IR thermometer

Jags, Thats actually pretty funny. I was thinking more along the lines of pointing it at myself to see how hot I AM. See how soon the wife calls me a dork. LOL>

Been there, still there.
The laser pointer is also an excellent diversion for the kitty cat.

How are you going to get the flue temp?
Of course, the closer you get to the target, the more accurate it is so of course, if you're like me, you'll have to open the door and stick your hand in there. Just kidding, but I aim it at the glass of the insert, and I do think I get a higher reading when I open the door, but I haven't done that lately!

What's also interesting is that when you aim it at something a little shiny, like an oil burner flue, you don't get much of a reading, so don't go confirming that with your bare hand (again, not that I would know or anything).

velvetfoot said:

Been there, still there.
The laser pointer is also an excellent diversion for the kitty cat.

How are you going to get the flue temp?
Of course, the closer you get to the target, the more accurate it is so of course, if you're like me, you'll have to open the door and stick your hand in there. Just kidding, but I aim it at the glass of the insert, and I do think I get a higher reading when I open the door, but I haven't done that lately!

What's also interesting is that when you aim it at something a little shiny, like an oil burner flue, you don't get much of a reading, so don't go confirming that with your bare hand (again, not that I would know or anything).

Click to expand...

Yep, reflectivity from the shiny metal. You need a surface that has low reflectivity. Funny, but flat black isn't really the lowest reflector, but works great for taking basic temperature readings. Interestingly, electrical tape would work the best (Scotch 33), but would melt on the surface of your stove or vent connector. Move it around on the shiny surfaces and probably use the highest reading to get the most accurate temp. The comment about moving closer to the target is also correct. These IR meters take an average of what they're aiming at. If you're too far away from the object you're reading, you'll get surrounding temperatures causing errors in your reading. Higher field of view (spot ratio) means that you can stand further back and still get accurate readings. This is a large part of the reason that you'll see these things ranging in price from $30 to $530.

I have learned that there is temp differance of 50-60 deg when shooting from the couch compaired to 6 in away.

All I need now is a remote control for my air settings and I will be all set

knotdodger said:

Just picked up a cen-tech thermometer from harbor freight today. Soon as I get home
I can give it a go. Any one use one of these??? Supposed to read from -4 f to over 900 f.
And I know it is probably here somewhere on the forum. But, What is more important , the
stove top temp or the flue temp????

Click to expand...

They work great.

And in answer to your question . . . yes.

To me both temps are equally important.

The stove top temp will let you know when you're reaching the overfiring temp (which is bad) and when you've reached an approxmiate temp when your secondary combustion will kick on and be sustained.

The flue temp will let you know when you're burning too cooly and potentially allowing creosote to build up in the chimney . . . and on the opposite end of the spectrum if and when you are allowing too much heat to go up the chimney which means a) not as much heat going into the living space via the woodstove and b) you might be reaching temps at which any creosote in the chimney can ignite.

So what I'm saying is . . . both are good to know.

KatWill said:

Jags, Thats actually pretty funny. I was thinking more along the lines of pointing it at myself to see how hot I AM. See how soon the wife calls me a dork. LOL>

Click to expand...

Been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.

I believe what she called me however wasn't a "dork" . . . it was a "geek" and she uttered a few other choice words and rolled her eyes when I told her that the thermometer indicated that she was very hot.

velvetfoot said:

Been there, still there.
The laser pointer is also an excellent diversion for the kitty cat.
. . .

Click to expand...

Yup . . . a great toy . . . I mean tool . . . useful for woodburners and for playing with the cats . . . the real cats that is, not the catalytic converters.

Remote control = "the little woman".
However most times the remote is inoperable.

Unless your couch is way closer than mine, or your stove is way big, or it wasn't that hot, or they're making them way better now (for $30 bucks?), I'm thinking 50-60 F difference is too small.

I like looking at the temp of the walls, ceiling, furniture, etc around the stove. Last year I found that the wall behind the stove was running very hot (150-170+) quite a bit which frankly made me very nervous. New install and that is the coolest wall - the side wall near the stove is now the warmest and I've seen it up to 90's which I'm quite comfortable with. Ceiling gets up to 90 as well which is fine with me - helps to heat that air moving across it eh?

I found it interesting to see the temp of the floor in the room that is above the garage - clearly an opportunity to rip out the garage ceiling and re-insulate! Hmm... this cheap IR thermometer is getting expensive quick.

My wife put up with most of this - her best laugh (at my expense) was when I checked the temperature of the pan as I was making pancakes over the weekend. I just wanted to know what the "right" temp was when it was in the zone of making perfect pancakes each time! of course I forgot to write it down and now I forget exactly... Eggs were around 400f though for a quick cook. Practical application - I know not to bother trying on the wood stove unless the surface temp is up there eh? So it's not all wasted data.

My Fluke 62 arrived a week ago. These things are addictive. I measure the mantle, hearth, walls, floor, and oh yeah the fireplace, too.

The hottest surface on my Brentwood is always the glass, which really radiates heat nicely.

Pete

I'm insulating the basement and go hunting for any leaks in the framing and around the windows with mine. It's funny the same people that want to borrow my battery charger, or chainsaw, want to take my iR thermometer home as well.
Cheers, K.K.S.