A thermometer is a very useful measuring device, it helps us to know the value of the internal energy of a body or system. In addition to its medical and laboratory use, in data centers it is essential to have a thermometer, as it allows us to monitor room temperature and prevent failures that lead to system crashes or irreparable damage to equipment. In industry, it helps us to verify the optimal functioning of sensors, machines or instruments sensitive to temperature variations.
The thermometer was invented in 1592 by Galileo Galilei, consisting of a glass tube with alcohol; when the alcohol heated up, it would begin to rise. Currently there are different types of thermometers and they all provide us with the same information, but in this entry we will learn in detail about the infrared thermometer.
Infrared thermometers, also known as laser thermometers or gun thermometers, are digital and have one or more laser diodes that allow us to point at an object, equipment, or instrument. In Figure 1 we can see some thermometers of this type.
These thermometers work by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by each object. The thermometer receives the radiation and, with the help of a sensor, transforms it into an electrical pulse, which is then processed by the internal circuits to display it on the screen. Some more current thermometers can store and send this information to our smartphone. In Figure 2, we can see a representation of how it works, using the example of determining the temperature of a cabinet with active equipment.
The aspects to consider when choosing the right one are:
Measurement range: The temperature range the thermometer can detect.
The ratio of measuring distance to measuring spot: This refers to the relationship between the distance from the thermometer to the object and the diameter of the measuring "spot." If the thermometer has a ratio of 50:1, it means the diameter of the "measuring spot" is 50 times smaller than the distance.
At INCOM we have the ideal digital thermometers to review your projects. Contact us for more advice and don't miss our other blog entries.
