Expert analysis: How to use infrared thermometer

    Learn more about infrared and infrared thermometer products to better understand the principles and advantages of non-contact measurement.

    Working principle of infrared thermometer - infrared thermometer consists of optical system, photoelectric detector, signal amplifier and signal processing. Display output and other parts. The optical system gathers the infrared radiation energy of the target in its field of view, and the infrared energy is focused on the photoelectric detector and converted into a corresponding electrical signal, which is then converted into the temperature value of the measured target.

    Benefits of using an infrared thermometer - Convenience! Infrared thermometers provide temperature measurements quickly. In the time it takes to read a leaking connection point with a thermocouple, you can read the temperature of almost all connection points with an infrared thermometer. In addition, because infrared thermometers are solid and lightweight (all weigh less than 10 ounces), they are easy to put in a leather case when not in use. So you can carry them when you are patrolling the factory and doing daily inspection work.

    - Accurate! Another advanced feature of infrared thermometers is their accuracy, which is usually within 1 degree. This performance is particularly important when you do preventive maintenance, such as monitoring bad production conditions and special events that will cause equipment damage or downtime. Because most equipment and factories run 365 days a year, downtime is equivalent to reduced revenue. To prevent such losses, scan all on-site electronic equipment-circuit breakers, transformers, fuses, switches, buses and distribution boards to find hot spots. With an infrared thermometer, you can even quickly detect small changes in operating temperature and solve problems at the bud, reducing expenses and repair scope caused by equipment failure.

    Safety! Safety is the most important benefit of using an infrared thermometer. Unlike contact thermometers, infrared thermometers can safely read the temperature of targets that are difficult to access or unreachable. You can read the target temperature within the range allowed by the instrument. Non-contact temperature measurements can also be made in unsafe or difficult areas for contact temperature measurement, such as near steam valves or heating furnaces. They do not need to risk burning their fingers when contacting the temperature. Accurately measuring the temperature of the supply/return air outlet 25 feet above the head is as easy as measuring it at hand. Hongcheng infrared thermometers have laser aiming to facilitate identification of target areas. With it, your work becomes much easier.

Where are the main areas of infrared thermometer use? Infrared thermometers have been proven to be an effective tool for detecting and diagnosing electronic equipment failures. It can save a lot of money. With infrared thermometers, you can continuously diagnose electronic connection problems and detect the functional status of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) by finding hot spots at the output filter connections on DC batteries. You can check battery components and power distribution board terminals, switch gears or fuse connections to prevent energy consumption; since loose connectors and combinations will generate heat, infrared thermometers help identify insulation failures in circuit interrupters. Or monitor electronic compressors; daily scanning of transformer hot spots can detect cracked windings and terminals.

    How to measure temperature with an infrared thermometer - The following are three temperature measurement technologies of Hongcheng non-contact thermometer:

    Point measurement: Determine the temperature of the entire surface of an object, such as an engine or other equipment

    Differential temperature measurement: compares the measured temperature at two separate points, like a connector or circuit breaker

    Scanning measurement: detect changes in targets in wide or continuous areas, such as refrigeration pipelines or distribution rooms.

    The main considerations for selecting an infrared thermometer are - Temperature range: The temperature range of Hongcheng products is -50~2000 degrees (segmented), and each type of thermometer has its specific temperature measurement range. The temperature range of the selected instrument should match the temperature range of the specific application.

    - Target size: When measuring temperature, the target should be larger than the field of view of the thermometer, otherwise there will be measurement errors. It is recommended that the target size should exceed 50% of the field of view of the thermometer.

    -Optical resolution (D:S): This is the ratio of the thermometer probe to the target diameter. If the thermometer is far away from the target and the target is small, a thermometer with high resolution should be selected.

    Tips for Accurate Temperature Measurement - When measuring the temperature of a shiny surface, such as aluminum and stainless steel, the reflection of the surface will affect the reading of the infrared thermometer. Before reading the temperature, place a strip of glue on the metal surface, and after the temperature is balanced, measure the temperature of the strip area.

    If you want the infrared thermometer to be able to move from the kitchen to the cold storage area and still provide accurate temperature measurements, you need to wait for a period of time in the new environment for the temperature to reach equilibrium before measuring. It is best to place the thermometer in a place that is frequently used.

    When using an infrared thermometer to read the internal temperature of a fluid food, such as a soup or sauce, you must stir it before measuring the surface temperature. Keep the thermometer away from steam to avoid contaminating the lens and causing incorrect readings.