On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 22:36:31 GMT, wrote:

On 27 Jan,
Andy Hall wrote:

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:49:04 -0000, "Christian McArdle"
wrote:

[snip good stuff, I totally agree.]


Yes and no.

If you use a surface probe thermocouple with shield connected to a
proper meter then the results are very good.

e.g.

http://www.tmelectronics.co.uk/hheldsur.html


I measured against an IR thermometer on a radiator and the two
correlated to within half a degree.

However, one would need to spend £100 or so for a reasonable meter,
themocouple adaptor and probe.

I would definitely go the IR method, it gives an accurate enough readout in a
couple of seconds for each radiator. By the time the thermocouple stabilises
you could have checked several radiators with an IR thermometer.

I agree with you that an IR thermometer is suitable for radiator
balancing. However, the shielded ribbon type of themocouple
stabilises in under a second.

Even I can't get around radiators that quickly :-)



It also showed up some cold spots in my walls and ceilings in a scan lasting
seconds rather than hours. I now have to get round to sorting out the deficit
of insulation.

--

..andy