Dear stsqf,
What type of thermometer is most efficient for taking accurate temperatures of refrigerated trailers?
IMO it rather depends on what you mean by "efficient", eg how accurate, cost, portable ??? Are you primarily interested in assessing the contents temp. and not the trailer itself ?? (former often done by inserting a probe betweeen packaged items)
I presume you are referring to temps approx -18degC ???
Not so simple IMEX. Similar problem to cold storages. These still often use (I think) bimetallics for static displays but I guess nowadays all trailers use thermocouples. Inspectors typically use thermocouples for random checks which hv battery temp. limitations or bimetallic type (no battery). Alternatively static data logging systems normally use thermocouples. Hv not seen IR used at these temps (??) / not cheap
.
In all cases the realised accuracy will relate to calibration ability. Creating standards for self-calibration at -18degC requires some chemical dexterity IMEX, obviously easier to hv a "master" thermometer for comparison if no budget restrictions.
Rgds / Charles.C
PS had a look at the IR pdf you linked (price sort of similar to good portable thermocouples (eg dual channel / zero resettable), the intrinsic accuracy looks rather remarkable [although -18degC is getting near the bottom of the range], ie a lot better than many thermocouples IMEX, but I predict the final result will critically depend on calibration. Interesting to know how IR measures the temperture of air ?