A pocket infrared thermometer works much like its larger counterparts, in that it measures infrared energy that’s been put out by the object having its temperature measured.
Before we delve into how a pocket infrared thermometer works, let’s talk a little bit about infrared energy itself. Infrared energy is unique because it is a measure of how fast molecules happen to be vibrating. If a molecule is hotter, it’s vibrating faster, and if a molecule is cooler, it’s vibrating more slowly. Therefore, how fast a molecule happens to be vibrating determines its temperature — in fact, infrared energy. The molecule vibration, in other words, creates infrared energy, which can then be measured to determine the object’s temperature.
A pocket infrared thermometer works much like its larger counterparts, in that it measures the infrared energy that’s given off by a particular object. It does this through a conversion process. First, the thermometer receives the infrared energy; then, it converts it to an electrical signal, and then it changes it into a temperature reading.
How does an infrared thermometer measure infrared energy?
The electromagnetic spectrum of light contains infrared energy. Other forms within this spectrum include gamma rays, x-rays, microwaves, radio waves, and ultraviolet light. Infrared energy’s wavelength is longer than light’s is, so it can be measured in three distinct ways, as reflected, emitted, or transmitted energy. A pocket infrared thermometer measures the energy emission of a particular object. Within the thermometer, there are a series of mirrors and lenses that condenses the infrared energy that’s been emitted onto a detector, and the detector changes that emitted energy into an actual temperature that can be measured in degrees.
Infrared thermometers can detect three kinds of energy: reflected, emitted and transmitted infrared energy. Because of this, you’ll have to adjust your thermometer per manufacturer instructions to just read emitted infrared energy rather than the other two types. Only emitted infrared energy can give on accurate reading of an object’s surface temperature.
If you’re going to be reading the temperatures of several objects, use an emitted infrared energy guide. Most of the time, emitted infrared energy will be 0.95 for objects, but in some cases that number will be different. The guide will tell you how to adjust the thermometer so that it can read a given object’s energy emission.
Using a pocket infrared thermometer:
Like its full sized counterparts, a pocket infrared thermometer can be used for a variety of applications where a regular thermometer just won’t do. It’s especially useful for measuring temperature on things that are hard to reach, very hot, hazardous to touch, and so on. Some of the most common uses for a pocket infrared thermometer may be around the home in automotive use or for other temperature related applications.
Some pocket infrared thermometer models are sophisticated enough to take on the jobs normally sized infrared thermometers would do. For example, this type of infrared thermometer is used for a variety of commercial applications, including food production whereby food temperatures need to be measured accurately.