Customer Reviews

La Crosse Technology IR-101 Infrared Thermometer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just bought one of these, and it seems to work pretty well. To answer the criticisms raised by the other reviewers:
1. Yes, it would be nice if it used AAA batteries instead of four LR44 watch batteries, but you don't need to pay $3. I found LR44s at [...] at ten for $10.
2. Yes, it would be nice if the Amazon product description stated the operating range, but you can easily find this information on the La Crosse web site. You can download the manual from http://www.lacrossetechnology.info/pdf/spec_items/IR-101.pdf and it states: -5?F to 575?F.

I liked this little unit when I first got it. I used it for a few weeks, then I set it aside for about 9 months. Understandably, the batteries needed to be changed when I went to use it again. Unfortunately, they use an LR44 watch/calculator battery, which my local electronics store wanted over $3.00 apiece for, and it requires 4 of those. So putting new batteries in it is 1/3 the cost of the thermometer itself! What's wrong with using a couple of AAA batteries?

Also, the batteries are exceedingly frustrating to replace. On my first attempt, the batteries weren't seated properly (which, again, is very difficult to do), so when the unit would not power on, I opened the battery compartment to try again, but found that the batteries were very hot. I finally got the batteries in correctly, but the battery life indicator showed that the $13.00 worth of batteries, that I just put in, were almost dead (shorting them together will do that). I just tried putting another set of batteries in, but after messing with it for a while, I decided that this thermometer is not worth my time. It is now sitting in the bottom of my trash can. Such a shame.

Now I start the hunt for a unit that uses inexpensive, AA or AAA, batteries.

I have owned this fine product for over two years. Using the same batteries it came with. I use it professionally as we are manufacturers (www.cool-components.com) of cooling products for audio/Video, home theater equipment, equipment racks and rooms. I would be sad if I lost this device and would replace it immediately. I have recommended this product to literally hundreds of people in the industry. The people at Lacrosse Technology are Minnesota nice and make a great little product. It's the lowest cost piece of test equipment I have and one I use quite a bit! We may even use them on our trade show displays.

I received this as a gift; it was dead out of the box. Installed new batteries (and the other review is correct, very bad battery case design); still dead. Emailed and called LaCrosse 'support'; no response to emails, 'support' line is an answering machine. No callback. Save yourself some aggravation and buy (or give) something else.