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Special meters: Temperature | Distance | Data loggers => Temperature Thermocouple (Sensor) K Type, Pt100, Pt1000 => Topic started by: overvolt on April 27, 2024, 09:14:03 AM

Title: TM-902C K Type Digital thermometer -50°C 1300°C Made in Taiwan or China?
Post by: overvolt on April 27, 2024, 09:14:03 AM

TM-902C this is originally electronic design of Lutron Taiwan, and is available for more than twenty years.
Oldest revision this had adjustable Cold-junction with external pot.

Modernized revision this has automatic Cold-junction compensation.

Thermometer specification:
Temperature range: -50ºC to 1300ºC
Resolution: 0.1ºC, 1ºC
Accuracy: 0ºC to 1300ºC (+0.75% +1ºC)
Working temperature: 0ºC to 50ºC
Storage temperature: -30ºC to 60ºC
Power supply: 9V battery (not included)
Weight with battery: 104g
Connection: mini K type (flat pins)
Size: 20x70x105mm 

Price point starts from 2.5 Euro, TM-902C + One Thermocouple wire for 250C max (sensor bead type).
(But you may add to it better ones and professionally made probes:  Immersion type / surface type etc etc ..)


What kicked my curiosity about this TM-902C  / Lutron branded, is the label at the back.
By 99% this has identical format with the label of RST FG-100 which this is a soldering tip thermometer.  ;) 
https://www.ittsb.eu/forum/index.php?topic=1873.0

And now they are good chances both to come out from the same factory.
And here comes the NEW question: Made in Taiwan or China?

Title: Re: TM-902C K Type Digital thermometer -50°C 1300°C Made in Taiwan or China?
Post by: Kiriakos GR on April 27, 2024, 10:09:23 AM

I think that Lutron Taiwan it did last production of TC-902, then Chinese copycat engaged and copied this design.
Lutron Taiwan this when away from TC-902 and changed the exterior design of their newer thermometer too.

TM-902C this is recent copycat production, of unknown Chinese factory.  :P

Its true, copycat labeling this is identical to RST FG100, and this is an interesting detail. 

Regarding true Lutron back side product labeling, I did find images that prove that is much different.
a) TC-902 Year 2004
b) Lutron dual K-type thermometer Year 2010?

Lutron back in time started by using two rear labels, serial code + tiny gold label = Made in Taiwan
This was 90s style of labeling  :) 

Second detail regarding authenticity, its the damn cheap K-type PCB connector that all Chinese copycat using.