Review on 🌡️ Enhanced Amprobe IR-730 Infrared Thermometer, Temperature Range -26F to 2282F, Ratio 30:1 by Jeff Payne

On paper, the Amprobe IR-750 is an impressive instrument. However, real use did not live up to expectations. This device was compared to a professional reference thermocouple meter as well as an inexpensive Etekcity infrared thermometer with a spot ratio of 12:1. ) The 50:1 spot ratio is a great claim. Most IR thermometers have a spot ratio of 10:1 or 12:1. We ran a heat source test using a 100W (yes, we found one) incandescent bulb that was 2.3 inches in diameter. Measurements were taken outdoors with a large space behind the source. The background heat (air measurement) was 85 degrees. The claim is that the IR-750 should be able to read at 9ft 7in what a 12:1 dot ratio device reads at 2ft 4in. Temperature readings were taken on each foot between 1 foot and 10 feet for both devices. The results were mixed. The IR-750 clearly had a longer range, showing temperatures well above background temperature at 9ft, while the 12:1 spot ratio at 3ft was significantly lower. However, the IR-750 behaved very strangely at all ranges. The temperature started out about the same as the 12:1 unit, but then went over 60 degrees above it for 25 seconds for no apparent reason. Therefore, the exact temperature could not be obtained from the IR-750. Disappointment. We then tested an ice bath and then boiling water. The emissivity was set on the IR-750 for water according to the instructions. The 12:1 device has a fixed emissivity. Our control was a professional reference thermocouple meter. The IR-750 measured temperatures a few degrees BELOW freezing point when hovering over water (no ice). The 12:1 device measured the temperature several degrees above zero. However, when we used the IR-750's wired thermocouple input, it read 11 degrees ABOVE freezing, which was very different from the IR reading. We tested the thermocouple ourselves against a reference device and found that the thermocouple proved to be fairly accurate. The input to the IR-750 seems to be the problem. When tested with boiling water, both devices were within 10 degrees of boiling at our altitude, with the IR-750 thermocouple only about 8 degrees above the IR input. All in all a disappointment, especially on the cold end. Finally, we tried using the IR-750 on a tripod. However, the mounting thread on the IR-750 is clearly embedded in the handle and our standard tripod could not reach the thread. The sliding door for the batteries is also not very well designed. Coordination is required to get the door to close properly again, and some of the very small plastic slides look like they could break easily. So we hoped this device was the perfect IR thermometer to justify the $200+ price tag. but in the end the 12:1 device (about $20 at Revain) gave about as good results when used in the real world.