Ultimate Guide for Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer

Using a non-contact thermometer is an effective and convenient way to read the external temperature of an object or person from a distance. These types of thermometers use infrared energy to detect thermal radiation coming from the surface of an object or person, making them non-invasive tools that are easy to use if you know what you’re doing.

In this article, we have provided an ultimate guide for non-contact infrared thermometers to help you understand their benefits and how to use them properly. Keep reading to learn more!

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What Is a Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer?

A non-contact infrared thermometer is a thermometer that uses infrared technology to measure an object or person’s thermal radiation without the need for any physical contact to be made. This is incredibly useful when measuring the temperature of mechanical and electrical equipment or when dealing with sick patients.

These types of thermometers typically resemble the shape of a gun so that they can be easily pointed at an object and steadied for accurate measurement.

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How Does a Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer Work?

The non-contact thermometer is simply pointed in the direction of the person or object from a distance, and a laser emitted from the thermometer helps the user find a precise target to measure. Then, the thermometer measures the thermal radiation coming off of the object it is pointed at and displays a temperature reading on the screen. It’s as simple as that!

Because a non-contact thermometer reads thermal radiation, it measures the object’s surface temperature rather than the internal temperature. It does not penetrate the surface, but rather gathers information by sensing the heat coming off of the object itself.

Using a non-contact infrared thermometer for body temperature is a safe way to handle sick patients because the thermometer will not be contaminated.

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How Accurate Are Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers?

Infrared thermometers are extremely accurate when being used correctly. Not all materials give off thermal radiation in the same way, and a material’s ability to give off this type of energy is known as its emissivity. Emissivity is measured on a scale from 0.00 – 1.00.

When accounting for emissivity and being aware of the nearby object that might interfere with a temperature reading, you can rely on the accuracy of a non-contact thermometer’s temperature reading. Thermometers that feature adjustable emissivity rather than fixed emissivity, such as the ThermoPro TP30 Digital Infrared Thermometer Gun, are the most accurate and dependable option.

This feature allows the user to adjust the emissivity to account for whatever type of material they are trying to measure the temperature of. You will be able to use an adjustable thermometer on just about any surface material and know that your reading is precise.

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How to Use Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer?

Non-contact infrared thermometers are incredibly simple to use when accounting for nearby objects and a particular material’s emissivity. Here is a step by step guide for how to operate a non-contact thermometer effectively for an accurate temperature reading:

1. Power on the thermometer gun and hold the trigger until the laser appears
2. Once the laser is emitted from the thermometer, point it in the direction of the object you are measuring and hold the end of the laser stable in a precise, center location
3. Continue holding down the thermometer’s trigger while it reads the object’s temperature
4. Once the temperature has been read, the thermometer will display this reading on the screen for you to record or take note of
5. Power off the thermometer device after use

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Advantages of Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer Over Contact Thermometer

Contact and non-contact thermometers read temperatures differently and both have their uses.

The main difference is that a contact thermometer requires physical contact because it uses conduction to measure an object or person’s internal temperature. Alternatively, a non-contact thermometer using infrared technology to measure the thermal energy emitted from an object or person’s surface, reading the external temperature.

There are several advantages to using a non-contact thermometer over a contact thermometer, including:

1. The ability to use the thermometer from a distance, without having to make physical contact with the person or object
2. The ability to measure an object that is in motion or that has moving parts
3. There is never a risk of contamination of the thermometer because it does not touch the person or object
4. The ability to measure the temperature of an object that is physically inaccessible
5. The ability to measure temperature accurately and quickly without any wait time

We hope that this ultimate guide for non-contact infrared thermometers helped you better understand the benefits of using these tool and how to use them in a way that is accurate, safe, and incredibly simple. For the most accurate reading possible, we recommend using the ThermoPro TP30 Digital Infrared Thermometer Gun, which features adjustable emissivity and can be used safely on just about any material or person.