Just What Is Uncle Lo Soldering With - CE IR Thermometer Repair

[SgtRock]

Greetings EEVBees:

--Just what in tarnation is Uncle Soldering with? Goats Milk. This (see pictures below) CE Infrared Thermometer was working fine when I put it away a few months ago. When I went to use it, this morning, the battery was kaput, and it still would not fire up even with a new battery. When I took it apart there was a whitish gunk all over the circuit board. Several good cleanings with rubbing alcohol and an old tooth brush, restored full functionality. It agrees fairly well with my Fluke 87 with K type thermocouple.

"Happy for you to desoldering, please."
Wun Hung Lo 1948 -

Best Regards
Clear Ether

[free_electron]

Ah .., harbor freight quality.  I got one too ... It works fine but it sucks the life out of the battery , even when off ...

[Shock]

I'd like some of that with my flux residue sugar and cornflakes

[SeanB]

The best quality non residue solder, at the lowest price of course.................

[DavidDLC]

Ah .., harbor freight quality.  I got one too ... It works fine but it sucks the life out of the battery , even when off ...

Time to turn on your variable power supply, set your multimeter and make some current measurements of the unit in standby !

[tom66]

I have the one-hung-lo one from China, around £10 on eBay.

Within about 1deg of my thermocouple so that's good.

Rated to 380°C, but got it to measure a burning wood fire at >560°C before it showed overrange (all dashes on display.) Not sure if accurate -- but it meets specs.

Stby consumption is about 1uA, pretty good, and only 10mA running. Should work for some time. One thing you must look out for. If you plug in new battery but DON'T press the trigger it draws ~5mA continuously in standby. Once you press the trigger, the thing wakes up, about 30 seconds later it then goes into sleep mode when it draws the ~1uA. Seems processor doesn't enter sleep mode until it shuts down first time.

[SgtRock]

Dear Tom66:
--I decided to check my CE Brand for current, as well; Standby 80 µA, Trigger Down w/laser 22 mA, and Trig Down wo/laser 11 ma. I used two different Fluke meters to be sure. In any case I am storing mine with the battery out. I think I will buy one of the new super cheepies from Uncle Lo, for comparison. I will report back.

"Measure twice. Cut once"
Norm Abram 1950 -

Best Regards
Clear Ether

[T4P]

W/o laser 110mA?  that's not right eh.
11mA you mean? My Cheapie from DX that i bought for 16.99USD is called the Benetech GM300 (If you search elsewhere, GM300) but it feels pretty decent though but it seems impossible to take apart

[SgtRock]

Dear T4P:

--You are, ofcourse, correct Sir. I will modify my post. Thanks

"Measure twice. Cut once"
Norm Abram 1950 -

Best Regards
Clear Ether