What's a good option for a digital touchless thermometer?

[TPCEA]

I was thinking of getting the Rosewill RTMT-11001, but I don't know if it's actually any good. Obviously, I would prefer something with a display in real time, but those tend to be outside of my budget at that time. I'd love a Flir or a Fluke, for example, but $1,000+ is rather too much for me to do if I don't want to lose my apartment and car.

So, unless there's miraculously an inexpensive, reliable one, I guess I'll have to settle for one that has a visible (laser?) light to show where I'm measuring and a simple display of the temperature, and whatever features would really be useful for someone running component tests.

Any suggestions?

Apologies if this is the wrong place - I didn't notice a testing area.

 

[P4-630]

I got this affordable one:

Parkside PTI 380 C2 8-point laser

PARKSIDE® Infrarood temperatuurmeetapparaat | LIDL

PARKSIDE® Infrarood temperatuurmeetapparaat bij LIDL online kopen ✅ Kies je leverdag ✅ Ook 's avonds bezorgd ✅ 30 Dagen bedenktijd

www.lidl.nl

+- tolerances aren't bad either.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I've had two. My current one is this Raytek MT6 Non-contact MiniTemp Infrared Thermometer and it works great. I use it for all sorts of things, including computers. Most frequently I use it to make sure my skillet is hot enough (but not too hot). I've also used it on my grandson to see if he had a fever (CAUTION - DO NOT ALLOW it to shine in eyes, kids or pets). I also used it to check the wall next to my home HVAC system. I discovered the wall was several degrees warmer than the hallway and the rest of the house because on the other side of the wall was my sunny computer room. The sun and especially 3 computers and 5 monitors kept it (the room and that shared wall) warm in the winter (fooling the thermostat) which kept the rest of the house nearly unheated and freezing. Being extra warm in the summer, it kept the AC on much of the time, even though the rest of the house was several degrees under the thermostat setting. I ended up putting an extra piece of insulation behind my thermostat. It looks funny, but I am not moving my computer room.

My first IR thermostat gun was this one. I paid $40 for it and feel I got ripped off. It lasted 12 months and 1 week. Guess when the warranty expired? It made me realize, as with many things, if you pay budget prices, you get budget products. I hope P4-630's choice is an exception to that rule.

I will point out that these thermometers are very much like bathroom scales. They don't really have to be spot on accurate. Close, yes. But not spot on.

What is most important is consistency. If the device being measured is 100°C, and the meter shows 99.6°C, that is okay as along as it shows 99.6° each and every time you probe it. If the skillet is 450°F and the meter show 454°F, that is fine, again if it always show 454°F.

Point being, if not precisely accurate, no big deal as long as it is close, and consistently off by the same percentage.

 

[TPCEA]

I got this affordable one:

Parkside PTI 380 C2 8-point laser

PARKSIDE® Infrarood temperatuurmeetapparaat | LIDL

PARKSIDE® Infrarood temperatuurmeetapparaat bij LIDL online kopen ✅ Kies je leverdag ✅ Ook 's avonds bezorgd ✅ 30 Dagen bedenktijd

www.lidl.nl

+- tolerances aren't bad either.

I don't think that's available here. I only found these two from Parkside:

https://bigamart.com/product/parkside-digital-laser-infrared-thermometer-temperature-gun-temperature-meter-temperature-measuring-device/?gad_source=4&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS3-o6xN-8wlDQmXWu98GG_Ltmw7vKP-u9DWmHKrF8QfrXnp5Jo0WzOcaAhbtEALw_wcB

PARKSIDE Non-Contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Gun | eBay

This PARKSIDE digital laser infrared thermometer gun is a great tool for temperature measurement without contact. With its laser technology, you can get accurate readings from a distance, making it perfect for industrial, business, and personal use. It has a temperature range of -58F to 716F...

www.ebay.com

Would either do?

 

[P4-630]

I don't that's available here. I only found these two from Parkside:

https://bigamart.com/product/parkside-digital-laser-infrared-thermometer-temperature-gun-temperature-meter-temperature-measuring-device/?gad_source=4&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS3-o6xN-8wlDQmXWu98GG_Ltmw7vKP-u9DWmHKrF8QfrXnp5Jo0WzOcaAhbtEALw_wcB

PARKSIDE Non-Contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Gun | eBay

This PARKSIDE digital laser infrared thermometer gun is a great tool for temperature measurement without contact. With its laser technology, you can get accurate readings from a distance, making it perfect for industrial, business, and personal use. It has a temperature range of -58F to 716F...

www.ebay.com

Would either do?

https://www.lidl.nl/p/parkside-infrarood-temperatuurmeter/p100285526 Sold out here.

-50 to +380 °C

Tolerances unknown, but I think it's about the same.

Bigamart is way to expensive though!...

The one on ebay is cheap!

 

[TPCEA]

CAUTION - DO NOT ALLOW it to shine in eyes, kids or pets

Ok, if it's shining in kids or pets, I think there are worse issues at hand...

Multiple hits on the MT6CH, starting at $70. The MT6 starts at $186. Is there a significant difference between them?

 

[P4-630]

I bought mine maybe 2 months ago, not using it every day.
But no issues yet, it works on a 9V battery.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It seems the more expensive model has a wide range of temperature. Not worth the price for me. But may be for you. IDK.

 

[TPCEA]

It seems the more expensive model has a wide range of temperature. Not worth the price for me. But may be for you. IDK.

I just need a range for normal humans and PCs, not the Human Torch.

 

[P4-630]

It seems the more expensive model has a wide range of temperature. Not worth the price for me. But may be for you. IDK.

Depends on what you want to measure.
But yes -50 to +380 °C is ok for my usages.

The Parkside comes with a 3 year warranty here.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Depends on what you want to measure.

Ummm, that's why I said not worth it for me, but may be for you.

 

[TPCEA]

Ummm, that's why I said not worth it for me, but may be for you.

I never realized that Darkwing Duck's real name is Bill, but it makes sense. Thanks for your help!

Depends on what you want to measure.
But yes -50 to +380 °C is ok for my usages.

The Parkside comes with a 3 year warranty here.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Bill_Bright]

Oh Darkwing Duck is just a distant cousin who looks like me.

 

[ir_cow]

IR thermometers will change readings based on the material.

 

[Shrek]

Yep, depends on emissivity.

 

[TPCEA]

IR thermometers will change readings based on the material.

That explains a review of the PTIA1 that I watched last night. That's bothersome. What's a better choice?

 

[ir_cow]

That explains a review of the PTIA1 that I watched last night. That's bothersome. What's a better choice?

Thermal couples or know the material your are looking at for a better idea if it will be accurate or not.

 

[QuietBob]

What's a better choice?

More advanced models let you set the emission level of the tested material, or measure the temperature directly with a thermal probe. They also tend to use better optics, which enable more precise measurement at a greater distance.

 

[TPCEA]

More advanced models let you set the emission level of the tested material, or measure the temperature directly with a thermal probe. They also tend to use better optics, which enable more precise measurement at a greater distance.

Sounds like it might be more accurate than my meat probe...?

 

[gurusmi]

I bought a Bosch thermometer to determine the temps at my FDM 3D Printer heated buildplate.

 

[Bill_Bright]

IR thermometers will change readings based on the material.

That explains a review of the PTIA1 that I watched last night. That's bothersome. What's a better choice?

useful for someone running component tests.

I think you are being WAY too over critical for your stated purpose.

First, while true that IR thermometers are affected by the emissivity of different materials, it typically means a difference of a degree or two at most.

For example, a minute ago in my kitchen, on the same 2ft by 2ft countertop and stove top right next to it, measured several items (each twice).

Dark green countertop - 73.5°F​

White paper towel - 73.8°F​

Flour tortillas in clear plastic bag - 73.2°F​

While enameled, metal surface of stovetop - 73.5°F​

Black cast iron skillet on stovetop - 74°F​

White tiled wall behind countertop - 73.5°F​

Butter in butter dish - 73.5°F​

Being in such close proximity to each other, with no outside influence (sunlight, a hot burner, HVAC vent, or other heat or cold source) these items "should" all be at the same temperature. So I have to attribute those differences to the emissivity of the materials. But look how minor those differences are.

I just now measured several different items here (twice each) on my computer desk, all within close arm's length of me sitting in front of my monitor. The dark wood of the desk, the maroon fabric on the arm of the chair next to the desk, a yellow pad of paper sticky notes, metal ruler, the side edge of the black plastic palm rest of this keyboard. They all read within ±.3°F of 75°.

The temps were consistent with each of the two reads for each item.

If you truly "require" greater accuracy than that, you need to reconsider your plan to NOT give up your apartment or car.

But if you are just trying to measure the temp of your CPU heatsink, VRMs, RAM, or the GPU, or your frying pan or BBQ grill, then any decent laser guided IR thermometer gun will do just fine.

As far as meat probe thermometer, you should have one of those too. IR thermometers are great for measuring "surface" temps. The probe lets you measure the internal temp. Two totally different requirements require two totally different methods of measuring.