Laser Digital Thermometer

I just bought one of these things and noticed something strange. I aimed it at the cup warmer on my coffee machine and it reads 25deg..which is clearly wrong because it's quite hot to the touch. All the plastic around it is 50+ degrees, which makes more sense.

This lead me to wonder how accurate it would be at measuring brake disc temperatures if the metal on my coffee machine gave such an erroneous read out.

Anyone know for sure?

 

I used one when racing on tyres and brakes,most welcome to try it.

 

Thanks for the response and not answering the question

 

so you don't want to compare readings?

 

They don't work all that well on smooth or shiny metal; it confuses the laser.

Dark or rough surface readings should be fairly accurate.

 

Its called emissivity PP. Google it. If you search that word here on Fchat you might find a post I did showing a tool. I painted part of the surface with matt black paint. The tool was as 57 degrees. When aiming at the painted bit it read 57 and yet when I aimed it at the non painted aluminum surface it read 36 degrees.

 

Geez it's hard posting with iPhone. Found it, plus I was out slightly with my guess on temperatures.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244169&highlight=Emissivity

 

My experience with them when using them in HVAC applications is that they aren't very accurate.Basically will only tell me if something is hot or cold

 

Have you tried downloading Tap a talk app? much easier than using Safari to chat

 

costs money and he's a tight arse.

 

thank you. i'd have felt ripped off with this thing if it hadn't only cost $8.11

it seemed spot on when measuring inside the fridge, the oven and other flat coloured objects.

bloody useless for brakes though I'd say.

Also measured air from my a/c vent reasonably well too but i assume that's only because the cold air cooled the metal air outlet.

 

I use one with my model aircraft engines which have cast painted cylinder heads and it appears to be quite accurate, the readings I get are very simular to what the German manufacturer gets on a purpose built test dyno.

 

Hey, a gadget I haven't got.

What are they for and where do you get them?

 

lol

you're a funny boy

 

You might be using it for the wrong application.
Are these intended to measure external temperatures or where the sun doesn't shine?

 

Hmmmm maybe he needs a rectal thermometer then.....

 

Did your laser digital thermometer cost $5 from China ?

Might explain why it's crap

 

it's not....it seems to do exactly what they usually do, which is......not what a lot of us would want to do with it.

 

We sell seperate IR's for brake or tyre, but not both. The two main differences are temp range and emmisivity settings. The brake one is cal'd for bright steel.

 

i reckon that's where mine is let down, not that i bought it for that.