Fluke Thermometers

Fluke Thermometers

 

 

Fluke Thermometers

Fluke Thermometers come in a variety of styles and sizes to meet a range of needs. They consist of two main parts: the sensor and the display. The sensor is what measures the temperature. Fluke offers thermometers with contact and non-contact sensors, and some that feature both types of sensors. The thermometer display shows the user the temperature in a numerical value. Fluke thermometers all feature digital displays for easy reading of temperatures. Some Fluke thermometers also feature a Visual IR digital display that shows a thermal heat map of the area under test much like a thermal imager. The difference: Visual IR Thermometers from Fluke are cheaper and require no training.

Fluke thermometers are used in a variety of applications, including heating and cooling, appliances, aircraft, agriculture, food and beverage, and many more. The different types of thermometers have various unique features (such as waterproof or intrinsically-safe) that make them more effective and easier to use in these various areas. When choosing a thermometer, it is important to consider how it will be used.
 
Types of Fluke Thermometers

• Contact Thermometers. Contact thermometers measure the temperatures of materials by coming into direct contact with the object. They can be used to measure a variety of objects, and they are available in a range of styles and sizes to meet various needs.
  • Digital Display: The clear digital displays on digital thermometers are easier to read than traditional analog thermometers. All Fluke contact thermometers feature clear, large-digit digital displays.
• Infrared (IR) Thermometers. Infrared thermometers are non-contact thermometers that calculate temperature based on the amount of thermal radiation emitted by the measured object. They come in a variety of styles and sizes to meet a range of needs. Fluke offers gun-style IR thermometers, food grade IR thermometers, and Visual IR thermometers.

Contact Thermometers

Contact thermometers measure temperatures by coming into direct contact with objects under test. Fluke contact thermometers feature E, J, K, and T thermocouple temperature probe ports with better units featuring up to twelve thermocouple ports and even the smart INFO-CON port. Fluke contact thermometers can measure a variety of objects using different probe styles.

Configurations of Fluke Contact Thermometers to Consider

• 1 & 2 Channel Portable Thermometers. These Fluke Thermometers are designed for maximum portability and easy handheld use in any environment. These thermocouple-type thermometers are extremely affordable but are lab-accurate and made with signature Fluke quality.
• 4 Channel Benchtop Thermometers. These thermometers from Fluke Calibration are designed for lab use. Each unit features four input channels, PRT/thermistor/thermocouple sensor types, maximum accuracy of ± 0.0025 °C at 0 °C, and internal storage for up to 8,000 temperature readings. There are no better bench thermometers for the price.
• Data Logging Thermometers. These digital thermometers store data and record it for future reference and analysis. Because of this, data logging thermometers are frequently used in laboratories, audits, and industrial control situations for measuring differential temperature. Fluke data logging thermometers also come with included software for easy data transfer and analysis on your PC. Fluke data logging thermometers can store from 500 readings up to 15,000 readings internally on the best units.
• Infrared Thermometers. Some non-contact IR thermometers can also be used as contact thermometers. They come with temperature probes for contact readings. The Fluke 560 and 570 series of IR thermometers incorporate contact measurement capabilities via K-type thermocouple probes.
• Intrinsically-Safe Reference Thermometers. Fluke reference thermometers are designed to give the user accurate and consistent temperature readings wherever they are needed. These portable thermometers are extremely accurate to ± 0.05 °C and feature data logging and NIST calibration. These are hands-down the best alternatives to mercury-based reference thermometers because they don't contain mercury and maintain their accuracy at any temperature regardless of application.

Temperature Probes. Temperature probes are metal thermometers used to measure the temperature of a specific environment, such as a piece of meat or a liquid. They are often used in food preparations and laboratories. Many accessories are available, and they come in a variety of styles and sizes to meet a range of needs. T-handle temperature probes make it easier to hold while jabbing. Bead type temperature probes can be snaked around objects. Half-pipe shaped temperature probes fit around the circumference of pipes. When choosing a temperature probe, it is important to consider how the device will be used.

Find Fluke temperature probes here: Fluke > Accessories > Probes > Temperature Probes
  
High Accuracy Secondary Thermometers vs. Primary Contact Thermometers
 
There are two main types of thermometers: primary and secondary. Which category the thermometer fits in depends on how the temperature measurement is calculated.
 
The most common type is high accuracy secondary thermometers. They are widely used because of their convenience and accuracy. These types of thermometers must be calibrated against a primary thermometer.
 
Primary thermometers are more complex than secondary thermometers. These thermometers calculate temperature without any unknown quantities because the measured matter is so well known. For instance, these thermometers may be based on the equation of the state of a gas, on the velocity of sound in a gas, on the thermal noise, or other complex equations.
 

IR Thermometers

Fluke Infrared thermometers calculate temperature based on the amount of thermal radiation emitted by the measured object. They come in a variety of styles and sizes to meet a range of needs. Fluke IR Thermometers are used by HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, building inspectors, manufacturing technicians, food processing inspectors, and homeowners. Common types are gun-style IR thermometers, food grade IR thermometers, and visual IR thermometers. Some models also include temperature probe options for contact readings.
 
Possible IR Thermometer Applications

• Detecting hot spots in mechanical equipment, electrical circuit boxes, or outlets
• Checking for hot spots in firefighting situations
• Monitoring materials during heating and cooling processes
• Measuring and logging food temperatures during cooking, serving, storage, etc.
• Manufacturing quality control situations
• Heat Loss Energy Audits

Types of Fluke Infrared Thermometers

• IR "Gun" Thermometers. The majority of Fluke IR thermometers are gun-type. These units use a laser, or multiple lasers, to aid in aiming the thermometer. A Fluke IR thermometer is a good tool to help determine hidden hot and cold spots from a distance or up close, or to simply take temperature readings of hard to reach objects. They are also excellent for measuring temperatures of moving objects. Pocket-sized options are available.

 

• Food Grade IR Thermometers. Fluke Food Grade IR thermometers meet GMPs and HACCP requirements set by the FDA. They are used to ensure food safety, quality, and consistency by measuring and logging food temperatures during cooking, serving, cooling, storage, transport, and reheating. Fluke Food Grade IR thermometers combine an IR surface temperature scanner and a probe thermometer for added versatility.

  These Fluke thermometers are also hand-washable and feature unique HACCP check lights, which immediately indicate safe or potentially unsafe holding temperatures with either green or red lights.

• Intrinsically Safe Thermometers. Fluke offers a range of intrinsically safe IR thermometers. These thermometers have been tested and meet intrinsically safe certifications for Class I Div 1 and Div 2, or Zone 1 and 2 hazardous environments. This means that these thermometers can be used in petroleum, chemical, oil & gas, or pharmaceutical environments because they will not accidentally become ignition sources in possibly flammable environments.

• Visual IR Thermometer. Fluke Visual IR Thermometers combine the convenience of a spot thermometer with the visual advantages of a thermal heat map blended with a visual image, creating a brand new tool category. These revolutionary Fluke instruments are essentially cheaper thermal imagers that require no training. Simply turn it on, point and shoot. These units also feature adjustable image blending, "near" focus down to 6 inches, and SD card data storage for PC software analysis.

 
Choosing a Fluke IR Thermometer

• Field of View (FOV) / Distance-to-Spot ratio (D:S). The field of view is essential to obtaining an accurate temperature reading.  The target being measured should completely fill the field of view of the instrument. A measurement error can occur if the background temperature is different from the object temperature.  This is why distance to spot ratio is important when selecting a Fluke IR thermometer.

• Temperature Range. When selecting a Fluke IR thermometer, a wide temperature range is important. Since these thermometers are used in applications with very high and very low temperatures, the thermometer must be able to accurately measure these temperatures. This is especially important in food and beverage applications as well as applications that measure frozen materials.
   
• Adjustable Emissivity. Emissivity is the ratio of energy radiated (invisible heat) by a material to the energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature. It is the only type of heat that can be used to measure the surface temperature of an object. Reflected and transmitted heat cannot be used.

• Data Capture.  When selecting a Fluke IR thermometer, look at the data logging features. Many store dozens of readings either internally or via SD cards and feature connectivity options that allow for easy recording and analyzing. Fluke includes its SmartView® or other PC software with capable thermometers at no extra charge.

What is Non-Reflective Tape for IR Thermometers?

This tape can be used with IR thermometers that have fixed emissivity rates to increase accuracy when measuring shiny objects. Simply place the tape on the object being measured and allow time for it to reach the same temperature as the object. Use the taped spot as the measuring spot.