[avahifi]

I just want to call your attention to this very useful $10 tool, a sensing non-contact thermometer.  You just point it and push the button and you get a digital read out of the surface temperature you are aiming at.  Concerned about heat sink or case temp?  How its your car dashboard really getting in the sun? Point and shoot.  We use it all the time here to insure that internal parts are running well within their ratings.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93983

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[Audiovista]

Thanks for the tip, the price is really good.

IR thermometers are calibrated for a perfect black objects (actually this one seems to be calibrated at 95% gray). Accuracy will depend on the color and reflectivity of the objects. But for black anodized heatsinks, the results should be fairly accurate. For other objects take the measurement results with a grain of salt (use black marker to increase accuracy, and if you need it really good, nothing beats thermocouples).

But again, this thing is well worth the money. And you get the clock and stopwatch too.

Boris

[Wayner]

Thanks Frank for mentioning this tool again. I just ordered 3 of these, 2 for work and 1 for home. I work for a company that manufactures the device that holds the reader head about 1 millionth of an inch from the surface of hard disc drives for the computer industry. We build our own automated manufacturing modules that incorporate fun things like PLC's, motor amplifiers, low voltage power supplies and zillions of terminal blocks. This thermometer could have come in handy several times. Great tool, cheap price!

Wayner

[richidoo]

We used them to see if CNC laser welding small parts would cause them to warp. I had no idea they were sensitive to color. HA! Maybe they were warping afterall!! Cool tool.

Good one Brian! 

[lazydays]

We used them to see if CNC laser welding small parts would cause them to warp. I had no idea they were sensitive to color. HA! Maybe they were warping afterall!! Cool tool.

Good one Brian! 

not all are color sensitive. The thero imaging device on an M-1 tank will work well with any color, and is accurate to within four degrees. So how accurate is it? It will pick up foot tracks on a very light grey floor, or better yet tell the sex of a person at four hundred yards.
    I find it amazing as to how the price has dropped on these. I paid $1300 for one at work, with the idea that we could use it to check for hot spots in electrical panels. Now you can buy one for $10!!!
gary