Basic Problemchen

For quick reader (tl; dr).
- The device acts valent (pleasant surface finish) and works as described (but .... more!).
- The results must be taken with much caution (depending on the object to be measured).
- Unlike the thermometers often used (by which one measures in the ear and out), the device with a wealth of materials and a high temperature range has to be done.
-In My opinion, a device that most people more confused than good.
-It Works great, if you know the properties of the surface to be measured. However, there is no way to recalibrate the device.
-What Does not work: all that glitters or what a small surface has (bulbs, pot shelves ...)
-What Works great: walls, monitors (anti-reflective), refrigerator walls.

I notice the scoring difficult here. The unit works if you know exactly what you're doing quite well. But in everyday life that no one will understand quite ...

The device comes with a short but good description. Be noted that the measuring circuit becomes larger with increasing distance. This means that the further you want to measure the measured object distance, the more enlarged the circle, which is used for temperature determination. The guide also explains how different materials different well radiate heat (we know the drill: black things heat up indeed in the sun faster than light, etc).

Experiment 1: A cup of hot water. 10 ° error:
The reference used is a NiCr thermocouple. Thermocouples have the advantage to react very small too fast and quickly (because there are virtually only two twisted wires). The disadvantage is the complicated evaluation (is here done in multimeter). They are usually accurate (in absolute terms - because the room temperature must be available as a reference and this compensation can generate a few degrees) not particularly. But the attempt of boiling water was amazingly accurate "99 ° - I expect +/- 3 ° inaccuracy safety sobered The result I hold the device very close over cup (thus the loop smaller the diameter of the cup remains) and fair.. . the maximum temperature (stored on the "Hold" function) We are about 8 ° beside it (without the error of the thermocouple). Problem: the rising steam could affect the measurement.

Experiment 2: As in the cold. Low error:

In the fridge there in the top compartment quite uniform temperature. The jam was about 10 ° (yes that's right - you should the display of the refrigerator just do not trust).

Experiment 3: Some Like It Hot. Ceramic hob: 50 ° error:

A saucepan bottom is heated and now things get tight: The meter is above 50 ° danaben. This is due to the silver metal surface of the pot. Here the principle fails. But even the "pure" ceramic hob the result appears implausible. Apparently "slip" the measuring field on the glowing heating elements (result: the display is too high).
The cause of this "error" is the calibration of the instrument on an emissivity of 0.95 (see detail of the instructions above). The case of the polished metal surface is also expressly mentioned. The unit does therefore absolutely as described.

Teardown
The unit split is almost self (what I mean positive now). The good external impression is confirmed: the structure inside there is nothing to complain about. Images from the inside, visit my blog (search engine of your choice with "Zero Brain etekcity" feed).

Note:
Special tapes, there are now available for purchase, which achieve the required emissivity of 0.95. It sticks the piece of tape on the object to be measured, is waiting and can then read the temperature. This precisely specified bands can but rather go to the money!