The Learning Center

For professionals and other serious users of ThermoWorks products, here you'll find a growing collection of technical articles, tips, videos and other resources to help you do your job. Find info on instrumentation, sensors, measurement and control, calibration and a variety of commercial applications.
Thermoblog
Boiling Point Calculator
Food Safety Mistakes
Glossary of Terms
HACCP
Infrared Emissivity Table
Proper Ice Bath

Featured Reads

Calibrating Your Infrared Thermometer with a Properly Made Ice Bath
Calibrating Your Infrared Thermometer with a Properly Made Ice Bath To calibrate your infrared thermometer with an ice bath: Step 1: Fill a large glass to the very top with ice (crushed ice is preferred but not required). Step 2: Add very cold water until the water reaches about one half inch (1 centimeter) below the top of the ice. Note: If the ice floats up off the very bottom of the glass at all, the ice bath is likely warmer than 32.0°F (0.0°C). Pour off any excess water. Step... Read Now
Getting an Accurate Temperature Reading with Your Thermapen
Getting an Accurate Temperature Reading with Your Thermapen The Thermapen Thermocouple Technology The Thermapen® has a micro-thermocouple located at the very tip of its probe shaft. A thermocouple is a set of two heat-sensitive wires that produce a voltage related to the temperature difference. This technology is typically found only in professional-grade thermometers and is what sets your Thermapen apart from other digital instant-read thermometers. Because the micro-thermocouple is so small, your Thermapen need only be inserted at least 1/8 of an inch (3 millimeters) to get an accurate reading.... Read Now
Properly Calibrating an Infrared Thermometer
Properly Calibrating an Infrared Thermometer Infrared thermometers can be calibrated for accuracy just like other thermometers. In calibration labs (like the A2LA-Accredited ThermoWorks Calibration Laboratory in American Fork, Utah), technicians use industrial black bodies (like the IR-500 Portable IR Calibrator) to calibrate infrared thermometers. Black bodies approximate zero reflected ambient radiation and therefore the unimpeded emission of infrared energy for a given emissivity value (typically 0.95). Short of using a black body, the next best way to calibrate your infrared thermometer is to use a simple, inexpensive Infrared Comparator Cup.... Read Now
Fresnel Lens Thermometers
Fresnel Lens Thermometers Fresnel lens thermometers (like the ThermoWorks IR-Gun-S or IRFS) are the most common type used in the food industry. Unlike the mica lens, the fresnel thermometer lens is typically plastic, which offers several key advantages. Fresnel lenses... are less expensive than mica lens thermometers are more durable and will survive drops better than mica lens thermometers can offer tight spot diameters at a greater distance than no-lens thermometers are typically more accurate at a 6" to 12" distance than other technologies Fresnel lens thermometers often come with... Read Now
Why Use Infrared Thermometers?
Why Use Infrared Thermometers? Infrared thermometers are ideal for taking temperature measurements at a distance. They provide relatively accurate temperatures without ever having to touch the object you're measuring. This is useful when it's impractical to insert a probe into the item being measured, or if the surface is just out of reach and a surface probe will not do the job. You might use an infrared thermometer to measure objects that are: Fragile (computer circuitry)Dangerous (gears, molten metal)Impenetrable (frozen foods) Susceptible to contamination (foods, saline solution) Moving (conveyor belt,... Read Now
Calculating the Proper Emissivity Setting
Calculating the Proper Emissivity Setting ThermoWorks provides an Emissivity Table with the emissivity rating of many common materials listed. For measurements of many materials, inputting the right emissivity value is as easy as checking the chart. Chart values, however, are just estimates. The actual emissivity of a surface you're trying to measure will vary slightly depending upon its color, thickness and even its temperature. Verifying the precise accuracy of an infrared measurement can take a little more planning. This is particularly true when your infrared thermometer is set to lower... Read Now