An infrared thermometer is excellent for gauging temperatures from a short distance. There are plenty of contact thermometers, but you may not always be in a situation where physical contact is ideal. Whether for safety or convenience having the right thermometer is essential.
Having an infrared thermometer allows for taking things like body temperature or finding out the temperature of a particular component. As it turns out, there are plenty of things to like – and a few that aren’t great – about using infrared thermometers.
What is an Infrared Thermometer?
Before you go and start looking for an infrared thermometer from a vendor like RS, you should probably know what an infrared thermometer is and how it works. We know that it has industrial, medical, and even personal applications. That’s because it uses infrared radiation to determine the temperature of a surface area.
Depending on the type of infrared thermometer, there may be additional options or modes to choose from. Certain infrared thermometers are also more capable of getting readings from afar than others. Now that we know a bit more about it, there are plenty of good things about using infrared thermometers to get a temperature reading.
Pro: Very Simple
Despite how complicated it might sound an infrared thermometer is actually quite easy to use. They come with a handle and a trigger, so you just have to aim and pull the trigger. Keep in mind that you have to be within a certain distance for it to work and provide an accurate reading.
Con: Potentially Harmful to the Eyes
One of the more common applications of infrared thermometers is to measure body temperature. Because these infrared waves can be delivered at high power, it is critical to keep them away from the eyes. Body temperatures should be taken on the hand, forehead, or another safe body part.
Pro: No Contact
Maybe the single biggest benefit of an infrared thermometer is that there is no contact needed. There are plenty of other thermometers that require physical touch – think back to those glass thermometers that go under the tongue – which can be less than ideal depending on the situation.
An infrared thermometer doesn’t need to touch the surface it is pointed at. In tighter spaces or surfaces that can get dangerously hot, being able to keep a safe distance can be necessary for remaining safe in that setting.
Con: Less Accuracy
Depending on the distance from the surface in question, infrared thermometers may come back with less than accurate measurements. On top of that, interruptions to line of sight could make it more difficult to get a reading at all. Moreover, moving out of range can create improper readings as well.
Pro: Very Fast Measurement
While there may be more accurate infrared thermometers out there, those can come with a bit of a lag when it comes to providing a reading. The beauty of infrared thermometers is that they deliver a mostly accurate reading within just a few seconds. That’s because they use an RTD, thermistor, or thermocouple, which provides a faster measurement and wastes less time.
Con: Limited Surface Range
Infrared thermometers are most ideal for measuring surface temperatures. You would generally want to use one on your body or some kind of material surface. These will not work for liquids or gases, which will facilitate the need for another thermometer. Also, if the surface in question has not been properly cleaned ahead of time, it can throw off the reading a bit. The variables can be tough to counter at times.
