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#75037 02/12/07 07:21 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 311
F
Member
Can someone recommend a good infrared tester. I saw one on ebay for $39.00 but wasn't sure about the quality.

#75038 02/13/07 04:33 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
Frank:
Guess nobody has any comments. I have an 'old' unit I bought about 12 years + ago. It's still functioning, was made in England, & darned if I can remember the name.

It was 8-900.00 back then.

There's quite a few in the trade mag ads, and there may even be one or two on the home page.

John


John
#75039 02/13/07 05:33 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 680
W
Member
I'd comment but I have no idea what an infrared tester does?? [Linked Image] Temperature?

#75040 02/13/07 06:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Frank, assuming you mean an infra-red thermometer. I bought one for my Renault tractor badge project, -20 to 270C, c/w a laser pointer, for £38 [us$75] on the internet. Lots of features, F/C, auto shut off, accuracy +/- 2.5%, backlight. I am very pleased with it.
Unmarked brand, [ probably chinese], unfortunately, but very accurate, at least at low known temperatures [ pan of boiling water, wife, dog's nose!]. Problem is measuring hot shiny metal surfaces where the low emisivity of the metal fools the receiver, but that apart, easy to use, small, neat and still working. If buying on the www, which gives you massive choice and allows you to browsw exactly what you need, I avoid co.s using Paypal or similar. I got caught once. I always plumb for those having direct Mastercard/Amex etc.. Just my preference to avoid the guy running a business out of his spare room, where he has no stock and you wait for ever and a day for delivery.

Alan


Wood work but can't!
#75041 02/13/07 06:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 311
F
Member
I wanted to use it to detect potential "hot spots" in junction boxes. http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/aluminum.htm

#75042 02/13/07 09:35 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
I bought one for $30 at Harbor "Fright".
It does seem to work OK.


Greg Fretwell
#75043 02/13/07 10:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 209
H
Member
I got mine at Grainger to test hot spots in panels ...and to find heat duct that my drywall sub covered up
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?ItemId=1613596656

#75044 02/13/07 10:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 174
B
Member
Quote
Problem is measuring hot shiny metal surfaces where the low emisivity of the metal fools the receiver

To solve this problem place a piece of masking tape on the metal where you want to measure.Works really well as long as the temp of the metal is not extremely high.

#75045 02/13/07 10:45 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
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Fluke makes a good one roughly same price of the grainger item above. (Also sold there for ~$105 - but I have seen them for less at the supply house. ~$85-$90) And after you own one you'll be surprised how often you'll use it if you do any service work. Loose connections in track lighting, overhead service drops, busswork, breakers, terminations. Resistance and or arching mean heat, and being able to detect a rise in heat could mean finding it quick or going 'round in circles for a while guessing. If you don't do a lot of service work or troubleshooting - you might not find much use for it. But one of these lower end units wont break the bank.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#75046 02/14/07 12:05 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 60
C
Member
I am surprised nobody recommended the webstore for this site. There is a selection of them there.

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