Condar vs Rutland test

[potter]

I thought I'd start a new thread to compress an earlier one. I tested these two after getting different readings. I also had exchanged the Rutland for another, it's behavior was the same as the first. I put them both in an electric kiln which is computer driven, so has a digital thermometer.
At 500*-
Condar- 540*
Rutland-450*

At 600*
Condar- 640*
Rutland- 525*

I still may buy an IR gun because I'm a little obsessive. The Rutland seems like more of a problem to me- as in when pushing the top end 75* might start to be a real difference.

 

[Highbeam]

Are these surface mount type thermos? or probes? I too would rather have a conservative meter. I've had my stove to 550 per my rutland and the redline is 600 so I may have overfired it!

 

[edthedawg]

I have a Rutland and an IR thermometer. I'm surprised by how "equal" they read to one another. Far more surprised how much variation I can observe across the top of the stove in the Heritage. I'll post a pic tonight of the exact spot where the Rutland lives (rear edge of front, center stone - if I used the top exit, it would almost be up against the pipe). The IR spot on that same location reads very close to the Rutland. 2" southwest or southeast, and i can lose 100+ degrees.

But all in all, I'd guess the Rutland is more accurate than I originally suspected it wasn't.

Your kiln could be reading a "furnace thermocouple (TC)" in a specific location, as opposed to the spot where these thermometers were perched?

 

[Patapsco Mike]

I bought a nice IR thermometer to check some things around my house just last week. I found out right away that my Rutland is 100 degrees higher than reality from 400-600 degrees. When the stove is 300 (by the IR thermometer), the Rutland reads 400, when the IR says 400, the Rutland says 500. I'm sure glad I checked, because it will dramatically affect how I run my stove now that I know. I took evasive action twice already fearing an overfire as my stove approached 700 degrees. Now I know it was only around 600 and I had nothing to worry about.

I also found out that my toaster oven is about 50-75 degrees low, but my big oven is spot-on... The thermometer is going to more than pay for itself very quickly. The next time my kids have a fever, taking their temperature is going to be a snap (just take a under-the-tongue temp!).

 

[potter]

Are these surface mount type thermos? or probes? I too would rather have a conservative meter. I've had my stove to 550 per my rutland and the redline is 600 so I may have overfired it!

These are the basic hardware store/ stove shop stove top thermometers bi-metal.

 

[potter]

I have a Rutland and an IR thermometer. I'm surprised by how "equal" they read to one another. Far more surprised how much variation I can observe across the top of the stove in the Heritage. I'll post a pic tonight of the exact spot where the Rutland lives (rear edge of front, center stone - if I used the top exit, it would almost be up against the pipe). The IR spot on that same location reads very close to the Rutland. 2" southwest or southeast, and i can lose 100+ degrees.

But all in all, I'd guess the Rutland is more accurate than I originally suspected it wasn't.

Your kiln could be reading a "furnace thermocouple (TC)" in a specific location, as opposed to the spot where these thermometers were perched?

It is a thermocouple and I placed them on a shelf nearly touching the end of the sensor.

 

[Nic36]

From reading several other threads and testing my own Rutland thermometer, it seems that most tend to read 100 degrees F too high. I was freaking out a little a while back when I thought my stove was getting too hot. I now realize it was no big deal, and I have an IR thermometer for more accurate measurements now.

 

[downeast]

Any other pseudo Luddites around that JUST HEAT WITH WOOD !! Am I alone in the universe ?

Gee dude, what else will that IR thingie do ? Boy oh boy, you could run around the mall checking body temps....dude. "Hey you with the nose rings, do you know you're 96.3 F " ?

 

[potter]

Any other pseudo Luddites around that JUST HEAT WITH WOOD !! Am I alone in the universe ?

Gee dude, what else will that IR thingie do ? Boy oh boy, you could run around the mall checking body temps....dude. "Hey you with the nose rings, do you know you're 96.3 F " ?

I'm new to heating with an EPA era stove. I like the idea of maximizing the efficiency of my burning. I like the idea of dumping as little smoke out of the chimney as possible. I like the idea of not overfiring and damaging this expensive purchase (stove). I don't own an IR gun , but might buy one because a combination of general curiosity and liking doing things right, and just, fun. So, like most things in life, it all comes down to personal preference and interest. Have a nice day.

 

[downeast]

Any other pseudo Luddites around that JUST HEAT WITH WOOD !! Am I alone in the universe ?
Gee dude, what else will that IR thingie do ? Boy oh boy, you could run around the mall checking body temps....dude. "Hey you with the nose rings, do you know you're 96.3 F " ?

Have a nice day.

Hey dude. As a curmugeon, please, do not tell me what to do with my time, Dude. %-P :zip:

 

[brooktrout]

Well, I knew the jig was up this summer when the rutland read 120 on a cold idle stove.

 

[Prada]

All I can say is that 'Hubby' has a pretty darn expensive IR thermometer and when he shoots it right next to the surface that the Rutland is on......they are pretty close in readings.

 

[BrotherBart]

Well, I knew the jig was up this summer when the rutland read 120 on a cold idle stove.

You need to air condition that house. :lol: