Dont believe those Rutland mech coil temp gauges.

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Seasoned Oak

Minister of Fire
Oct 17, 2008
7,215
Eastern Central PA
I just bought an infrared laser temp guage. Quite a neat little tool . Whats amazing is how far off my mechanical rutland temp guages are. My 4 year old rutland is reading too low from 50 to 60 degrees . Go another one about 3 months ago and that one is a whopping 100 degrees too low. Im going to see if here is some way i can adjust the rutland gauges.
I noticed some of the guages at the store were already reading 150-200 degrees in a room temp store so i got the one that was reading about 75.
 
I had one of those rutland thermometers and when I bought the liberty my dealer gave me a condar. So I thought I would test them both out side by side to see with one was better. Turned out if I remember correctly the rutland was reading 100 to 150 degrees lower than the condar, so now the rutland is somewhere in the landfill.
 
Yeah i found that that out myself recently now i am going by just my probe in the flue. Also using more common since after that going to get an ir gun.
 
I had one of those rutland thermometers and when I bought the liberty my dealer gave me a condar. So I thought I would test them both out side by side to see with one was better. Turned out if I remember correctly the rutland was reading 100 to 150 degrees lower than the condar, so now the rutland is somewhere in the landfill.

My Condar magnetic (ChimGuard) model is spot on according to our IR thermometer, as least as far as can be told considering the "resolution" of the Condar's markings. ;lol

Bottom line, I trust my Condar.

The Rutlands sound horrible. I'm glad I don't have one.
 
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I just bought an infrared laser temp guage. Quite a neat little tool . Whats amazing is how far off my mechanical rutland temp guages are. My 4 year old rutland is reading too low from 50 to 60 degrees . Go another one about 3 months ago and that one is a whopping 100 degrees too low. Im going to see if here is some way i can adjust the rutland gauges.
I noticed some of the guages at the store were already reading 150-200 degrees in a room temp store so i got the one that was reading about 75.
Yep. I have three stove top thermometers. Each by a different brand. Each one is off by 50-200 degrees.

I just use them as general estimates. The infrared is used if I want a more exact reading.
 
I think both brands are junk. Up here the Condar is about 20 bucks and lasts a year for me. By the time the next season comes it is all messed up. They are not exactly an accurate scientific instrument,Just look how cheaply built they are. I use an IR meter now .
 
Nah, they are crap. Harbor Freight has an infrared thermometer $59 on sale right now for 19 bucks. Goes up to 900 degrees. Think I will get one. The reviews look good on it.
 
Nah, they are crap. Harbor Freight has an infrared thermometer $59 on sale right now for 19 bucks. Goes up to 900 degrees. Think I will get one. The reviews look good on it.


It works well. I just changed the 9V battery for the first time today. I've had it a couple years now IIRC.
 
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I have to wonder why we think the IR thermos waving in our hand are more accurate. Just saying...
 
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I have to wonder why we think the IR thermos waving in our hand are more accurate. Just saying...
Mostly cuz when we point them at a known temp, say a body part, they are accurate. I took it outside today thermometer said 41 IR said 41 . Indoor digital thermometer said 78 Ir said 79. Pretty close.
 
Condar, Rutland, Meeco's are just a few that I have.. All are off and all are cheaply made.


Get a Tel-Tru and never look back :)
 
I have to wonder why we think the IR thermos waving in our hand are more accurate. Just saying...
pointed at a pot of water on the stove - begins to boil at the Centech IR gun reading of 211-212F - whether its accurate at higher temps I don't know - I suppose one of us could check against Mercury with a boiling point of 674F.
 
Condar, Rutland, Meeco's are just a few that I have.. All are off and all are cheaply made.


Get a Tel-Tru and never look back :)

great - tel-tru - yet another gadget I see in my future to check out - sounds well made
 
Those crappy rutland guages are $15 . I only paid $24 for this IR Laser handheld guage from harbor freight. A small difference for a way more capable product. Range is -4 to 950+F. I also wanted the IR guage for other reasons like determining where the cold spots in walls are for insulation purposes.
 
Here is one with free shipping from the same person I bought mine from. Its works great for me. He had fast shipping.

It goes to 1022F.

Best one I could find for least money that goes to that high of temp, its has the laser pointer also, so you know the spot its taking the temp from.

$24.56 free shipping

Neiko Infrared Laser Aim Thermometer Gun, Non-Contact, Up to 1022F

http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Infrare...t/dp/B005K1N7F4/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A10QFO4IXVZNRN

Specifications

Temperature range: -30 to 550C (-22 to 1022F)
Accuracy: +/- 3C or +/-3% of reading -30 to 0C (-22 to 32F)
+/- 2C or +/-2% of reading 0 to 100C (32 to 212F)
+/- 3C or +/-3% of reading > 100C (212F)
Display spot size: 10:1
Repeatability: 1% of reading or +/- 1C
Response Time: 500ms
Spectral Response: 8-14um
Emissivity: 0.1 - 1.0 adjustable
Relative Humidity: 10-95% RH non-condensing
Operating Temperature: 0 to 60C (32 to 140F)
Storage Temperature: -20 to 60C (-4 to 140F) without battery
Power Supply: 9V 6F22 battery
Battery Life: 12 hours
Product Size: 165 x 80 x 41mm
Product Weight: 155g (without battery)
 
Mechanical spring type can wear from repeated heating and cooling so as they go out of calibration.

Digital technology has no moving parts expansion or contraction and is calibrated and has specifications that were tested to be with in specs.
Less likely to go out of specs.

You can pay more money and get IR Therm that are more accurate.
 
We never used a stove thermometer until we bought the Fireview. Now I'd hate to be without one. We also have one on the flue.

A Condar came with the stove and this is what got us started. We then purchased a Rutland at the hardware and were given either one or 2 more Rutlands. We also bought an IR and checked them. We ended up throwing all the Rulands away and bought another Condar for the flue.

As for them lasting, our 2 are now into their 6th winter and doing just fine.
 
Mechanical spring type can wear from repeated heating and cooling so as they go out of calibration.
.
My 5 years old rutland is more accurate than the one i just bought a few months ago. The newest one is off by 100 Deg. I did notice at the store (TCS)some of the rutland gauges were reading 200 degrees at room temp. THe one i got was reading about 75 deg and its still off by 100.
 
Both of my Condars are about 100 F cooler than my IR thermometer.
 
I know the Rutlands have a bad rap on this forum but I have 3 that are all at least 10yrs old. I compare them often to my IR. Not saying either is accurate but they all agree very closely.
 
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I know the Rutlands have a bad rap on this forum but I have 3 that are all at least 10yrs old. I compare them often to my IR. Not saying either is accurate but they all agree very closely.


Have not seen you in awhile. Just looked at your Signature??

Another Elm!! Nice.......
 
We never used a stove thermometer until we bought the Fireview. Now I'd hate to be without one. We also have one on the flue.

A Condar came with the stove and this is what got us started. We then purchased a Rutland at the hardware and were given either one or 2 more Rutlands. We also bought an IR and checked them. We ended up throwing all the Rulands away and bought another Condar for the flue.

As for them lasting, our 2 are now into their 6th winter and doing just fine.
Tonight, I ordered a few items from Rockford Chimney Supply (They advertise here, and support the forum.) One of them was a Condar Woodsaver stovepipe thermometer. If I hadn't been reading this forum, I probably would have bought a Rutland locally.

I've burned wood for over 30 years without a thermometer on the wood furnace, on the stove, or on the stovepipe. However, in making a new start with a modern EPA stove, I decided to give one a try.

I also looked at the IR thermometers at Harbor Freight. There were 3 reasons why I didn't go that route: (1) There were some bad reviews, saying the IR thermometers had crapped out. (2) The IR thermometer would be more bother to use. (3) I can't picture the Mrs using an IR thermometer, but I think she might watch the stovepipe thermometer.
 
Any other inexpensive options for continuous temp display? I like my IR, and am pretty much forced to use it on the insert, but having 3 stoves on 2 different floors... well its a pain having to get the thermometer each time. Especially when you go down to the basement and forget it. Is there any other accurate types of thermometers, perhaps electronic, that arent too expensive?