Introduction:
Up for review today is the
ThermoHAWK
200, compliments of CrazyPC. It
is an Infrared thermometer in a penlight form that can measure the surface
temperature of anything that your little heart desires. The ThermoHAWK is
available in two forms: the 200 and 400. The 400 actually has a penlight and can
measure temperatures up to 428° F (220° C). The 200 model will only measure up
to 230° F (110° C). The accuracy of the ThermoHAWK is claimed to be +/- 1° C
(1.8° F). Also included are two watch type batteries and a lanyard with a
keychain. Time to test the
ThermoHAWK 200 out on some surfaces and see how well it
really functions.
Specifications:
A Little about Infrared:
Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic
radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than
that of microwave radiation. The name means "below red" (from the Latin infra,
"below"), red being the color of visible light of longest wavelength. Infrared
radiation spans three orders of magnitude and has wavelengths between
approximately 750 nm and 1 mm
Infrared thermometers measure temperature using
electromagnetic radiation (i.e. infrared) emitted from an
object. They are sometimes called laser thermometers if a
laser is used to help aim the thermometer, or non-contact
thermometers to describe the device’s ability to measure
temperature from a distance. By knowing the amount of infrared
energy emitted by the object and its emissivity, the object's
temperature can be determined.
The most basic design consists
of a lens to focus the infrared energy onto a detector, which
converts the energy to an electrical signal that can be
displayed in units of temperature after being compensated for
ambient temperature variation. This configuration facilitates
temperature measurement from a distance without contact with the
object to be measured. As such, the infrared thermometer is
useful for measuring temperature under circumstances where
thermocouples or other probe type sensors cannot be used or do
not produce accurate data for a variety of reasons.
A Closer Look:
The
ThermoHawk
200 has the
approximately the same diameter of a Sharpie, although it is
not as long as one. The housing is metal and the IR sensor is protected with a
friction fit metal cap. The fit on the cap is very tight; at first I thought the
cap screwed on and, well, after several seconds of turning the cap, it still
didn't come off. Once my common sense finally kicked in, I realized I had to just gently wiggle the cap
from side to side and it will pop off. (DUH! I hate when that happens!)
Retail front |
Retail back |
Manual |
On the main body of the
ThermoHawk
200 is a LCD.
This display shows the temperatures of the surface that the IR sensor is pointed
at. There are 2 buttons on the main
body. One is recessed in the main body of the ThermoHAWK and this controls
whether you want to read the temps in Celsius or Fahrenheit. The other is button
is used to activate the sensor to get temperature readings.
Comparison |
Power button |
Access for F°/C° |
Snug fit cap |
Cap off |
LR44 |
Battery cap w/ lanyard
|
Batteries installed
|
Paper clip to switch
from F° to C° |
On the back end of the of the
ThermoHawk
200 is a lanyard.
This lanyard has a snap clip that can attach to a belt loop or just about anything
you might want it to clip to. It also has a key ring for, well, you know... KEYS!! The lanyard
attaches to a screw-on cap on the back, and under the cap is where the batteries
go. The
ThermoHawk 200 comes with two LR44 batteries and these are easily
installed. After the batteries are installed, choose if you want to read the
temperatures in Celsius or Fahrenheit and it's ready to go.
Testing:
IR sensor
|
Digital readout
|
IR sensor versus
thermo coupler |
In the section on the definition of infrared
thermometers, it mentions that the IR energy is focused onto a detector. If you
look at the front of the
ThermoHawk
200 with the protective cap off, you will see a
conical shape or funnel that directs the IR energy towards the sensor. The
sensor has a Distance-to-spot ratio of 1:1, which means at 1 foot away it will
read a 1 foot area. Testing is rather simple: point the device at an object and
push the button. This will display the heat of that object on the LCD screen. I
will also be using 1 other temperature probe to see how accurate of a temp
the unit will give.
Conclusion:
I measured a bunch of surfaces around the house with
and without the second thermometer and the
ThermoHawk
200. When comparing the
results of each thermometer, the results between the two were quite close,
anywhere from .10 to 1.2° F. However, using a calibrated thermometer would
certainly have given more accurate readings, but I think the results I came up
with were probably pretty close to accurate.
So, what does this say about
the
ThermoHawk 200? My impression is that it is a well-made little device that
functions just as it should. It is very versatile; the uses for it are
practically endless. The fact that it is small, as well as the added features of
the lanyard and keychain, make it an excellent choice for anyone needing such a
thermal sensor while on the job or out in the field.
Thanks again to
CrazyPC
for sending in the
ThermoHawk 200 for review!
