Infrared Thermometers, Features, and more
Infrared thermometers use infrared energy to detect temperatures. Since they are detecting actual energy levels, the physical thermometer does not need to actually touch the surface for an accurate temperature measurement. They don’t even send out any information or infrared rays themselves, they merely detect them from a distance, sometimes miles away. Some are used for weather forecasting and research and are able to tell the temperature of clouds at high altitudes. They are also used in many manufacturing processes that have temperature requirements and especially useful for monitoring products on a movable production line.
Infrared thermometers work by focusing infrared heat onto a sensor that can convert infrared energy into temperature units. To do this it has to take into account the regular ambient temperature and calculate the difference. This takes up a minor amount of space, but makes an infrared thermometer much larger than one that only uses mercury. They are often configured into a pistol shape and some offer a laser pointer so specific areas can be pinpointed. The temperature is often indicated on a small digital readout and temperature readings are almost instant which makes them useful for comparing multiple temperatures in an area and for finding hot spots in electrical equipment.
They are also used to calibrate many heating devices, from furnaces to ovens used for cooking. Since they can detect temperature differences from a distance they are especially useful for tasks that prevent direct temperature readings to be made such as in large electrical components and arrays and the inside of car engines where parts are blocked from contact by other mechanical and hydraulic devices.
Emissivity plays a key role in infrared temperature detection. It is defined as the ratio of energy emitted by a material in comparison to how much infrared energy it emits. Something that is black is closer to the emissivity of infrared than something that is very reflective such as chrome or silver. Knowing the emissivity is essential to calculate temperature, and many of these types of thermometers have different settings depending on the shininess of the surface, one for chrome and shiny materials and a separate one for dark absorbent materials.
There are a few different types of infrared thermometers which are all useful in different ways. A pinpoint or spot thermometer detects temperatures in very small areas, sometimes less than a millimeter. They can be aimed around other pieces to allow for accurate temperature detection on hard to reach and see parts. Another type of infrared thermometer scans a larger area and is used in manufacturing processes, especially in the metal and glass manufacturing sectors with large automated production lines.
The third type of infrared thermometer is actually a video camera, translating heat signatures into easy to view color coded pictures that instead of displaying light, display heat. These are used by hunters, in law enforcement and by the military for various applications, usually the detection of people, animals and enemy vehicles. They can expose any warm object even if hidden very well.
