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Infrared (IR) thermometers enable you to measure temperature quickly, at a distance, and without touching the object you're measuring. They are so useful, easy, and even fun to use that they have become as common in kitchens as they have on factory floors. Infrared thermometers are often used to find overheated equipment and electrical circuits, but they have hundreds of other uses.
However, there are a few "gotchas" when using an Infrared thermometer that can generate readings that are misleading or just plain wrong. Fortunately, these sources of error are easy to avoid or work around.
Common uses for infrared thermometers in industry
Every infrared Thermometer has a "distance-to-spot" (D:S) ratio that tells you the diameter of the area being measured compared to the distance from the target. For example, if your thermometer has a distance-to-spot ratio of 12:1, it measures an approximately one-inch-diameter spot when it's 12 inches from the target (about 2.5 cm at 30 cm). If you try to use that thermometer to measure a two-inch (5-cm) area from even just a few feet (1 m) away, you're not going to get an accurate result because the thermometer will also be measuring the temperature outside the area you want to measure.
Distance-to-spot ratios vary a lot (from about 1:1 on the least expensive thermometers to about 60:1 on top-of-the-line models) and vary slightly with distance, so be sure to check the label on your thermometer or in the manual.
Most handheld infrared thermometers have laser pointers that show the approximate center of the measurement area. It's important to know that the laser is only a pointer and not used for the actual temperature measurement. Another common misconception is that the thermometer is measuring the area illuminated by the laser beam. The measurement spot is always wider.
Infrared thermometers have good accuracy when measuring most objects, but shiny, reflective surfaces can be a challenge. You should be especially wary when measuring the temperature of shiny metal objects, but even reflections off of glossy paint can affect accuracy. Putting a piece of non-reflective tape (such as electrical tape) over the shiny surface or applying some flat paint gives you a target from which you can get a better measurement.
Taking measurements on non-reflective tape or flat paint helps avoid errors caused by shiny surfaces.The reason for this is that not all materials emit the same amount of infrared energy when they are at the same temperature. In general, most materials emit more infrared energy than shiny metals do - they have higher "emissivity." (Emissivity is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, with 0 being non-emissive and 1 being perfectly emissive). Reflective surfaces are less emissive than dull surfaces. Weathered or oxidized metals are more emissive than polished, shiny metals.
If you need to take temperature readings on low emissivity objects regularly, consider an IR thermometer that enables you to compensate for variations in emissivity. For example, the Fluke 561 Infrared Thermometer enables you to set emissivity to "High" (for measuring most surfaces, such as wood, paint, rubber, plaster, or concrete), "Medium" (for oxidized metals or granite, for example), or "Low" (for shiny metals).
Where you use your infrared thermometer can also affect its accuracy. For example, if there is steam or dust in the between the target and the thermometer, some of the IR energy may be deflected before reaching the thermometer. Similarly, a dirty or scratched lens on your IR thermometer may impair its ability to "see" the IR energy that it needs to make a measurement. A lens that has fogged when the thermometer is brought into a warm room from a colder environment can also affect accuracy.
Finally, for highest accuracy, it's best to allow some time (about 20 minutes is usually enough) for your IR thermometer to come to the temperature of its surroundings when bringing the thermometer into surroundings that are significantly warmer or colder than where it has been stored.
Noncontact infrared thermometers offer a great combination of speed, convenience, and accuracy, but only when they're used correctly.
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