Fluke IR Thermometer

[Brad93]

looking at a fluke 62Max infrared thermometer/pyrometers.
Seen cheapies in screwfix and the like but want something that is going to last, anyone used such a thing or recommend another good brand?
Think it retails for about £60-70 on amazon.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

looking at a fluke 62Max infrared thermometer/pyrometers.
Seen cheapies in screwfix and the like but want something that is going to last, anyone used such a thing or recommend another good brand?
Think it retails for about £60-70 on amazon.

.

Good morning Brad93.
Just because it is Fluke dosen't mean that it is the 'bees knees'. I have a CPS 'refrigeration company' model Tmini, (probably 10 years now)works great, well as far as I know. I have been pi@@#d of by Fluke. I finally bought a Fluke scope meter about 15 years ago cost me about $2.8kAu, That is still quite some money now. It had only scattered use over 5 years. Then one day pulled it out of it's case and it wouldn't fire up. No problem contacted fluke they said send it in. Was told a new one is $4k au, to fix yours will be $3k approx, so we suggest you go for the new one. What about the life time warranty, was told that we don't do that any more. Any way to keep a long story short due to the evident little use that the meter had they offered to give me a 10% discount on the new version. Needless to say I didn't take them up on their offer.
The very big name brands aren't what they used to be and competition is great, so pick one and try your luck. Just about any instrument and test gear manufacturer will have one or two in their list

 

[julianf]

Our IR thermometer gets daily use, as it has done for years. Its been dropped, so the end has a couple of turns of electrical tape on it, but it still goes on and one.

Its max temp is 570c. In all the tests ive bothered with it, its seemed accurate, excluding the fact that it cant work on some shiny surfaces.


I think it cost a grand total of £7, inc delivery, from china.



If you want to spend money, you could double your stake, and get one of the FLIR thermal imaging cameras. RS sells them. I think the cheapest is about £140.

I borrowed the work one to seek out a bee's nest that was 'somwhere' behind some shuttering. It was interesting quite how immediatly obvious it was, as soon as i shon the IR camera in the vague direction.

 

[julianf]

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/ir-thermometers/9228765/

£145 ex so a bit more than i thought

 

[julianf]

The numerical range of them is way less than the cheap-from-china one that i have, but the image still re-colours to hotter temperatures.

 

[Brad93]

I think what I will do in the meantime is buy a cheaper unit, and I might get a FLIR down the line, I don't need it to be mega accurate but I want something robust enough for the workshop. Preheating parts to a temperature will be its main use.

 

[julianf]

Look at the ebay specials. Some say they go up to, i think, 390, and others 570c. Im pretty sure, when i purchased mine, it said on the listing 390, but it certainly maxes out at 570, so i think all the sellers are, basically, selling the same electronics.

I lied though - i found the invoice in my email folder - it was £12.99 inc delivery. September 2011.

 

[julianf]

Im almost 100% sure this is the one i have at home -

http://www.dx.com/p/digital-infrare...ight-32-c-380-c-26-f-716-f-29079#.WIMsKFOLRQI

As i say. specs say 380c, but it goes higher.

Retailer above is out of stock, but you may be able to locate the same unit on ebay (which is where mine came from)

 

[tomsutton529]

I use flir kit on an almost daily basis, the kit is outstanding but the software (flir Reporter) and the drivers are a total minefield, It takes us most of a day to set up the flir software when we get a new laptop.

 

[Robotstar5]

I use flir kit on an almost daily basis, the kit is outstanding but the software (flir Reporter) and the drivers are a total minefield, It takes us most of a day to set up the flir software when we get a new laptop.

Do you do thermographic surveys?

 

[Maker]

I have a Fluke 62 Mini and can't fault it, I got it second hand for about £30.

 

[lazybones51]

Don't know how good they are, but Lidl have them in at the moment. http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=41037

 

[zx9]

I've got the Aldi version and it's fine.

Feels solid enough, less plasticky than I expected.

Accuracy is within range of a 'real' contact thermocouple, at least from 0-250°c - it'll read higher but I haven't compared.

Pretty sure none of the basic ir type like reading off reflective surfaces...

I've got one here, had it a couple of years as Mrs.ZX9 pointed out this evening Lidl are doing them in the current offers pamphlet.

 

[Kayos]

I too have the Aldi one, I use it to see temp variations in radiators and decide what kind of flush the system needs

 

[Gritineye]

I bought an end of line motorfactor branded one for a couple of quid, must be 15 yrs old still works perfectly.

 

[tomsutton529]

Do you do thermographic surveys?

its one of my many talents. mostly do electrical and mechanical stuff but have done a few where we have been asked to check the refractory on furnaces and stacks.