Imagine that it’s already midnight now; you have a deadline tomorrow. However, you can’t keep yourself awake, and you need a cup of coffee in the perfect temperature to put out of this misery.
Erm… is it wise to leave your work frequently to check the coffee temperature during the brewing?
No… It’s a big NO!
So, how could you measure the temperature from your workplace all the way to your kitchen?
Yes, an infrared thermometer could be a lifesaver in this situation.
Infrared thermometer is just a measurement tool that reads the temperature. And its most important advantage is that it can work without any physical contact. You can stay several feet away and still get a perfect reading.
However, a poor thermometer can turn your life into a nightmare, thus picking a good quality IR thermometer is very important to get the perfect reading remotely.
Here, in this article, we’ve represented the top 5 best infrared thermometer reviews, which will worth every penny.
Stay along.
Infrared Thermometer Review
The medical professionals, engineers, firefighters, chefs, and other high-end professionals use IR thermometers regularly. But, did you ever wonder why everyone always prefers this simple tool?
Yes, because of its accuracy, ease of use, versatility, etc. In this section, I’ll discuss a few critical questions, which are bubbling in your mind. Let’s get started.
Accuracy
Accuracy is an essential attribute of IR thermometer. The high-quality thermometers will most likely provide an almost accurate reading.
The best infrared thermometers will provide an accuracy of ±1 percent. But, the professionals consider that any reading below ±2 percent is good reading.
If you’re working with extremely high temperature, I’ll suggest you to go for the high-end meters. For example, 1% of 10,000F is 100F; this error is quite significant.
You’ll find a few high-end infrared thermometer accuracy reviews in the next section of this article.
On the contrary, 1%, 1.5%, or 2% of margin error will be good to go if you work with extremely lower temperature.
How Does an IR Thermometer Work?
The core component of an infrared thermometer is a sensor named ‘thermopile’. Whenever you point the thermometer to an object, it detects the infrared radiation reflected from that object.
Then it turns the reflection into heat and transforms into electricity. This electricity represents temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the temperature of that object. Easy peasy!
Every object with a temperature more than absolute zero radiates infrared energy between 8 – 14μm wavelength. This wavelength converts into a temperature range of -50°C to 500°C. It is equivalent to -58°F to 932°F.
Nevertheless, if the process seems a total technical jargon to you, it’s completely fine. You don’t need to know the whole background process. Just point the laser on the right object and enjoy the magic of science!
Do Infrared Thermometers Work on Meat?
Dr. Robert W. Powitz, Ph.D., MPH researched the impact of the infrared thermometer on different foods. His research shows that it works completely fine with meats and other foods.
Most importantly, the usage of IR thermometer among chefs and foodservice managers increased a lot. Even the health inspectors and food safety trainers are accelerating the use of IR thermometers to speed up their inspection process.
I hope you get your answer. The IR thermometers not only work well on meat but also are entirely safe to use.
Additionally, few IR thermometers like IR Pro, IRK, and IR-IND come with an additional type K thermocouple probes. You can measure the internal temperature of meats or other foods by using this K thermocouple probe.
Is Infrared Thermometer Safe?
Infrared radiation is a part of the electromagnetic wave spectrum. Radiations are generally harmful to humans. It can cause burning sensation and irritation in the skin. But the infrared thermometers contain almost no radiation at all.
However, don’t use the light directly on your retina. It might be harmful to your eyesight.
Top 5 Infrared Thermometer Reviews:
There are zillions of IR thermometers available in the market. Nevertheless, there isn’t broad familiarity with this technology (yet). So, the potential users may stress over to choose the perfect device.
But, don’t worry. We have already researched that for you.
Scroll down and get the freshly baked (!) top 5 best infrared thermometer review!
1. Fluke 62 MAX Plus IR Thermometer
Fluke is well known for its superior quality and versatility. It’s a fantastic tool for both professional and amateur users. Let’s check the fluke 62 infrared thermometer review in details.
This IR thermometer comes with dual lasers. You can rotate these lasers if needed. It can measure temperatures from 30 to 650o Celsius (22 to 1202oF).
Such industry-quality tool offers ±1 percent accuracy to the users. This meter becomes an ideal tool for the HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and automobile industry because of its insane accuracy level.
Fluke 62 MAX is IP54 certified. This certification ensures that your device is completely secure from splashing liquid and dust. Further, the lightweight and the smaller size make it highly portable.
But, above all of these features, my most favorite one is the calculation of two points. You can easily measure the temperature difference and the average temperature between two points of an object. It’s a lifesaving feature for the industries.
You’ll need a single AA battery to operate this tool. Even with the backlighting on and lasers, you will get straight 8 hours of power backup.
However, I’ve noticed a small drawback of this almost-perfect device. The temperature display is very short-lived. The backlit stays on the screen only for 5 seconds. Therefore, if you are idle only for a few moments, the measurement is gone!
Things We Liked the Most
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Higher accuracy level
- IP54 certified
- The large backlit LCD screen
What Could Be Better?
- The display turns off after 5 seconds
- Not suitable for home users
2. Etekcity 1022 Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun
Etekcity is a brand of trust for most of the IR thermometer users. This brand is mostly renowned for its high-quality and durable products.
The second product of this infrared thermometer review is Etekcity 1022 digital laser infrared thermometer. Let’s have a look at this Etekcity infrared thermometer review.
First of all, this product is extremely suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage. The 12:1 distance spot ratio allows you to get the most accurate reading from a greater distance.
Etekcity 1022 can measure from -50°C to 550°C (-58°F to 1022°F). And the accuracy level is ±2 percent. This accuracy level makes it an ideal product for your home.
Another significant feature is the non-contact voltage setting. It can detect live electric current from 90V to 600V. That means it can also work as an electrical tester.
This feature becomes handy when you need to test the exposed wires. You know, exposed wires are hazardous to touch. Why would you take such a risk when you can do it with Etekcity 1022 digital IR thermometer?
You’ll also get adjustable emissivity with this thermometer. This emissivity improves the measurement accuracy between different surfaces. You have to regulate the emissivity between 0.1 to 1.0.
Things We Liked the Most
- Dual laser
- Adjustable emissivity
- 12:1 distance to spot ratio
- Better accuracy
- Comes with a built-in battery
What Could Be Better?
- Not water resistant
- Not the right choice for HVAC
3. Nubee NUB8550H Digital Infrared Thermometer
Nubee NUB8550H isn’t just a random IR thermometer; it’s an extremely user-friendly and good-to-go thermometer for everyone.
Are you feeling interested?
Wait! Check this Nubee infrared thermometer review to know details about this Nubee thermometer.
This Nubee NUB8550H is highly versatile. This device is a perfect fit from the oven of your kitchen to the cooling system of the electrical or mechanical industry.
The temperature measurement of this tool lies between -50°C to 550°C (-58°F to 1022°F). The accuracy is ±1.5 percent. This almost perfect accuracy makes an ideal tool for the industries. Nubee devices come with 12:1 distance to spot ratio. It can measure approximately 1-inch diameter from the distance of 12 inches.
The manufacturer company of the device has added two major features in this thermometer. The first one is ‘Max temperature function’ and the second one is ‘EMS adjustability’.
Here, the max temperature function allows the user to read the highest temperature of an object. The EMS adjustability helps to get the most accurate result from this device.
There are a few small but useful features in this device. For example, the automatic turn-off feature, C to F conversion button, battery life indicator, etc.
These features help to improve the battery life and prevent all on a sudden battery run-out problem. Further, you can measure temperature in the dark environment. Isn’t that great?
Things We Liked the Most
- ±1.5 percent accuracy
- Perfect for both home and industry usage
- A bright backlight LCD
- Battery life indicator
- Turns off automatically after being idle
What Could Be Better?
- Not suitable for measuring kid’s temperature
- Isn’t very durable
4. BTMETER BT-1500 Pyrometer 30:1 Laser Thermometer Gun
If you need a non-contact and highly influential thermometer, this BTMETER BT-1500 would be the perfect choice for you.
The temperature range of this device lies between -50°C to 1550°C (-58°F to 2732°F). It’s huge! Moreover, its accuracy is 2% of the actual temperature. It’s a gem, isn’t it?
Further, this BTMETER can measure any temperature more accurately. From the BBQ or pizzas to high-end boilers or kilns, this thermometer fits everywhere.
A unique feature of this IR thermometer is the alarm system. It allows the users to set a minimum and maximum value or average or difference between the start and end temperature of an object. The alarm rings as soon as the temperature is below or above the set points.
This dual laser thermometer also has a 30:1 superior distance to spot ratio. You can also adjust the emissivity to get a more accurate reading.
When you finished using this device, you don’t need to worry about turning off the device. Thanks to the auto-shutoff feature, it’s a relief!
Things We Liked the Most
- Wide temperature range
- Quicker response time
- 30:1 distance to spot ratio
- Battery life indicator
- Nice grip
What Could Be Better?
- Cannot take readings if the object is smaller than the spot size.
- Instructions are hard to follow.
5. Perfect-Prime IR0002, Infrared (IR) Thermal Imager & Visible Light Camera
Wait, a real thermal imaging camera!
Yeah.
This device is equipped with plenty of astonishing features. Along with measuring the temperature correctly, it can provide a high-resolution thermal image of the target.
It is convenient when you want to find a small temperature variation within an area. For example, if you’re going to see a heat leak on your floor or roof, this is the best device that’ll do your job.
If you want to do that with a regular IR thermometer, you have to go around your house to find out the leak.
With this Perfect-Prime IR0002, you need to take one look at the screen, and you’ll notice the leak within a moment!
Pretty cool, huh?
Along with these extra features, it contains all of the general features like our previous infrared thermometer reviewed products.
Its temperature range is -20°C to 300°C (-4°F to 572°F). And, the accuracy is ±2 percent.
Things We Liked the Most
- Thermal imaging
- 2.4 inches HD display
- 4GB micro SD card storage
- 0.3mega pixels camera
- Portable
What Could Be Better?
- Average build quality
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is an infrared thermometer?
An infrared thermometer is a measuring device that works by using electromagnetic radiation to read the temperature.
- How to use an infrared thermometer?
Turn the device on. Then, point and SHOOT! Easy!
- Can I use an IR thermometer to check the temperature of my BBQ?
Sure, you can. The IR thermometer can read the temperature of your BBQ.
However, it can only read the surface temperature. In case you need to measure the inner temperature, you should go for a meat thermometer.
- How accurate are infrared thermometers?
IR thermometers are very accurate and convenient. But, the accuracy specification depends on the model. These models have marginal error of 1%, 1.5%, or 2% max.
- How safe is an infrared thermometer?
These thermometers don’t release radiation. It just measures the infrared radiation.
But, it may be harmful if you point it directly at someone’s eyes.
Last Words
Whether you’re diagnosing HVAC equipments, fixing the roof, or measuring the BBQ grill temperature, the IR thermometers are the best tool to analyze perfect temperature.
Hope that, this top 5 best infrared thermometer review helps to choose the right product for you.
If you have any further inquiries about the infrared thermometer, feel free to write that in the comment box below. Our professional reviewers will answer those as soon as possible.
Stay safe, use IR thermometer!