Today I am reviewing the Flir TG54 and TG56 Spot Infrared Thermometers. Infrared thermometers use an infrared beam of light to measure surface temperatures of objects. The Flir TG54 and TG56 use this same technology, but are not just your average IR thermometers, considering Flir makes them. Flir’s products are definitely on the upper echelon of merchandise, so the quality and functionality easily competes with any other brand.

The Flir TG54 and TG56 IR Thermometers are great for a vast amount of applications such as diagnosing AC units, ventilation, bearings, motors, transformers, bad electrical connections, fuses, and more. Almost application that requires measuring temperature, the Flir TG54 and TG56 can help with.

The Flir TG54 and TG56 are designed with the user in mind with a great amount of cool features. First, the Flir TG54 and TG56 are equipped with laser pointers and worklights. The laser sight is quite standard for most IR thermometers these days, but the worklight definitely adds some functionality for use in dark environments. Second, the Flir TG54 and TG56 have adjustable emissivity and user defined high and low alarms. Adjusting the emissivity is actually very important depending on the kind of surface that you are trying to measure. For instance, the more reflective surface of polished copper would require an emissivity of 0.04 while the surface of oxidized copper would require an emissivity of 0.87. Obviously, not every user considers this huge and quite important difference. Adjustable high and low alarms are quite useful if the user has very defined thresholds to keep in mind. Third, the Flir TG54 and TG56 can withstand drops up to three meters (almost 10 feet) and have a simple battery compartment that requires no tools to open.

The differences between the Flir TG54 and TG56 is the distance to spot ratio and the TG56’s type-k thermocouple compatibility. The Flir TG54 has a distance to spot ratio of 24:1, while the Flir TG56 has a distance to spot ratio of 30:1. What this means is, the TG54 has a 1” circle of measurement at 24” while the TG56 has a 1” circle of measurement at 30”. The further the user backs up from 24” or 30” depending on the model he/she chooses, the larger the “circle of measurement” becomes. If the user is even closer than 24” while using the Flir TG54, the 1” circle will shrink and become even more precise the closer he/she gets.

Did you know IR thermometers are so accurate that some are designed specifically to check patient’s temperatures quickly and efficiently?