As we saw in previous articles, laser distance meters They are replacing the tape measure when it comes to taking measurements indoors and outdoors.
It is a very accurate and reliable measuring tool, which offers many advantages over the tape measure. But what are the 10 most remarkable things about this new technology? We will see it next.
1. Accuracy of laser distance meters
The simplest models have the ability to measure with a maximum error of 3 millimeters every 15 meters, and some professional models have even higher precision, with an error of 1.5 millimeters every 100 meters.
This gives laser distance meters a great advantage over the use of the tape measure, whose level of error is much higher if we take into account the involuntary movements of the tape, the sagging it suffers, the twists, etc.
2. The scope is much greater
Laser distance meters have a maximum range of distances that starts from 15 meters in the most basic models, reaching up to 100 meters in more professional models.
Tape measures generally have a spool of no more than 20 meters; Although there are rolls of 100 meters or more, they are very expensive, rare and due to the thermal expansion of the material with which they are manufactured, the larger the size, the lower the precision.
3. Distances can be measured remotely
With a tape measure it is necessary to hold the end of the tape to a fixed position and unroll it, physically going through the entire space to be measured.
With laser meters this is not necessary, since it is enough to point the laser from one of the ends of the object to be measured to instantly obtain the measurement value.
4. Measurements are offered in real time
Almost all laser distance meters display the measurement in real time on their screens. This makes it easy to carry out jobs that would otherwise be cumbersome: relocating a partition, a piece of furniture, a painting, and so on. When moving the object, the distance reported by the laser meter will change, allowing small corrections to be made until the object is located in the desired position.
5. In inches, feet, meters, and centimeters
Tape measures have one or two units, which are generally inches and centimeters. Laser distance meters allow you to quickly switch from one unit to another, and within the same system, from one multiple to another.
6. Easily measure heights and depths
One of the most difficult tasks to accomplish with just a tape measure is measuring the depth of a well or the height of a ceiling from the floor.
In the first case, a plumb line was traditionally tied to the end of the tape measure and lowered until the plumb line rested at the bottom of the well. Then the distance was taken, although this was not entirely accurate.
To measure the height of a ceiling, you had to go up to it, hold the end of the tape there and go down again until you bring the roll to the floor, and just measure there. Of course, the measurement was not exact either.
With laser distance meters, simply aim the beam at the bottom of the hole or at the ceiling to instantly obtain an accurate measurement to the millimeter.
7. Obtain measurements indirectly
It is possible to obtain measurements indirectly, if we do not have access to the ends of the object to be measured.
For example, if we want to measure the width of a wall behind a wall, we can first measure the distance at right angles to the edge of the left wall, and then, at an angle, measure the distance to the edge of the wall on the right. Thus we have a leg, the hypotenuse, and a 90 ° angle of a right triangle. With the simple application of the rules of trigonometry we can easily calculate the measure of the remaining wall:
(measure 3) ² = (measure 1) ² + (measure 2) ²
In the same way as in the previous exercise, if what we need is the angle, it will be enough to carry out the same measurement as before and calculate the cosine:
cos α = measure 2 / measure 1
8. Measure perimeters
Most of the laser distance meters They include an autosum function, very useful when it is necessary to calculate the perimeter of an area in order to perform a task such as the total wiring of a field or the placement of a pipe that must run along several adjacent walls.
9. Measure long distances
As we saw before, laser distance meters have a long range; It is possible to take advantage of this advantage to measure long distances that would otherwise require the sequential use of the tape.
With a laser distance meter professional type it is possible to measure a terrain in just four steps. Also measure the height of a building (as we saw before, by the indirect measurement method) or even calculate the distance between two distant walls without the need to get close to them.
10. Store measurements in memory
This is perhaps one of the most desirable features, as it is no longer necessary to carry a notebook to take note of each measurement. It will be enough to store them in the memory of the device and then review them once on the desktop.
