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Outstanding accuracy, great feature set, and high quality

5.0

Overall I am very satisfied with this IR Thermometer (Flir TG54). It feels well built, has a beautiful display, and is extremely accurate. I will break down my thoughts by category.

Build Quality:
The build quality overall is great. It is very solid and made of durable glass reinforced nylon with soft rubber over mold. It has a nice weight to it, but is not overly heavy. One thing I do not like is that the edges where the clam-shell meets are rather sharp. It seems almost unfinished, like there should have been a de-burring process. I think for people using this a lot, the edges will soften with use. It's nothing major, but considering the high quality of the unit, it seems like an oversight.

Another excellent feature is that the TG54 is IP65 water resistant. I don't think I have seen this on any other IR Therm anywhere near this price point. It's not a feature that matters much for my use, but it is icing on the cake and may be important to others.

Accuracy:
For the price (see more on that below), you can't beat it with a stick. Not only does it have a huge distance to spot ratio (24:1), but the temperature accuracy is dead on. I tested this against another IR gun and against a high end Fluke thermocouple and it was within a tenth or two every time. Even at a distance it maintains accuracy and the tight S:D ratio allows for excellent differentiation and pinpointing of temperature variations.

Feature Set:
Again, the Flir is excellent here. It does basic temperature measurements with hold of course, but it also allows you to store up to three readings. Not only can you store them, but it has quickly accessible analysis modes that let you track min-max and variance between measurements.

This meter also has adjustable emissivity, with three presets and a customization option where you can set whatever you like. One really nice touch that I haven't seen mentioned in other reviews is that on the presets the background of the emissivity icon shows a rough estimation of the material it corresponds to. So like a rough surface for 0.95 and a dark metal and light/bright metal for the steal and aluminum settings. It not only gives the interface a more polished look, but is handy if you don't have an emissivity chart to hand.

The TG54 also has not only a laser pointer for aligning your readings, but includes an LED spotlight as well. I don't know how often I will personally use this, but it is a handy feature to have especially if you plan on using this in dark places like crawl spaces.

User Interface:
The color screen was one of the main reasons I bought this model and it does not disappoint. It is bright, easy to read at most any angle, and the GUI is well designed and intuitive. There are multiple menus you can move through and just the right number of buttons to make it easy and intuitive to use without being cumbersome.

I have noticed some reviewers complaining about the cold-startup time on this meter and they are not wrong. When first pulling the trigger after the unit has gone to sleep, it does take a few seconds for it to wake up and start measuring. That said, it is like 2, maybe 3 seconds. It is hardly onerous and (in my opinion) is somewhat to be expected given the type of display and amount of features.

Price:
I got this meter on sale for around $80 and am extremely happy with it for that amount. I think Flir is a bit proud of it at it's normal price. For $120-130, I would like to see the k-type functionality that you get with the TG56. Still, even at that price it still comes in less than pretty much any other 24:1 I could find. If you want it mostly for the looks and style, I would try and get it on sale. If accuracy is driver though, you can't go wrong even at regular price.

Complaints:
My chief complaint with this meter is that is uses AAA batteries in one of those round three-battery holders that you see in cheap flashlights. In my experience (and I don't know why this is) I get more leaking batteries with those types of holders than any other. I fear that if I leave the batteries in while it is being stored long term, there is a high chance of leakage. This is of course all anecdotal.

Other than that, the only thing I can think of is that the "barrel" on the TG54 is very short. If you are used to the traditional 'gun' style IR therms, it is a little awkward feeling in the hand at first. If you are used to other high end units like the Flukes, it is pretty much identical. This is really knit-picking though.

I am extremely please with this IR thermometer. I couldn't ask for more in regards to accuracy and features (outside k-type compatibility). The price is a bit steep, but you definitely won't feel like you've been taken to the cleaners after you get a hold of it, and if you can catch it on sale it's a total steal.

Verified Purchase Keith E. on Jul 26, 2018 I found this helpful (1)

Recommend to a Friend

TG54 IR thermometer is fast and accurate

5.0

This IR thermometer is extremely fast and accurate. I own a few other IR thermometers, but this one is drop rated, waterproof and feels great. The 24:1 spot means more accuracy from longer distance. I am VERY pleased. This unit has TWICE the distance range of my other units....

Jim Ames on Jan 12, 2016 I found this helpful (1)