Kev Parkin wrote:
derek wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:21:42 +0000, Steve
wrote:

Kalico wrote:
I need to balance my CH systen and everyone on here has
recommended using an Infra Red thermometer rather than the cheap
clip on types.

Then the other day I got a mailer from a firm offering them for
£25, less for quantity.

Is that £25 plus VAT?

What about shipping?

Maplins have them for £29.95 inc.


Is this reasonable? I thought they cost a good £35-40 at least.

Also, if it is cheap, are there any others would like to get a
quantity order together with me, preferably living in the north,
so I can drop them off with you.

Hi Rob,

I'll order one too. We're in North Manchester

Steve


I've just bought the one from Maplin as suggested by others in this
group, I am pleasantly suprised by the quality, it appears to be a
well made sturdy unit with reasonable accuracy and repeatabilty.

I plan to use it to balance my CH system - when "the boss" gives me a
couple of hours off

Anyone else got one of these babies with any tips on using it for this
application.

Anything metallic/chrome/copper- put masking tape onto. Painted surfaces
are great.

I do get some weired results though when checking temperatures of
walls/ceilings etc: -2 degrees etc. Either I have a cold house (possible),
or not all surfaces/temperatures are suitable or I need to understand it a
bit better. Seeing as I don't have ice on my walls, I'm guessing its the
latter.

Great for balancing rads (in the end I used the bottom corner of the
radiator rather than the tail pipe as it was larger and seemed to give the
same reading), checking temperature of an oven, and for my parents, proving
that a new built-under oven was faulty. They had a problem that a new oven
was melting their new kitchen doors which had plastic coating. One side was
okay, the other wasn't. Oven manufacturer comes along takes reading
confirms 50 degree hot spot where melting is occurring. 2nd guy from
manufacturer comes along and says previous guy was a new guy and didn't do
the readings correctly. He confirmed a 2 degree temp increase - "no
problem - must be the cheap units" (surprise surprise, new guy admits
there's a problem, experienced guy knows not to find a fault!). I turn up
with my IR thermometer at Christmas and quickly see a 50 degree hotspot
where the melting is. We're guessing there's a seal problem somewhere.

Now - moral of this story? Contrary to what some people have stated - I can
see a good reason for buying an oven and kitchen together (from same
supplier). That way, should there be a problem like this, you don't have to
do the running around to sort it out. For example, if the manufacturer says
that its the cheap units at fault (not suitable for this oven) then they
were mis-sold and should get either new units, or more likely a more
suitable oven. If the oven is wrong, then its up to the kitchen retailer to
sort it out (which they've promised a new oven). Had they been bought
separately, then my parents would have had to prove to the oven manufacturer
that the oven was at fault, not the units, and then push for a
fix/replacement. Much easier for them to leave it with the kitchen company.

Though of course, you may pay over the odds for the appliances that way -
depends whether you want peace of mind.

D