Porter Cable Infrared Thermometer Review

Last month Porter Cable announced two new infrared thermometers that are powered by either an 18V rechargeable battery or common 9V alkaline battery. Wondering how well the $60 devices compared to the other IR thermometers we have used before, we asked for a sample of the 9V version (PCC582) to test out.

Features

The IR thermometer features a -22°-590°F measurement range, ±1.8° accuracy, and 12:1 spot ratio. You press the trigger to turn on the unit and sample a reference temperature, and an LED beam signals if your measured readings are hotter (red LED), colder (blue LED), or within limits (green LED) compared to the reference as you scan across different areas. You can set the LED signal threshold to be 1°, 5°, or 10°F, or can disable the feature entirely. Up to 10 temperatures can be recorded and played back on the device, and a small button changes units from °F to °C.

A backlit LCD displays the reference temperature (top right), current temperature reading (bottom), threshold (top left), and when in playback mode it shows the recorded temperature.

Size, Build Quality & Design

The thermometer fits comfortably in the hand, and is built with a solid-feeling plastic body. It is larger than other units on the market, but this is not necessarily a bad thing as it makes the device easier to hold, point, and pull out of a tool bag.

Performance

Temperature readings were accurate and were verified with another non-contact IR thermometer and a thermocouple. The colored LED beam spreads out over a distance, seemingly corresponding with the size of the sampled area at that distance, and is bright enough even across normal sized rooms.

VS. the Competition

Dewalt’s IR thermometer, which we reviewed a couple of months ago, is about double the price (including 12V battery and charger), but offers more powerful measurement options and a higher temperature range.

Cheap Import Model – these can be found at quite a few retailers for under $20, and are more compact but with potential accuracy, reliability, and repeatability issues.

Fluke Mini IR thermometer – this model and others like it are more compact, have higher temperature measurement ranges, greater accuracy, and are more expensive, but are not quite as quick for detecting thermal differences.

Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector – the direct inspiration and backbone technology of the Porter Cable IR thermometer. The Leak Detector is slightly more compact but less rugged and does not feature the PC’s 10-measurement memory. Sensor specs are not available, but we assume the temperature range and accuracy are comparable. The Leak Detector is about $25 cheaper than than PC.

Conclusion

The Porter Cable infrared thermometer proved to be a very capable device. It has a tethered protector cap that keeps dust and debris away from the lens, a comfortable rubberized grip, and overall good feel to it. Taking individual measurements is quick and easy, and the thermal scanning feature and LED signal system performed well.

We recommend the IR thermometer, and prefer Porter Cable’s 9V model over the 18V one. But if you don’t need jobsite-tough build quality or the memory feature, the Black and Decker version looks to offer much of the same functionality at a lower price point.

Our only complaint is that there is no way to temporarily remove the dangling tethered lens/sensor cap.

Thank you to Porter Cable for providing the sample for this review unconditionally. Review samples are typically returned, donated, or in some cases retained for further testing or benchmark and comparison purposes.