HardwareHeaven: ThermoHawk 200

Q3 Innovations, LLC is a company that exists to aid in personal safety by developing and creating innovative monitoring devices that could help prevent serious injury (or worse) if not monitored properly. One such device is the ThermoHAWK 200 – Touchless Thermometer. It’s a nifty little gadget that can provide the instantaneous temperature of equipment or other items without actually making contact.

The ThermoHAWK Series – which includes the 200, 400, and 400L -- was first introduced to the public at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2006. They are the first pen-sized, non-contact infrared thermometers of their type on the market. As of this writing, the Patent is still pending on the technology used. The ThermoHAWK 200 operates on two LR-44 1.5V batteries. (Shown in photos below.)

When this ThermoHAWK 200 (hereafter referred to as TH-200) was first received via UPS I was greeted by a very compact package that was easily accessible. There was no need to use any scissors or knives to cut through plastic.

Everything needed to function was included. Within five minutes I was trying it out to make sure it was in working order.

In order to function the end cap needs to be removed by simply sliding it off from the tip. This then reveals the “business end” of the TH-200 where the IR signal emanates.

Then just hold the tip of the TH-200 near to and pointed at the surface you wish to read and then press the small button just above the LCD panel. Within half a second the reading shows in the LCD and will remain for several seconds without the button being depressed. Anytime the button is depressed the temperature is reset. Once the item is scanned it’s just a matter of turning the TH-200 enough to read the digital display.

Temperature shown is in Fahrenheit

The numbers are large enough to be easily read and can be displayed in either F or C by using the end of something like a paperclip to change the setting. The insert point for this is on the reverse side of the TH-200 from the activation button and can be readily seen in the following image.

To give an idea of the actual size of the TH-200 the photo below was taken while holding it in my hand. You can also see the F/C readout insert point in this image just to the right of the text.

As you can see in the above photos, the TH-200 comes with a key-ring holder as well as a belt loop/purse hook. Since I wear an extra set of keys attached to a belt loop, it was an easy matter to add this to it and take it with me. And that’s just what I did!

I carried the TH-200 with me to my granddaughter’s birthday party earlier this evening and started showing it around during the party. It got everyone’s attention and even prompted some inquiries about where it could be purchased and how much. We’ll give you some details about that shortly.

In the meantime, just what are the specifications and practical uses for something like the TH-200, you might ask? Well, I’m glad you did!

SPECIFICATIONS:

Should the user wish to measure higher temperatures, they would want to invest in the TH-400 or even the TH-400L. The 400L includes a flashlight but does not come with a keychain.

USES:

Pretty much any environment where temperature readings are needed without taking the risks of actually touching the material or object.

Computer Hobbyist/Enthusiast: How many times have you heard someone talk about how hot his or her VPU or CPU was to touch…even possibly causing a blister? Well, with the TH-200 there’s no touching necessary at all. Just point and press the button and you know instantly what the current temperature is.

Automotive Maintenance/Repair: Many people today are doing some of their own repairs and maintenance on their vehicle/s. But, when is something still a little too hot to handle? It’s easy enough to find out without getting burned! Just use the TH-200 and it’s a snap.

Even in cases where injury isn’t a risk, it can be very useful and helpful. For example:

Food Service: In this environment, food temperatures can be read without actually touching, and thereby possibly contaminating, the food.

Others: It’s easy to imagine using a device like this in many other situations: Office, Recreation, Hobbies -- just to mention a few more.

AVAILABILITY and COSTS:

An updated list of retailers is posted at the manufacturer’s website. For those looking for bargains, Amazon.com looks to be the best source. Prices range from around $39.99 – to just over $60 US.

CONCLUSIONS:

Now that we’ve introduced you to the ThermoHAWK 200, what is my opinion of it?

Pros:
-It has an attractive and sleek design.
-It’s small and very easy to take with you.
-It’s compactness makes it easy to get to hard-to-reach places.
-It actually has some weight and feels very sturdy.
-The operation is very easy and the instructions very simple.
-The LCD is very crisp and easy to read.
-The Batteries are easily installed and replaced as needed.

Cons:
-Although the temperature reading is almost instantaneous, the accuracy range of error of +/- 2.5% can become a problem in critical read situations. This means that, at 100F, the actual temperature can be anywhere from 97.5 – 102.5. I’m not sure that should be an acceptable range of error. At much higher temperatures is can be the difference between just very hot and boiling over.

- The End Cap can be a little bit of a nuisance to remove if the fingers are moist or sweaty. Although I had no problem removing it in our test environment, in actual usage, it might be better if the cap had some texture to it to aid in situations where moisture is present.

-The Activation Button has no protection from being activated by accident. If the TH-200 is being carried in ones pocket or purse, it could very easily be pressed under these circumstances and cause undue batter drainage. Additionally, there’s no information available as to what might happen if the button is depressed for long periods of time emitting that IR signal while the batteries are draining.

-Having to use a paperclip (or similar wire) to make the change from F to C (or vice versa) is an encumbrance I think isn’t necessary. A better design would be to have an accessible slide or swivel switch to make this adjustment without needing any object that may not be readily available.

-Cost: Although very attractive and useful, I was able to find similar types of touchless thermometers for considerably less and easily available from tools and hardware stores. I’m not sure I would be inclined to purchase this item at its present MSRP if I saw one on the shelf. The decision is more difficult when realizing other similar devices are available at a much lower price of around $10 – 15 US.

In all fairness, though, a final analysis would likely be better made after a period of time to see just how practical and durable the TH-200 is over other similar devices.

MANUFACTURER INFO:

Q3 Innovations, LLC was founded in 1999 with headquarters located in Independence, Iowa, USA. Along with the ThermoHAWK Series of touchless thermometers, they also make the AlcoHAWK, which is a FDA-approved digital breath analyzer.

More information about these products can be found on their website: http://www.q3i.com