Infrared Thermometer???

[Brulosopher]

How accurate are these things? They seem really cool, but almost too magical. Anyone with experience?

 

[grendelrt]

I tried buying one to take the temp of the kegs in my keezer (instead of bending over with a flashlight to read the temp strips lol). I didnt like how it wasnt stable. I would point it at the keg and it would go back and forth between 38 and 42 degrees. For certain applications this would be fine, like looking for drafts near windows or something, but for taking a reliable stable temp of something that matters it didnt work for me.

 

[Zamial]

A brew club member uses one from Harbor Freight. It is a great way to take a quick SURFACE temp. He says his is off a couple degrees on the high end and the low. This is mostly to see how close the water is to where he wants it.

It is a fun toy...

 

[John_FL]

If you plan on using one or measure strike water or mash temperatures make sure the solution you are measuring has been mixed up a great deal. The temperature gradient in a solution is a lot more than you think.

 

[passedpawn]

They are VERY handy. I use mine all the time. It's not very useful on brewday because of the steam. But for just pointing at a carboy to get the temp they work great. I use it for lots of stuff around the house, too.

 

[Homercidal]

In my experience any reflective surface would give inaccurate readings. I've seen a couple of posts where people who have used them reported a fairly wide discrepancy between it's readings and a trusty thermometer.

Maybe if I remember to I can borrow the one from work and see what happens. We use it to do a spot check of temperature on specific locations on plastic injection molds. In case there is a suspicion of blocked water line, or incorrect water line routing, or just a bad mold design. Or to check the meter bands on the presses. I know the process tech has gotten very strange measurements on polished mold surfaces before.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

I have one and I'd categorize as more toy than tool. It'll give you a rough idea as to temp, but if your using it for any application where one or two degrees make a difference you'll be frustrated.

 

[724b]

If anyone's interested in giving an IR thermometer a try, there's one for $12.64 today...
http://www.homebrewfinds.com/2012/08/non-contact-ir-infrared-thermometer-1264.html

 

[Nightshade]

Used to use them in racing and engine building all the time to get a good idea of exhaust leaks or head leaks as well as operating temps of various surfaces in the engine compartment to locate ways to improve efficiency and heat management. Not sure I would find them very handy during brewing because surface temp doesn't really tell me whats going on beyond that inside the actual wort.

Fun toys in this application but hardly accurate where it counts IMO

 

[Phyrst]

I work in a chemical plant environment and use them often if I want to know the temperature of a fluid inside a pipe. I just aim it at the pipe, but they're usually off by a few degrees. I guess you could use it to measure the temperature of the wort, but I would hit the wort and outside of the kettle in a few different places and take the average to get your reading. And make sure the water/wort is mixed well right before you measure it as the surface may be a degree or two cooler.