The present disclosure is an apparatus for predicting the temperature at a return electrode in a monopolar electrosurgical system. The apparatus includes a detecting apparatus adapted to connect to a power source having an analog circuit configured to sense a change in an element wherein the element is selected from a group consisting of current, voltage, impedance or temperature, and any combination thereof. A comparator is included which is configured to compare the change in one of the above elements to a threshold value. The detecting apparatus predicts skin temperature of the patient at the return electrode of a monopolar electrosurgical system without contacting the patient.
