IR Temp vs Thermometer Temp

menchhofer said:

Just purchased new IR thermometer and have been playing with it around the stove. I also have two of the magnetic thermometers on the front and top of my stove

Checking the temps in the same place as the magnetic thermometers and I am finding a difference of about 100 degrees between the IR ther. vs the magnetic ones. Now I am more apt to believe my new toy over the older thermos...anyone else notice this difference?
100 degrees cooler significant.

Click to expand...

IR thermo are not the most accurate. They are great for diagnosing a problems with like a car radiator to see the flow thru the radiator ,or for looking for temperature differences

They are not good for reading the surface temperatures of a reflective or smooth, or rounded surface.

Generally any pipe surface

Surface geometry should not make a large difference. However, the emissivity characteristics of the surface will come into play. Don't expect to switch from the stove top to a stainless steel pipe without some correction from the emissivity of the two surfaces. This can be as simple as a knob or setting with the NCT or a number in your head that you add to the reading.

You may want to read through the owners manual or instructions that came with the thermometer and see if it is at least calibrated for a certain emissivity value. or how it may be adjusted.

Corey