Fluke 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
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Detecting hot spots in mechanical equipment, electrical circuit boxes, or outlets
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Checking for hot spots in firefighting situations
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Monitoring materials during heating and cooling processes
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Measuring and logging food temperatures during cooking, serving, storage, etc.
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Manufacturing quality control situations
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Heat Loss Energy Audits
Types of Fluke Infrared Thermometers
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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.
This video shows an example of an IR "gun" thermometer from Fluke, the Fluke 62 MAX. This thermometer is one of the toughest on the market and features two lasers for increasingly accurate aim.
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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.
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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.
This video demonstrates the capabilities and technology included in the Fluke VT02 Visual IR Thermometer.
Choosing a Fluke IR Thermometer
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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.
The distance-to-spot ratio (D:S) is the ratio of the distance to the object and the diameter of the temperature measurement area. The larger the ratio number is the better the instrument's resolution, and the smaller the spot size that can be measured. For instance, an IR thermometer with 50:1 ratio will accurately measure temperatures of smaller objects than an IR thermometer with a 10:1 ratio. If the D:S ratio is 10:1, measurement of an object 10 inches (25.4 cm) away will average the temperature over a 1 inch (25 mm) diameter area. A ratio of 50:1 will measure a 1 inch (25mm) diameter area that is 50 inches (127 cm) away. When selecting an IR thermometer consider the distance from the target to be measured and select a model with an appropriate distance-to-spot ratio.
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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.
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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.
However, IR thermometers recognize reflected, transmitted, and emitted heat, so the device must be adjusted to read only emitted heat in order to provide a surface temperature. A black body will have emissivity of 1 and objects will have a value between 0 and 1. Emissivity of common objects is generally available in the IR thermometer instruction manual or on the internet. Better IR thermometers have adjustable emissivity settings. Others have a pre-set emissivity of 0.95. For better results with these 0.95 fixed models use emissivity tape, available from TEquipment, on the surface to be measured. To learn more about emissivity tape, see the section "What is Non-Reflective Tape for IR Thermometers (Emissivity Tape)?" below.
Here is a table with emissivity values for common materials from Fluke:
Emissivity Table for Common Materials
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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.