DV Hardware reviews

The ThermoHAWK series are touchless infrared thermometers which allow you to check the temperature of almost any object. They are manufactured by Q3 Innovations, a company specialised in personal safety & monitoring devices. They seem to be pretty keen on the "HAWK" suffix as besides the ThermoHAWK series they also have the AlcoHAWK and UV HAWK series. The first ones are digital breath alcohol screeners and the latter are tools to measure the intensity of UV light.

There are four different versions of the ThermoHAWK. The ThermoHawk 200, ThermoHawk 400 and ThermoHawk 400L. The difference between the 200 and 400 model is the measurement range. The 200 goes to 110°C (230°F) while the 400 goes all the way up to 220°C (428°F).

The ThermoHawk 200 and 400 are designed as keychain attachment gadgets - the ThermoHawk 400L has the same specifications as the ThermoHawk 400 but features a flashlight at the end instead of a keychain ring. The 400L is a bit bigger and uses one AAA battery instead of two LR44 batteries.




Here's a look at the specifications:

Model ThermoHawk 200 ThermoHawk 400/400L Measurement Range -33 to 110°C (-27 to 230°F) -33 to 220°C (-27 to 428°F) Operating Range 0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F) 0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F) Accuracy +/- 2.5% from 100°-230°F +/- 2.5% from 100°-428°F Accuracy +/- 1° from 10°-100°F +/- 1° from 10°-100°F Resolution 0.2°C (0.5°F) 0.2°C (0.5°F) Response Time 1 second 1 second Distant to Spot Ratio 1:1 1:1 Emissivity 0.95 fixed 0.95 fixed Update Frequency 1.4 Hz 1.4 Hz Dimension 13 x 128 mm 13 x 128 mm Wave Length 5 um to 14 um 5 um to 14 um Weight 45.0 g 45.0 g Battery 2 LR44 Batteries 2 LR44 Batteries; 1 AAA Battery

In this review I'm going to take a look at the ThermoHawk 200, which is the cheapest model but maybe the best model for computer enthusiasts as temperatures in your case shouldn't go outside the measurement range of this model.



The unit arrived in a nice package which was easy to open. No scissors were required. In the package I found the ThermoHawk 200 thermometer, two LR44 batteries and a manual. Put the batteries into the unit and you're ready to measure some temperatures. Or if you want to use Celsius instead of Fahrenheits you need to search for a paperclip or something similar to push into the small hole on the back of the unit. This will switch the device from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice versa.



Small note: On some of the pictures it looks like the cap is painted in a totally different shade of grey than the rest of the unit. In reality this is barely noticeable.

Added: February 12th 2007
Reviewer: Thomas De Maesschalck
Score: 8.5/10
Related Link: Q3 Innovations
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