IR

Infrared Thermal Scanners

by Arthur Matos | E-Mail

Hello again. In this section I would like to speak to you about the infamous IR Thermal Scanner (thermometer) and it's use in Paranormal Investigation.

    One of the most important pieces of equipment in an investigator's arsenal of tools is the Infrared (or IR) Thermal Scanner. It is mainly used to detect cold or hot spots that an entity may create upon it's arrival due to the theory that most ghosts drain energy from the ambient air when their are no other sources around.

    The IR Thermal Scanner is a device that emits a beam of infrared light; that beam in turn bounces off an object and is read by the device, then it is transposed into a temperature. It is used to measure the fluctuations in temperature caused by unexplained reasons. For this reason, we cannot deny that measuring of temperature is essential to any investigation and I always include an IR Thermometer as an important tool for a researcher to utilize.

    Thermal Scanners are a great tool and are very accurate when used the right way. These thermometers were made so that they can measure the surface temperature of an object. There is only one problem with the person using the device (note I said person): many investigators, when starting out (myself included), use the thermometer as if it was measuring the surrounding air (ambient air) of a location. This device is not intended for measuring the air surrounding, otherwise known as a cold spot. They are mainly used to determine the temperature of a physical item, e.g., if you feel a cold spot on your arm then it's use is called for, because you're measuring a physical object whether it be a person or a chair.

    Ambient temperature (which can not be picked up with an IR Thermometer) is basically the temperature of the surrounding air. When a witness or investigator say's that they feel a "cold spot" in a reportedly haunted location, it is in the ambient temperature of the location.

    Now to measure ambient air temp, one of the better tool's of the trade that one can acquire is a local air temperature thermometer. They are not as pricey as the IR and do a great job in locating the ambient change or fluctuation. They usually have a probe that must be elongated and kept away from the body, since ambient body heat may alter the reading.

    So should you stop using an IR Thermometer?

    Absolutely not. The IR Thermometer is a great tool to have and quite an important one. When the IR Thermometer is used in conjunction with other meters and devices, it is a piece of equipment that is imperative to have. Remember it measures the temp of an object and of a person with rapid results.
What if an entity passes over a person or an abject?, then you just have to measure the objects temperature and record the data as PROOF of an unexplained anomaly and or possible contact!

    Any further questions that you may have please don't hesitate to ask Artie and Jay over at the Tech Dept. This is Artie on Tech Talk wishing all you ghost hunters out there, Happy Hunting.