Thursday, September 8, 2016

Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector Review

The Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector is an excellent tool, and I haven't even tried it for its designated use yet. The TLD100 s positioned as an air leak locator, finding temperature irregularities that signal heating or cooling leaks.

In actuality, the TLD100 is an infrared thermometer. It can read the surface temperature of objects in a range from minus 22 to 302 degrees Fahrenheit, from a few inches to four or more feet away. Understanding this, you can see the versatility.

1. Say you microwave some leftovers for thirty seconds or a minute. Did they get hot enough? All over? I nuked some refrigerated casserole for six minutes. The TLD100 reported that the food had reached only 115 degrees. So I rezapped it for a couple more minutes and the TLD100 said it had reached 165, which is perfect.

2. I bought the TLD100 as an adjunct in locating a water leak. Yes, I realize that this is "off label," but think about this. I might be able to locate, say, the hot water pipe under the slab by noting floor temperature differentials. The unit is designed to compare questioned area temperatures with reference temperatures.

3. Open the fridge or the freezer and check their temperature.

4. Is the parking lot or the beach sand too hot to walk on in bare feet? Check the temp with the TLD100 and find out.

5. How cool is the air coming from your air conditioning vent? Measure the surface temp of the vent as a proxy.

6. How hot is the air coming from your heater vent?

7. Maybe measure the surface temp of your pool water. Bathtub water?

8. You can even use it for its intended purpose!!!

Bottom line: At the reasonable price it sells for, I recommend getting one of these TLD100 Thermal Leak Detectors. If you have kids, you could teach them about temperature and various surfaces. (Plants will have a lower temp than asphalt, for example.)

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