[Vwdiesel] Diesel talk for beginners --( known here sometimes as

[Val Christian]

My ears were ringing.  I must drive a VW diesel without an intake shroud.

PIR, Passive Infrared Radiometer, aka passive IR pyrometer.  For about $39,
you can get one (Sears even sells them), which has a laser diode to assist
in pointing.  I have several.  My best one is about $159, and goes to rather 
high temps.  The $39 ones typically go to 500F.

The laser on them is only for pointing, and in the case of two lasers, they
are setup so that converging beams indicate a given distance, where the 
"spot" size measured is a given diameter (say 1" at 18" from sensor).  
They have frenel lenses, and they are passive, which means they don't emit
any energy, except for the 550 nm red laser, if you use it.  (I don't
bother.)

Generally the cheaper ones are not as good at absolute measurements, but 
are very accurate with relative measurements.  For example, my $39 one will
get the temp of a tire within about 3F, but will accurately differentiate
the tire tread temps across the face of the tire.  Also the cheaper ones
tend to be high end limited (typ 500F, but some go to 750F), and low 
end limited to -25F.  

They are radiometers, and they measure the "color" of the temperature of a 
body.  Anything you would buy assumes an emmisivity of 95%, which is typical 
of painted surfaces and flesh.  Shiny metal, glass, and flat black paint
may have different emmisivities, but generally the errors are just a few 
degrees.  

One of the first uses I made of one was to find the fouled plug in a plane
engine.  Ran the engine on the problem mag for a couple of minutes and then
shut it down.  Then I got out, and pointed the PIR at the exhaust stacks.
All were 450F, except for one at 120F, which was the one corresponding to
the fouled sparkplug.  Now an old mechanic would just spit on the manifold,
and get the same information.  However, that old mechanic, has problems 
measureing temps across a tire on a front end, to detect scrub, abnormal
footprint problems, etc.

The device is handy for measuring the temps in a duct, when working on 
airconditioning, and there are thousands of household uses, including 
finding the hot and cold spots in the freezer and refrig.  Now I know where
to put the beer.

I've used very expensive PIR devices and cameras, and they can be nice toys
and do useful things.  To own allot of tools, and not have one is silly.
Put it on your birthday wish list.  

Oh, you can point it to the clouds and measure the temps aloft at the cloud
layers.  A clear sky, day or night, will be very cold.  If it's hazy, you
can get temp readings of the haze as you approach the horizon.  

Poorly written, and so much more to say, but I have to run.

Val








> 
> One of you asked me about those IR thermo detectors --Ja ?   I shall hand that one over to
> Val Christian.-------The really expensive and FANCY instruments ?  --NO I do not own
> them ---it is a sort of  retirement------------benefits from a BIG corporation.----I pull
> my Norwegian card out "Norske Skog".
> 
> IMHO    good old Amerikan know how  --?   is NOT   a myth.  ---and scanderhoovian
> compassion --?-------NOT a myth let me tell you.
> Melancholic Dane ?   shit ---a myth class a one.   Now for Diesel talk ?---temperature in
> a VW diesel ?------------can NOT be exaggerated.--- well it is complicated --because it is
> NOT the temperature itself --that is a problem ---it is differential expansion. ---SO ?
> what is the answer ? --keep a COOL head.
> 
> As the price of FUEL goes up ---this forum becomes a --" GOD SEND"----read it  ---READ the
> archives ---it is all there ---OK OK it is hard to find ---BUT it is there trust me.
> 
> I know --I am absolutely convinced that this forum will be ----invaded by beginners ---so
> LOREN don't you
>   give us a hard time by RESIGNING ---bull ---we and they need you more NOW than ever.
> 
> This is not the end of the beginnings ---it is not even  the start of the END----it is
> just HEATING up ?.
> 
> Now is the time ---to look at your starting systems----old man snow is lurking around the
> corner.
> 
> To get a VW diesel started ---? --yes I got the right stuff.---trust me.----and that took
> a lot of doing to get to that stage.
> 
> 
> Hagar.
> 
> PS : Please note that I talk about 1977 to  1984   --mostly.   ---install that block
> heater NOW --NOW.
> not in the middle of a snow drift----yieks. I took my apprenticeship in Sandy Cameron land
> and I graduated cum laude in James Hansen land----it does not come better than
> that.---trust me ---42 below for weeks ?-----top that in a VW.----remember Kee Bird
>   ---Christ it is cold here ---keeeeerist it is cold.-Amen.
> 
> How do you know when it is  cold ?  ---when you see the re-fuelers of the DC-4  using
> blowtorches on the barrel bungs ---jep that is real COOL. --that was high test gasoline in
> there.---it behaves a lot like kerosene
> --- at those temperatures.
> 
> Will I Hagar make an absolute statement ?  ---you bet your butt --I am NOT going
> back.---period.
> The west is just fine for me.
> 
> Hagar.
> 
> PS :    I have NO commercial interest in Campbell Soup ----BUT they sure make a fine
> product ---VOLKS FOOD.----keeps me going.--and going and going  --like energizers ?   Ja
> sort of. Kraft dinner ?  sorry I can NOT ---stand it.---but I know it is a fine product. I
> talked to poor kids who absolutely
> --LOVED  --Kraft Dinners.---I like (LOVE)  oats  big flake small flake roasted  or
> aw  --or cooked anyway you can name. ---I am getting hungry -----As a DIY cook I Hagar
> makes the finest oatmeal----------------------porridge in the world---NOT cheap mind
> you ---Egg yokes and whipping cream ---that should tell you--Ja ?-----
> 
> 
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