knightstar
Reno NV
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
I decided it was time to purchase an infrared thermometer to complete some testing on the Magic Chef refrigerator I am about to install in our motorhome.
Searching on "infrared thermometer" I only found one post, from quite some time ago, that gave some information on one brand, if I remember correctly.
I purchased two Mastercool infrared thermometers from Amazon at $45 apiece (free shipping, no sales tax), one for the kitchen and one for the motorhome. Since I didn't expect these to arrive for a week or so, I also purchased a Cen Tech infrared thermometer from Harbor Freight, $40 plus $3 sales tax = $43. Note that the Mastercool comes in a nice, tightly closed, plastic hasp clip, and also includes a round-dial, stem thermometer with a pocket clip. (I'd tell you about it but I haven't yet been able to get it out of the case.)
The Mastercool reads a 1-inch circle at 12-inches from the target. (2-inch circle at 24-inches, etc)
The Cen Tech reads a 1-inch circle at 8-inches from the target. (2-inch circle at 16-inches, etc)
The Mastercool’s readout is black characters on a yellow LCD screen.
The Cen Tech’s readout is black characters on what appears to be a phosphorescent-blue screen.
The Mastercool’s screen can be easily read quite a bit off-axis.
The Cen Tech’s screen can only be easily read if looking at just the right angle.
(At least by me, but then my vision is not quite what it once was. I really need good contrast, which the Mastercool screen has in spades.)
The Mastercool has one switch for choosing readings in Farenheit or Centigrade degrees.
The Cen Tech has one switch for choosing readings in Farenheit or Centigrade degrees and a second switch to turn the laser beam “ON” or “OFF”.
The Mastercool is powered by two AAA batteries in the handle.
The Cen Tech is powered by one nine-volt battery in the handle.
The two Mastercool units read temperatures from the same spot with only a difference of 0.3 degrees F between the two units. (77.1 vs 77.4)
The Cen Tech read the same spot, at almost exactly the same time, as 70.8 degrees F. (In checking my kitchen refrigerator, the Cen Tech says the refrigerator section is 27 degrees F and the freezer section is -8 degrees F. My other thermometers indicate 34 degrees F in the refrigerator and 0 degrees F in the freezer section.)
I much prefer the Mastercool infrared thermometer over the Cen Tech for its readability, its accuracy, and its use of AAA batteries. PLUS, for only $2 more, it includes a case and another thermometer.
Yep, the Cen Tech goes back to Harbor Freight tomorrow.
Steve
|
Calpine
Southern CA
Full Member
Joined: 04/19/2008
View Profile
|
Thank you. Good info.
|
J Walker
Oakton, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
A little difficulty in reading out the Harbor Freight infrared thermometer is not much problem but reading inaccuracies are. You can still use the Harbor Freight as a relative reading or to find hot spots in tires or radiator. Once you get used to the readings they might be useful. However, for the prices quoted there is no reason to buy a Harbor Freight unit. They do occasionally put them on sale and I don't remember the price but it is much less than $40. I have a ton of Harbor Freight stuff and have not been disappointed.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
1999 Cutlass
Brake Buddy
|
knightstar
Reno NV
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
J Walker wrote: They do occasionally put them on sale and I don't remember the price but it is much less than $40.
Hi Jim...
I should have mentioned: $40 is the sale price; $60 is the regular price. (Note: I round up one penny because a price of 39.99 is really 40.00 in my opinion.) There is also a smaller unit on sale for $20 which is regularly $25.
J Walker wrote: I have a ton of Harbor Freight stuff and have not been disappointed.
Yep, this is a first for me, also; although I may only have half-a-ton of their stuff.
Perhaps I should also mention: a pack of 100 11-inch tie-wraps is $2, the lowest price I have seen since I began purchasing them. (I use them to keep cabinets closed that I do not want our LittleOne to get into. She has already figured out the safety latches.)
And, last but not least, there's an air blow gun with 2-foot extension for $3, that should come in handy for squirting out hard-to-reach places in the motorhome.
"Hurry, sale ends September 22, 2008." Heh, heh, heh.
Steve
|
joshjack
Alabama
Senior Member
Joined: 11/01/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Might I suggest an alternative meter that might be more useful to the RV'er as we are always trying to consolidate and lighten our loads: MultiMeter with IR temp.
I don't have one of these but a friend has several sold under Craftsman and he loves them!
J
03 Ram 1500 Quad Cab with Hemi 5.7, HD tow package, K&N Cold Air, B&W Companion + Ball, Prodigy,
1987 Prowler 27.5',
Macbook Pro 17" (Fastest Vista Laptop  , iPhone)
Me and the DW and our
2 Dogs: Jackson (golden), Pumba (min-pin)
|
|
|
knightstar
Reno NV
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
joshjack wrote:Might I suggest an alternative meter that might be more useful to the RV'er as we are always trying to consolidate and lighten our loads: MultiMeter with IR temp.
I don't have one of these but a friend has several sold under Craftsman and he loves them!
J
Hi J...
I looked at the link you provided and that's certainly an alternative. However, the two user reviews of that particular unit were not very positive. I hope the Craftsman units are better.
Steve
|
Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 02/17/2007
View Profile
|
Dang Steve, you're just a testing fool! Keep up the good work.
Sam
Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah
2004 34' Damon Challenger 315
|
knightstar
Reno NV
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Hurricaner wrote:Dang Steve, you're just a testing fool! Keep up the good work.Sam
Heh, heh, heh, heh...
Ordered two more Mastercool IR thermometers; received them today. They both register the same temp for the same spot, both within 0.3 degrees F of the first two Mastercool IR thermometers.
"Why two more?", you ask. Because Mommy saw me using one and appropriated it for MOMMY'S USE ONLY. The other three:
One for KITCHEN USE ONLY so no garage chemicals get in our food.
One for GARAGE and other home uses, and one to be carried in the motorhome.
And this all began because I wanted to see what temperatures would be encountered when operating the Magic Chef refrigerator in an RV.
Shhheeeeesssshhhhh.
Steve
|
joshjack
Alabama
Senior Member
Joined: 11/01/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
knightstar wrote:joshjack wrote:Might I suggest an alternative meter that might be more useful to the RV'er as we are always trying to consolidate and lighten our loads: MultiMeter with IR temp.
I don't have one of these but a friend has several sold under Craftsman and he loves them!
J
Hi J...
I looked at the link you provided and that's certainly an alternative. However, the two user reviews of that particular unit were not very positive. I hope the Craftsman units are better.
Steve
Here's the craftsman unit: 81079 and it gets 4 out of 5 stars from reviewers.
J
|
knightstar
Reno NV
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
joshjack wrote:knightstar wrote:joshjack wrote:Might I suggest an alternative meter that might be more useful to the RV'er as we are always trying to consolidate and lighten our loads: MultiMeter with IR temp.
I don't have one of these but a friend has several sold under Craftsman and he loves them!
J
Hi J...
I looked at the link you provided and that's certainly an alternative. However, the two user reviews of that particular unit were not very positive. I hope the Craftsman units are better.
Steve
Here's the craftsman unit: 81079 and it gets 4 out of 5 stars from reviewers.
J
Hi J...
Checked out the link you provided. The Craftsman unit does look promising, but there is really only one review, a ratings-only review. I kinda like to read what people have to say about a unit before I make a purchase.
I hadn't seen a Craftsman website prior to your link, so I was a humorously surprised by the available option: gift wrap for $5.
Maybe someone here will purchase this Craftsman unit, use it for awhile, and provide a review.
Thanks, J.
Steve
|
|
|
