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Posted By: nikothenomad Infrared temperature gun - June 12th 2018 3:19 am
Any of you have a infrared temperature gun? What do you like or not like about it? Thoughts on best one to buy for general use and van diagnostics? I don't care about being a few degrees off but would not want to be more than one or two if possible.
Posted By: Rathbone Re: Infrared temperature gun - June 13th 2018 4:29 pm
I've never tried one on a vehicle, but I've used them in a manufacturing setting and the one's I've used are extremely accurate. But the gauge is checking coolant temperature while the gun would be checking the surface temperature. I wouldn't expect the 2 to be very close to giving the same results.
Posted By: Reed Re: Infrared temperature gun - June 13th 2018 4:47 pm
I have a cheap Harbor Freight laser IR thermometer gun I use for diagnosing cooling system problems. I have never had it calibrated, but it is easy to use and is accurate enough for my purposes.
Posted By: wrcsixeight Re: Infrared temperature gun - June 13th 2018 7:59 pm
I have a raytek at least 12 years old.

Seems pretty accurate, unless the srfae is highy reflective.

it will read 122f on my aluminum radiator's top tank where a Ktype thermocouple taped to it will read 196f.

If I put a piece of black gaffers tape on the top tank and aim the IR gun there, it reads the 195+f.

They are useful for hunting for the highest temperature, just do not think that the laser pointer is where it is takng a precision reading of that red dot. It will average the temperture within a certain radius of that dot.

They are cheap enough now to be well worth having.
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Infrared temperature gun - June 14th 2018 12:31 pm
Thanks ya'll.
Posted By: jason159 Re: Infrared temperature gun - June 20th 2018 5:06 pm
I have a Cornwell one and I use it at my job as a motorcycle mechanic. They've probably gotten better over the years but I wouldn't buy the absolute cheapest one, IMO.
Posted By: Rusty Pancelode Re: Infrared temperature gun - July 17th 2018 4:51 am
I've got the Craftsman one.
Bought it to tune R/C car engines, but use it for all kinds of stuff.
Well worth the $50 or so bucks I spent on it.
Posted By: Dyno_Dave Re: Infrared temperature gun - July 17th 2018 1:22 pm
Originally Posted by Reed
I have a cheap Harbor Freight laser IR thermometer gun I use for diagnosing cooling system problems. I have never had it calibrated, but it is easy to use and is accurate enough for my purposes.


Same here.
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