16
Operation
Application Considerations
Principle of Operation
Infrared thermometers measure the surface temperature of an object. The unit’s
optic sensor registers the generated thermal radiation which is captured by the
integrated thermal radiation sensor (IR sensor). The electronics commutes this
value to an evaluable displayed value.
The laser beam only supports locating the measuring point at the device under
test.
Field of View
The item, you want to meter, is not allowed to be smaller than the metering point
of the device; otherwise the display of the measurement result is not correct. The
smaller the object, the nearer you have to lead the device to the item (see
sketch).
Find the Hottest/Coldest Spot
Move the measurement device up and down with the laser switched on and scan
the device under test in this way.
That, What does not Work
At reflecting, shiny or polished surfaces (e.g. mirrors), there are reliable
measurements impossible; equally you cannot measure through glass. Here you
only get the surface temperature e.g. of the glass surface area.
Vapour, dust, smoke and the like can falsify the measurement result.
Emissivity
More than 90% of all organic materials and coated or oxidized surfaces have an
emissivity of 0.95. This measurement device is permanently preset to this value.
You get wrong measurement results, when you try to meter surface temperature
of shiny or polished metal surfaces. Furthermore, these measurements can cause
eye injuries (s. Safety Notes)!
If it is required, please cover the surface, to be measured, with a flat black paint or
mask the surface with a thin and heat-resistant adhesive tape. Using sticky tape,
please take care of that time which is necessary for adaptation to the surface
temperature.
