Can anyone tell me if either of these temp. sensors would work?

[TheSweeney]

I'm looking to buy a temp gun but the only infrared non-contact sensors that I can find locally are out of my price range at the moment.

Can someone please tell me if either of the thermometers below would be alright for helping me tune my engine.

Cheers.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Products/Module.asp?CartID=040315133435956&ModuleNo=27067&MR=N

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?Addon=Y&CartID=040315133435956&moduleno=36138

I forgot to ask...... If both of them are ok, which is better/more suitable?

TIA

TheSweeney

 

[Waste Land]

I'm sure both of them can't hurt to have. I've been using a grill thermometer since I started. The only problem witht hat is, it takes awhile for it to show the temp because it climbs tot he current temp and those engine cool really fast as soonas they go dead so you'll usually get a reading of it being cooler than it was. Just getting an engine in the right temp witht he give a few take a few theory, it should be okay.

 

[TheSweeney]

Thanks for getting back to me WL.
I'm gonna take a trip to the electronics store that stocks them tomorrow to take a look at them.
As you said it wont be as acurate as a laser/infrared sensor but its gotta be more accurate than grabbing the heatsink and seeing how many layers of skin it removes pps:

Thanks m8.

TheSweeney

 

[dwr111]

Originally posted by TheSweeney
I'm looking to buy a temp gun but the only infrared non-contact sensors that I can find locally are out of my price range at the moment.

Can someone please tell me if either of the thermometers below would be alright for helping me tune my engine.

Cheers.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Products/Module.asp?CartID=040315133435956&ModuleNo=27067&MR=N

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?Addon=Y&CartID=040315133435956&moduleno=36138

I forgot to ask...... If both of them are ok, which is better/more suitable?

TIA

TheSweeney

Sure, but whats wrong with this:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEMG5&P=0

About the same price?

 

[lykan]

Hobby people has one listed fopr $24.00. I am thinking tho, what he is saying is that no one local carries one that he can afford at the moment. I actually picked one up at radio shack for $30.00 after tax last night. If you open it up, its the same thing as the duratrax. With a different shell.

I have to say, if you do a high speed run you need to check the temp right away. 15-20 seconds of idling and it can drop 15-20 degrees. Are these temp probes quick enough at checking temps?

BTW anythings better than nothing

 

[sbb4us]

for 40$ you can get a craftsman infrared one from sears (thats what mine is and it works great)

 

[TheSweeney]

Re: Re: Can anyone tell me if either of these temp. sensors would work?

Originally posted by dwr111



Sure, but whats wrong with this:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEMG5&P=0

About the same price?

Nothing wrong with that one m8, looks perfect and at a great price IMO, But I'm pretty inpatient and I can go and pick up one of the ones i mentioned tomorrow but one from Towerhobbies.com would probably take 2 wks at best. Thanks for the link though, I'm sure I'll be ordering one in the future now that I know T.H. ship to the UK.

Originally posted by sbb4us
for 40$ you can get a craftsman infrared one from sears (thats what mine is and it works great)

Sounds great, theres just one problem................My nearest Sears is a few thousand miles away :trout: only kiddin'with ya Thanks for the tip-off tho' its another one for me to look out for.

lykan: thanks for the advice on testing the temperature, I'll try and find out how well these two probes work tomorrow, but as you said anything is better than nothing.

Cheers all,

TheSweeney

 

[textim01]

yea i got the atomik one,its just like duratrak i think ,but it comes with neckstrap,spare batterie,metal stand on back,lock mode, and a padded metal carring case. it was $40 at e hobbies. a link at e hobbies right below where temp is for www.tempgun.com 1 there wth metal case, looks like atomik for $35

 

[olds97_lss]

Radio shack sells them as well for around $40. That's what I use and I really like it.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

It looks like the second one only pics up AMBIENT temps up to 50 celsius or 120 Farenheit. So I would not go with that one.

The first one looks like it may work. I can't say 100% though as I havent used a hard probe type yet.

 

[SkyMaxx]

Fellas, fellas...read closely. This member is in the UK (United Kingdom). Sears, Radio Shack, and all of those other really convenient for you in the US type stores are not so plentiful or convenient for him. He is asking opinions of what is immediately available to him. Telling him what you have and where you got it might be informative, but it certainly is not answering his question or helping him out.

To answer the question, they are better than nothing; however, that being said...they are not designed for what you intend to use them and will therefore probably not help you out too much. You may want to just hold off, save your coin and get the right kit when you can afford it. In the end, you'll be much happier and so will your RC.

 

[olds97_lss]

Didn't realize radio shack wasn't everywhere. You know, like mcdonalds.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

But the first one looks like it may in fact work. doesn't it?

 

[SkyMaxx]

Radio shack might be over in the UK, but not necessarily convenient to the fellow.

The first sensor might work, but it is not really a contact sensor. It is more of an ambient conditions sensor. Kind of like a thermometer you might put in an electronic equipment compartment to sense the temp of the air.

 

[Error401]

Originally posted by olds97_lss
Didn't realize radio shack wasn't everywhere. You know, like mcdonalds.

You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

IMO, Sky is right. Both thermometers might work, but my guess would be that they would be off in their readings. The infra red (no contact) thermometers read the IR signature of what you're measuring. The contact thermometers will read the air surrounding the sensor, not the actual part you're trying to read. We measure the temp of the plug with the IR meters. Sticking a sensor in the head will take a measurement, but it'll probably be (best guess) 20-30 degrees F lower than what it truely is. If it's reading 270, it may really be 300.

Save some coin, get something that's designed for the task. You may save yourself from cooking an engine.

 

[textim01]

if I'm not mistaken $25 at tempgun.com went down,doh! i just orered another from e hobbies for $35,looks exactly same

 

[TheSweeney]

Thanks a lot for all the advice fellas.
I eventually found a model shop (at the other end of the country ) which stocked the Atomik temp gun for 30 quid +P+P.
Should be here in the morning

Cheers folks,

TheSweeney

 

[sikz3]

Ebay has brand new Raytek mt4's for about $55

 

[Zaang]

i use the MIP temp gauge that you connect to your engine and sits on your vehicle so you know the temp all the time. bought one for both my buggy and MT and am very happy with them

 

[TheSweeney]

Thanks for all the replies,
I ended up getting the BMI temp gun which is exactly the same as the Duratrax, Atomik etc.
Works a treat.