Alternative to expensive IR thermometer guns
 

Duratrax (and other companies) sell some rebranded no-contact infrared thermometers for $30+.

No need! Harbor freight sells THE EXACT SAME THING for $9.99. (look at the picture, and then go look at the duratrax one, it's a blatant rebrand) http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...ter-93983.html

Gotta love harbor freight for some things.

I have an Extek and Fluke IR guns. They both don't seem to be as accurate as the smaller ones like the one I linked above due to having a larger reading area. I guess when you read a smaller area like a motor can, the smaller units just work better. Sucks considering what I paid for my Fluke.

I bought mine at microcenter checkout isle. It was about $10 if memory serves me correctly. It didn't have a brand name at the top like the harbor freight one so I'm guessing lots of companies sell this same thermometer.

Either way, $9.99 is a pretty cheap way to measure motor temps! Figured I'd share my find.

For comparison, here's the duratrax one: http://www.amazon.com/Duratrax-Flash.../dp/B00144E8A4

Great find. For $10 you cant't go wrong!

Or they have a laser version for only $20!

http://t.harborfreight.com/infrared-...ter-93984.html

Ofna used to sell that in orange. http://www.worldofrcparts.com/temper...-gun-ofn10155/

You can't go wrong with harborfreight, but who is truly rebranding who? There are so many duplicates out there you can't tell who makes it.

As far as the original post calling them the same, the Harbor Freight temp gun measures up to 230°f where the Duratrax measures up to 428°f. The HF one is fine for those running electric only, but not sufficient for nitro. I own several of the HF ones so this isn't a slam against it, along with several other brands and a pricey pistol style laser one and use them all from time to time. Just wanted to clarify that just because they look the same, the specs listed are quite different. For ten bucks, nice to have one or more in the pit box.

Hmm, I'll have to check my microcenter one to see what its limit is

In all honesty, the HF and the Duratrax may be the same or manufactured in the same sweat box, just remember when I bought one from Harbor Freight I noticed that the specs were different. I do really like how the HF one shows the outside air temp. I often strap it to a belt loop during the summer when I'm on a roof job just to see how much hotter it is while working on a roof :eek:.

I got a pistol-style temp gun with laser and backlight for $15 shipped on ebay. Works great, has a nice rubber coating. It feels more expensive that it costs.

It was this style: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Infrared-The...item2332268778

I have two of that style, a mid priced extech one, and a high priced fluke one, and both just don't feel consistent. one reason could be that they have a different reading "area" depending on the distance i hold it away from what I'm measuring, but it could also be misaligned with the laser dot. i might have to break out a k-type thermocouple and test all my IR thermometers to see how they all compare in accuracy

I've always wandered how can we tell which of these guns are the most accurate and consistent! I have 2 exergen IR guns. The 'old' flat square unit and the newer version. Both measure my nitro engines and give the same reading +/- 1 degree. Now this to me gives me some confidence that they are at least calibrated the same and the consistency is there. Ive not tried it against a cheaper gun but I'd be surprised if the accuracy and consistency is the same as the exergen? Its probably close enough at a guess...
The Harbourfreight is a nice find nonetheless and is a good option to those on a tight budget!

Forget the laser pointers for our use. If you move back enuff for the laser pointer to match the area being read the area is so big it renders the reading inaccurate. Put the meter right up against the part.
The reason the Exergen is so good is quality of material and the fact it uses 9 separate sensors and then computes the measurement.

Gotta hold them REALLY close. They are more accurate this way. The laser pointer is really meant for machining and automotive uses where heat may build up in larger areas. Our heat is concentrated, so get that thing right up in there! :nod:

should learn how to use them tools properly fellas

proper IR tempguns measure a spot of diameter
usually 1/4 the distance between u & the surface
(eg if you're 4' away then the measurement spot is 1' round)

gee these gizmos are disposably cheap now :)
Got my Raytek back when they were like $200 & .12s barely made 1hp :D