Infrared Thermometers

Infrared Thermometers (Non-Contact Thermometers)

Infrared thermometers, also commonly known as non-contact thermometers, are becoming more popular than conventional contact measurement thermometers because they can accurately and quickly determine temperature without having to make any physical contact. They are very easy to use, most are just point and press one button.

Contact vs non-contact thermometer

Given that traditional mercury thermometers are no longer available in most countries, today the thermometer choice is generally between a digital contact thermometer and an infrared non-contact thermometer. Digital contact thermometers require the thermometer to be placed in the mouth, underarm, or anus and must be thoroughly cleaned afterward. Because infrared thermometers do not require contact they require less cleaning and the temperature of multiple persons can be read in seconds. Infrared non-contact thermometers are highly popular in workplaces, daycares, and schools. Some models come with advanced measurement and memory functionality.

Lastly, one of the greatest advantages of non-contact thermometers is their fast response. In fact, the measurement shows up generally within one to three seconds. They can be used on fussy children who do not like anything touching them. This could turn out to be the biggest incentive for struggling parents. Read "Infrared Thermometers - a Major Step Forward in Home Healthcare" for a history of the evolution from the mercury thermometer to the new point and press infrared thermometers.

IR Thermometer Benefits

• Safe temperature measurement - It does not matter how hot or dangerous the object is whose temperature is to be determined. With the help of an infrared thermometer, keep enough distance so that you cannot injure yourself while measuring the temperature. Examples of these are machines that have run hot, objects that are live, or acids.
• Very fast measurements - With professional devices, the temperature measurement sometimes only takes ten microseconds, with infrared thermometers for private individuals a maximum of one second.
• Very large measuring ranges - Although it depends very much on the device in question, you can generally measure temperatures from -50 to +4,000 degrees Celsius with an infrared thermometer.
• No wear and tear - When using infrared thermometer, there are no signs of wear and tear due to the lack of physical contact - neither on the measuring device itself nor on the object whose temperature is to be measured.
• No measurement errors in the classic sense - There are no measurement errors due to insufficient contact between the sensor and the object. In return, of course, measurement errors occur at other points

The most important features of Forehead thermometer

• Measuring range for temperature - Before you buy a touchless thermometer, you should think about how high or low the temperatures are likely to be that you want to measure with the device later. The measuring range of the IR thermometer should of course correspond to the project.
• Accuracy of the measurement - All additional functions are useless if the measurements with the pyrometer are imprecise. You should therefore clarify beforehand how high the accuracy of the desired device should be at least. Do you just want to see a temperature trend or do you need precise results?
• Optical resolution - IR thermometers measure the temperature of a certain point with the help of so-called measuring spots. The larger the distance to the object, the larger the measurement spot. High-quality infrared thermometers are equipped with better lens systems, so that reasonable results can be obtained even at greater distances. Inferior quality measuring devices become very imprecise at larger distances.
• Setting options - With high-quality no touch thermometers, numerous setting options can be modified, such as the type of surface and the emissivity of the respective material. When setting the type of surface you have to pay attention to the so-called K-value , which represents the heat transfer coefficient. The lower the K value , the better the thermal insulation.
• This is usually not necessary for private purposes and only makes sense if you need exact values.
• Background - Lighting The background lighting is not important for the functionality of the device, but it can be extremely useful in darker measurement environments.
• Time per measurement - Measurements with infrared thermometers can generally be carried out very quickly. The different devices vary between a few microseconds up to a maximum of a full second. Of course, the following applies here: the faster the measurement, the better the IR thermometer. A very short measuring time is especially important if you want to make a lot of measurements within a very short time.
• Babies and toddlers are less afraid of an infrared thermometer because it does not have to be introduced to them.
• There is no need to clean or disinfect the thermometer , as the temperature measurement is non-contact.

How do Infrared Thermometers work?

An infrared (IR) thermometer is a device that measures the temperature of surfaces based on the intensity of infrared radiation. A thermal IR sensor, usually built into a hand-held device, is pointed at the surface to measure temperature and display it as an accurate number. These sensors use rapid radiometric technology and typically measure surface temperatures in less than one second.

The object’s temperature is directly linked with the amount of infrared energy it emits. Hot objects, or objects that have a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, will emit a greater amount of infrared energy than a cool object. All objects emit infrared energy, even when they are cold. The colder an object is, the more slowly its molecules move and the less infrared energy is emitted from it.

An infrared thermometer is a device that houses optics that collect the radiant infrared energy from an object and focus it. It operates on the principle of thermal imaging, which utilizes the different intensities of various levels of infrared radiation to measure temperature. Temperature measurement is then deduced by an algorithm that converts these intensities into temperatures. The optical design and introduction of semiconductors have increased their accuracy and reliability over time.

What is the maximum distance that an infrared thermometer can measure?

Depending on the brand and weather condition, most IR thermometers have a maximum measuring distance of around 100 feet (30 meters). This is due to the limitations of infrared radiation, which can only penetrate materials up to a certain depth. The type of material being measured will also affect the maximum measuring distance.

Contactless Thermometer Stand

A tripod for an non contact infrared thermometer is a device used to keep the thermometer in a set position while readings are being taken. It is usually constructed from three metal legs, each of which is able to be adjusted at various heights. These adjustments allow the user to get a reading from different heights and angles within a room.

Talking Infrared Thermometer

Talking infrared thermometers work by measuring the infrared energy emitted by an object and calculating the object's temperature. Infrared thermometers usually emit a beam of light, watch for how long it takes for the light to return to the sensor, and calculate how far away the object is.

Halo Healthcare offers a wide range of clinically validated infrared thermometers in Canada and US so you can decide which one is best for you.