New Addition to Toolbox
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Cave City, KY USA
New Addition to Toolbox
Last fall I was having cooling problems, changed gauges, thermostats, water pump, and sensors. Finallly went to Spal 11" fans and cured the problem. Was very unsure which was the problem. Had the temperature checked at a couple of places with thier laser guns. I thought this was the neatest gadget that I had seen for a long time. Just purchased and received my digital laser thermometer yesterday. Found one on the net for the purchase price of $70. It will range from 0 degrees to 500 degrees. Have checked several things both in the garage and house. The biggest variation that I have found so far is about 2 degrees. Am very pleased with this new toy. Would recommend this addition to everyones toolbox.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (Roy M)
Cool Tool Huh? We use them at work all time for office space temps, chiller/ water pump head and 300hp compressor head temps. Quick and easy readings. Think I'll borrow it soon! :D :D :D
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (Roy M)
The tool is great for all temp measurments. Interesting comparison is to measure the water temp at the sensoe in the block and then at the radiator hose. What your inside the car gauge reads and what comes out of the block are different. More than 5-10 degrees and you have some plugged cooling passages in the heads. Just a use of the gauge.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (Roy M)
So what do you do with this? Point the laser at something, it will tell
you the temperature?
How far away can the surface be and still tell the temperature?
It is just reading the surface temperature, no? So you're not getting really
the actual temperature of the coolant, or the internals of the block,
just the value on the surface of the block, rubber, etc....
So where did you get this device - this definitely sounds like a neat thing
to get...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Cave City, KY USA
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (adam)
Yes, you just point and shoot. Think that it is accurate up to a distance of about 4 feet. Good enough to check anywhere on an automobile. If you shoot say the temp. sending unit, is should reflect the same temperature that is showing on your gage. Also, it should give a reading of the surface temperature of say the thermostat housing. The thermostat housing would be heated up by the flow of coolant so you should get a fairly accurate reading. I might be worng on this but this is how I have seen people use this type of thermometer.
I purchased this device at the following: http://www.officeshops.com/hobby/raytek.htm
I purchased this device at the following: http://www.officeshops.com/hobby/raytek.htm
Racer
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 292
Likes: 3
From: Chico CA
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (Roy M)
Another dandy use for this gadget would be to compare the temperature right at the exhaust port for each individual cylinder. If the engine's 'missing,' this would make it super-easy to figure out which cylinder!
I want one!
I want one!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (BadjerJim)
I searched the web for a while on these items. You should see the varied
usages for them. From the drag racers, to the pet owners to the fruit
pickers to the air conditioning to the electrical workers, etc...
So yes, anything that get's hot can be checked. The sensitivity among
all the units is 1 degree and 2 degrees of accuracy. Some units have an
8:1 focal point allowing a greater distance for temp checking. Not
much difference for the rest.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: East Providence RI
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (Gordonm)
I wonder how accurate this is in liquid.. like if you were to open the rad cover and point it into the coolant.. not that I would ever do that, just thinking about possibilities for this in my profession :)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (Anar76)
I wonder how accurate this is in liquid.. like if you were to open the rad cover and point it into the coolant.. not that I would ever do that, just thinking about possibilities for this in my profession :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 6
From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (MIKER)
We use them in the HVAC field too. They are good for checking to see if steam traps are working. It's kind of amusing to point them at the clouds and get an accurate temp reading from miles away :D
AC
AC
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Cave City, KY USA
Re: New Addition to Toolbox (crankarm7098)
No, I haven't checked the header temperature yet. Have had several things going on since I got the gun, will do this in a few days and post back here the results.
