I want to have a look at a few things heat related, for example I want to check my heated seats work ok, I could do with finding out why one of our bedrooms is colder than others, that sort of thing. I was wondering about a thermal camera but they're not exactly cheap. Even the mobile phone driven ones are three figures at least.

Is there anything else that could give similar results? I don't need the fancy graphics to see what is hot or cold, but I do want at least a little bit of accuracy (down to half an inch or so). Any thoughts or recommendations?

if your looking for cost effective solution have you thought about infrared thermometers ?


I got one of these a couple of years ago and its pretty good for the money (although the price seams to have gone up £8 or so since...)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AT9TON0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i got mine for the garage a few odd jobs, but i've used it in the kitchen most often

just remember that any infrared sensor (basic one or full featured camera) will have issues with things that are reflective or transparent to IR (ie most metal's reflect etc... but there are ways of dealing with that)


[Edited on 25/11/2020 by mcerd1]

I have one of those thermometer gun things with the laser dot. If you hold down the trigger it continuously reads what temp it sees. It's very handy for scanning along walls looking for cold spots etc. I got it as a birthday present after some hinting but I don't think they are expensive. If you point it at a clear sky it reads about - 50 or the temp of the clouds and at the stove goes over 800 deg. A meter away it's about an inch area its looking at. Can spot if a cylinder is not running right or a brake is binding, electric connections in the house are over heating, if the kids are trying to bunk of school with a alleged temperature... Loads of uses.

Aha, that's what they're called! I'd seen similar device on cooking programmes and even as Covid health checks, but didn't know what they were called.

I think they might be the best option, especially with that continuous measurement option. I was kind of worried that I'd have to be fairly close or the resolution wasn't good, but an inch area at a metre range sounds pretty usable.

Thank you both.

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Originally posted by Slimy38
I think they might be the best option, especially with that continuous measurement option. I was kind of worried that I'd have to be fairly close or the resolution wasn't good, but an inch area at a metre range sounds pretty usable.

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Mine cost £14.99 a couple of weeks ago at Lidl. At that price I wasn't expecting too much but its far more accurate than I thought. Instant result on taking someones temerature, I don't have to bleed the radiators anymore as it shows a cold spot at the top if there is air in that radiator, misfire on one cylinder at peak revs - temp reading shows which, adjust spark gap a little and it shows if that is a success. More useful than I expected

quote:

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Originally posted by ianhurley20
Mine cost £14.99 a couple of weeks ago at Lidl. At that price I wasn't expecting too much but its far more accurate than I thought. Instant result on taking someones temerature, I don't have to bleed the radiators anymore as it shows a cold spot at the top if there is air in that radiator, misfire on one cylinder at peak revs - temp reading shows which, adjust spark gap a little and it shows if that is a success. More useful than I expected

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it is IR thermometer. bigger distance, less accurate reading, because sensor picking up wider area