Amprobe IR-720 Infrared Spot Thermometer

Strengths:? Rapid and accurate measurement updates? One-Shot and Continuous measurements? Displays Min, Max, and Average values of multiple measurements? Simple and intuitive user interface? Solid constructionWeaknesses:? LCD backlight could be brighter and more uniform? Shallow LCD vertical viewing angleFull review:The Amprobe IR-720 is the best Infrared Thermometer I have used in a long time. What makes this product so useful is its speed and ease of configuration. The IR-720 comes on instantly when the trigger is pulled and delivers an accurate measurement in a fraction of second with updates every second after that. The user interface is so simple I did not need to read the manual except to make sure I understood the spot size and the emission factor table. Every option provided on the IR-720 is immediately useful and intuitive. If you haven?t used an IR Thermometer before, the IR-720 is the best product to start with in my opinion.I took measurements on every surface I could find including sheetrock walls, un-insulated steam pipe, 400 Amp 480V 3-Phase busway, 5000 Amp DC stacked copper bus bars, DC and AC switch gear, 120V breakers, stove heating elements, the engine of my car, and orange juice in the refrigerator. Some of these I could get a thermocouple on without a safety risk and measurements were initially accurate to between 5% and 18% of the thermocouple reading. When I calibrated the IR-720 using the emission table in the manual, measurements were consistently accurate to within 5% to 7% of the thermocouple reading which I attribute to the difference between the point-contact format of the thermocouple, accuracy of each meter, and the spot size of the IR-720. Accuracy will vary depending on what is being measured and it is very important to understand the relationship between spot size and target distance. Once I got familiar with the IR-720 and the emission values appropriate for the target, I could take an accurate measurement every time.The target does not have to be hot. Temperature measurements in a refrigerator or freezer are just as accurate. Liquids in glass containers work really well. Just remember that the temperature measurements on transparent surfaces are the temperature of the surface, not the object visible behind the surface. The manual states that you can?t take accurate measurements behind glass, plastic, or plexi-glass. I have tried it and can confirm that the manual is correct.The Amprobe IR-720 includes a built-in laser pointer that comes on each time the trigger is pulled. The laser can be enabled or disabled based on your preference or optical safety situation. The LCD backlight automatically comes on when scanning occurs but can be disabled based on your preference. The IR-720 includes a 1/4-20 UNC tripod mount and a ?trigger lock? mode that allows you to take MIN, MAX, and AVERAGE measurements over a full temperature cycle instead of trying to hold the meter in just the right place for an hour.The IR-720 is nicely constructed with a matte somewhat rubberized finish that feels secure and comfortable in the hand. The trigger feels very solid, has a short travel, and provides a positive click tactile feedback. All of the controls are simply and clearly marked and easy to understand. You won?t need the manual to start using this tool but I recommend reading it anyway to fully understand how to take the most accurate IR measurement. The LCD display provides large numbers for its size and is easy to read. My only complaint is that the LCD has a narrow vertical viewing angle of about 20 degrees above the perpendicular when indoors. Horizontal viewing angle left to right and vertical viewing angle below the perpendicular is very good at over 45 degrees in all three directions. The LCD is very stable with no unusual blinking or fading during updates. The LCD backlight is a bit dim in my opinion but is more than sufficient in low light situations. The IR-720 includes a black vinyl canvas carrying holster with a belt loop and holster strap that snaps in place.I initially used the IR-720 to look for overheating in switch gear, busway, and breaker panels at sites I have travel by air to get to. An accurate thermometer that is compact, rugged, and inexpensive is important to me because I need to carry tools in my checked luggage. A $1500 IR camera is overkill for my purposes. Using the IR-720 I can quickly scan for overloaded circuits in a load center, spot-check compressor motor and coolant line temperatures, find loose joints and plug connections in busway, and check for ventilation hot spots in data center bays and equipment racks. For about $100 it?s the best way I?ve found to perform quick and accurate temperature surveys in a data center or equipment room.

Amprobe IR-720 IR ThermometerIn the HVAC industry a good inferred thermometer is a must in your tool pouch. I have worked in the HVAC / Electrical trade for almost 30 years, as a Field Technician, Foreman, and Service Manager. All of my field meters get used & tested by myself and my field service mechanics every day.The IR Thermometer fits well in my hand and the tests, I did with a couple other brands, found this thermometer to be the most easy to set up and use. The lighted display is bright and lights up the entire display. The trigger will allow you to scan temperatures and will allow you to hold or average your temperature readings. The temperature response time was very fast and the laser pointer can be turned on and off as needed. I have used this IR thermometer for measuring bearing temperatures for potential motor failures and retro commissioning jobs. This thermometer has been a great troubleshooting tool when working with building engineers and temperature problematic areas.Cons:I have not found there to be any cons to this tool, it works just as advertised on the Amprobe website (www.amprobe.com) and in their HVAC products catalog.I have recommend this IR thermometer to my employees and other HVAC trade professionals.