you read manual;)

http://www.ridgid.com/ASSETS/DED72422BAEA4457918459A417137C11/Microray_Thermometer_Man[1].pdf


it's pushing the function key and scrolling from c to f:D

if all else fails, i'll show you at the roundup.

go team geritol;)

rick.

Followed them step by step and when I change it to F the screen just goes blank :banghead:

Anita tried it also..... so it's not just me

I need to learn the Celsius scale anyways :shrug:

[PLUMBER RICK]

bill, bring it next week. i'm sure one of the engineers will be thrilled to see what is wrong and swap it out.

rick.

[drtyhands]

bill, bring it next week. i'm sure one of the engineers will be thrilled to see what is wrong and swap it out.

rick.
Hey you know what

I got a tubing cutter wheel on my 151's that doesn't cut like it used to when I bought it.
Think I can get one of those same engineers to put a new one on?

[JCsPlumbing]

Hey you know what

I got a tubing cutter wheel on my 151's that doesn't cut like it used to when I bought it.
Think I can get one of those same engineers to put a new one on?

:rotflmao1:

I doubt it. :grin-devilish:

J.C.

[PLUMBER RICK]

adam, you know that the ir that bill just purchased is brand new. it's either user error:o

or a flaw in the electronics.

your tubing cutter is just plain worn in.

are we still challenging bill to a tubing cutter race:rolleyes:

his stolen miwaukee 12 volt cutter against our #15 ridgid tubing cutter;)

bill if you can beat me in my own game, i'll buy you a new one;)

but when you lose, you owe me milkshakes at every meal:D and yes we will have to compete wednesday so i can stack the shakes up. 3 a day wednesday through sunday afternoon;)

you in or out:confused:

3 pieces of 1/2'', 3- 3/4'' and 3-1''. m,l,k. 9 pieces total to cut.

rick.

[JCsPlumbing]

adam, you know that the ir that bill just purchased is brand new. it's either user error:o

or a flaw in the electronics.

your tubing cutter is just plain worn in.

are we still challenging bill to a tubing cutter race:rolleyes:

his stolen miwaukee 12 volt cutter against our #15 ridgid tubing cutter;)

bill if you can beat me in my own game, i'll buy you a new one;)

but when you lose, you owe me milkshakes at every meal:D and yes we will have to compete wednesday so i can stack the shakes up. 3 a day wednesday through sunday afternoon;)

you in or out:confused:

3 pieces of 1/2'', 3- 3/4'' and 3-1''. m,l,k. 9 pieces total to cut.

rick.

No vises set up, right?

J.C.

[drtyhands]

Rick,they're not made for speed.Anyone can beat'em.
You want speed?Use a battery circular and carbide blade(better wear eye protection).
They're for workin in a 18" crawlspace doin a copper repipe.Layin on your belly.Or angle stoppin 10 houses a day in tract work.

[ToUtahNow]

Mark: How can you dial in emissivity without knowing the actual temperature of the surface to start with:p

Bill

It came with a book which told you which rocker pins needed to be set in which position depending on which material you were measuring. If I was checking a A/C I would just set the rockers for painted steel.

Mark

[PLUMBER RICK]

No vises set up, right?

J.C.

you want in on the contest too:confused:

i'll take on bill and adam will take you on.

this will be in the open. free hand. not in a cramped up against the joist work area.

just a speed cutting contest holding the pipe free hand.

adam, what you drinking:D

it will be like taking candy from a baby:rolleyes:

rick.

[JCsPlumbing]

you want in on the contest too:confused:

i'll take on bill and adam will take you on.

this will be in the open. free hand. not in a cramped up against the joist work area.

just a speed cutting contest holding the pipe free hand.

adam, what you drinking:D

it will be like taking candy from a baby:rolleyes:

rick.

Actually, none of the contests interest me at all. Hope that doesn't disappoint.

Just thinking about how Mr. Bill will do against you with his power cutter. :rolleyes:

Meeting good people with similar interests is the most interesting to me. :)

J.C.

[ToUtahNow]

Okay guys let's ease up on the kid from the short bus. I have asked you before to respect his limitations.

Thanks-Mark

[drtyhands]

Okay guys let's ease up on the kid from the short bus. I have asked you before to respect his limitations.

Thanks-Mark

Sorry,
I forgot again.:confused:

[shock1964]

I tried a ridgid one and returned it after only a few days and got a fluke instead. I am very happy with my fluke and use it for everything from checking for hot/cold cross-connections to discharge air temps at ceiling diffusers and radiant tube heaters. It has made lots of troubleshooting tasks easier.

[plumberscrack]

I tried a ridgid one and returned it after only a few days and got a fluke instead. I am very happy with my fluke and use it for everything from checking for hot/cold cross-connections to discharge air temps at ceiling diffusers and radiant tube heaters. It has made lots of troubleshooting tasks easier.

Shock, what was the reason for returning the Ridgid and spending twice as much for the Fluke?

[toolaholic]

$300.00 Ra tech about 5 years ago. it rocks. Here are some uses You might not think of.
Race track ,ferriers hit each hoof while shoeing. High temp.= hoof disease.
Large 3 phase motors in factory's. Hit bearing ends. change hot ones before failure.
Mine can hook up a lap top to record history of components. MY FAVORITE, when the grandchildren come. Have them hit the freezer, stove ,light bulbs, Grampas BALD HEAD!
Try the Kids, they have a ball, and learn. One more,on Large trucks! They hit the radiator cores to find blockages! NO RICK , K-60 WONT HELP HERE!

[lmpg]

I've got the fluke.

I've found leaks under slabs, both hot water and chilled water. Of course, the sweating floor helped with the chilled leak.

It also saved my arse when I pulled my boat to table rock lake last summer.

I replaced all 4 sets of bearings and races. The morning I left, I couldn't sleep so I got up around 4AM and hit the road.

I stopped 20 mi into the trip and found one hub getting hot. I was laying along the side of the interstate, in the dark with a thunderstorm approaching, trying to figure out what was going on. The last thing I wanted to do was tear down a wheel in the dark. That's when I noticed the temp got hotter as I swept the therm. out towards the brake drum. I adjusted the shoes in and it cooled right back down to temps like the other wheels showed.

If I hadn't had it with me, I probably would have wasted a bunch of time taking things apart.

They are a good piece of equipment to have in your tool box.

[papadan]

$300.00 Ra tech about 5 years ago. it rocks. Here are some uses You might not think of.
Race track ,ferriers hit each hoof while shoeing. High temp.= hoof disease.
Large 3 phase motors in factory's. Hit bearing ends. change hot ones before failure.
Mine can hook up a lap top to record history of components. MY FAVORITE, when the grandchildren come. Have them hit the freezer, stove ,light bulbs, Grampas BALD HEAD!
Try the Kids, they have a ball, and learn. One more,on Large trucks! They hit the radiator cores to find blockages! NO RICK , K-60 WONT HELP HERE!
Almost every day!:D

[Bob D.]

I used mine to find a brake caliper that was hanging up intermittently. Compared the rotor temps and found the dragging caliper right away.
Rotor temp was almost twice that of the other three.

At work we use them every day to monitor equipment breakers, check for overheating relay coils, and many other uses.

[shock1964]

Shock, what was the reason for returning the Ridgid and spending twice as much for the Fluke?
The fluke actually felt a lot more durable for one thing, I just did not like the feel of the Ridgid tool, and the fluke has a longer range of accuracy.
Usually I prefer ridgid handtools over other brands, but for electronic testers, meters, etc. fluke is all I will buy from now on just based on experience with other brands.

[toolaholic]

1959 Eichler Radiant. We have this home. I cranked up the boiler,and found a 6 degree high where the 3/8" copper lines were. One side had settled 3 ". Jacked it up and welded off chance helicales. core drilled between lines and poured fly ash grout in void.