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Infrared therm accurate to read boiler temp?

jimbo_6
jimbo_6 Member Posts: 4
in THE MAIN WALL
Appreciate all the advice from Ron, Mike, and Brad.

The gun left by my predecessor is an 10 to 1 focus gun, so a pretty small spot. The paint tip is great!

And now we know the temp gauge on the boiler is off by about 15 degrees.

From the link below I learned more than I ever wanted to know about IR guns, but it was interesting:

http://www.omega.com/prodinfo/infraredthermometer.html

these are some spiffy tools.

Thanks again for the advice--IR guns are pretty mysterious high tech gizmos to me, but pretty cool!

Comments

  • jimbo_6
    jimbo_6 Member Posts: 4
    Infrared therm accurate to read boiler temp?

    hi all!

    This is prolly a stupid question--

    I was wondering if an accurate quality infrared thermometer (the kind that reads a very small spot) will read water temps in an iron pipe close enough to be relied on?

    Since the gauges normally sit in a well but the infra gun reads the surface of the iron pipe, I wonder if Im wasting my time using one to double check water temps. Or, maybe a bare iron pipe conducts heat well enough that it should be close?

    PS Im a bldg manager is all. This is just to decide whether we have a problem or not.
  • Brad White_143
    Brad White_143 Member Posts: 22
    IR Guns

    Pretty darn accurate if you hit a spot painted ideally flat black. Bare metal pipe (especially copper but even steel) gives lower readings because of reflection and diffusion of the IR rays. Avoid metallic paint in any event; it proves the rule.

    A target spot of paint works wonders.

    Keep in mind you are reading the surface temperature of the pipe, not the fluid inside the pipe. So for comparison, a thermistor reading the surface and an IR gun should be within half a degree of each other.

    The surface temperature should be within a degree of the fluid within, but this too depends. Low or laminar flow will be less indicative than turbulence for example. Take a few shots and see.

    For constant readings, I use Azel dual digital thermometers and you can locate the read-out remotely. Accurate to 0.10 degrees F. Sensors look like and probably are Tekmar brand.

    IR guns are accurate enough to tell if a steam trap is failing, I know that well enough. Have fun!

    Brad
  • Ron Schroeder
    Ron Schroeder Member Posts: 995


    Actually any non metalic paint will give you a reading within about a degree of flat black. Even just sticking a paper label on the metalic surface as a targer will get you within 2 degrees.

    By the way, they are not as small of a spot as most people think. at 6 inches, the spot is a little over 1" with most of them. At 6 feet it is over a 1 foot spot.
  • Empire_2
    Empire_2 Member Posts: 2,340
    My thoughts

    I personally use surface probes for the reasons Brad mentioned. I you read the directions that came with the Infra red, It should state that shinny surfaces or any target with reflective characteristics can sway the reading and there fore are not as accurate as one might think. If you want the most accurate temp reading, surface probes are the one I choose to use.

    My .02 plus change....:-)

    PS, Brad I have used the infra red for steam trap diagnosis.....When I found my first failed trap I was like a kid with a new toy and hoped that many other traps were the same....:-)

    Mike T.
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