The MET-TN408LC thermometer provides precision surface temperature measurements for a variety of applications: Automotive, Maintenance, HVAC and Electrical. The Infrared Thermometer provides basic “point and shoot” capability with a Laser sight and the added flexibility of a built-in jack for an OPTIONAL K-type thermocouple probe. Powerful features include: Programmable HI/LO temperature alarms, Adjustable emissivity and a D:S of 12:1. Value priced.

 

Accurate temperature monitoring is vital to ensuring optimum performance and improving quality, decreasing downtime, and increasing productivity of both industrial equipment and the products they produce. Infrared (IR) thermometers offer distinct advantages over contact thermometers especially in situations where it’s not possible, practical, or safe to use traditional temperature measurement devices, for example to:

• Measure rotating or moving objects.

• Take measurements of objects where physical contact is dangerous or difficult (high voltage parts; significant distance to measurement target).

• Measure temperatures of hazardous substances or those at risk of contamination

• Measure high temperatures.

• Quickly take a series of measurements to build a quick trend in a short period of time.

An infrared thermometer can make quick, non-contact temperature measurements from some distance away. This allows you to easily measure objects that are hazardous to the touch, such as high energy, caustic or rotating targets. Infrared thermometers measure the invisible infrared emissions from an object and hold the measurement on the display until another measurement is taken. Getting accurate measurements While taking temperature measurements with an IR thermometer is a simple “point-and-shoot” operation, you need to keep several things in mind to ensure that you’re getting accurate readings:

Optical resolution is defined by this ratio, which is the distance from the instrument to the object being measured (D) as compared to the size of the spot you’re measuring (S). You need to know your intended application to make sure that the optical resolution of the instrument is appropriate for the job. A larger D:S ratio number equals better optical resolution, which means you can measure a smaller spot from a greater distance.

Field of view To ensure accuracy, you need to make sure that the target (the object you’re measuring) is larger than the size of the spot you’re measuring. For critical accuracy, the target should be at least twice as large as the spot size.

Environmental conditions The instrument’s optics – and hence the accuracy of the measurement – can be adversely affected by conditions like steam, dust, smoke, noise, vibration, and electromagnetic fields in the environment. Ambient temperatures This is the surrounding temperature of the area you’re working in. Significant changes in ambient temperature can cause inaccurate readings, so if your IR thermometer is exposed to a temperature difference of 20 degrees or more, let it adjust to the environment for at least 20 minutes.

All matter with a temperature above absolute zero emits infrared radiation (measured in wavelengths) based on its temperature. The material from which the object is made and how reflective or shiny its surface determines this emissivity. To ensure measurement accuracy, the target should have an emissivity in the range of 0.95. Porous, non-metallic materials such as wood, plastic, rubber, organic materials, rock, or concrete have relatively non-reflective surface finishes, so these objects have high emissivities between 0.8 and 0.95. In contrast, metals, especially those with highly polished or shiny surfaces will have emissivities at around 0.1.

 

One of the key differentiators between infrared thermometers is the distance to spot ratio, or how far away the thermometer can accurately measure a particular target area. In high performance thermometers, the ratio between the distance to target and the measurement spot size is as large as possible. The higher the ratio, the lower the chance of measuring unintended areas around the target.

 

Here are some important electrical and process maintenance uses:

• Finding faulty terminations in high power electrical circuits.

• Locating overload circuit breakers in a power panel.

• Identifying fuses at or near their current rated capacity.

• Identifying problems in electrical switch gear.

• Monitoring and measuring bearing temperatures in large motors or other rotating equipment.

• Identifying “hot spots” in electronic equipment.

• Identifying leaks in sealed vessels.

• Troubleshooting steam traps.

• Finding faulty insulation in process pipes or other insulated processes.

• Capturing process temperature readings.