Using a temp gun

Are the temp guns effective through a screen top?

The temp guns measure whatever that laser beam hits first. So, if you're trying to go through a screen top that has extremely small holes, chances are you're going to hit the screen, which in turn will give you the temperature of the screen. If the screen holes are large enough, and you can pass through without hitting the screen, then it'd measure the surface, or wherever you're trying to aim at.

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Originally Posted by Charles8088

The temp guns measure whatever that laser beam hits first. So, if you're trying to go through a screen top that has extremely small holes, chances are you're going to hit the screen, which in turn will give you the temperature of the screen. If the screen holes are large enough, and you can pass through without hitting the screen, then it'd measure the surface, or wherever you're trying to aim at.

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To add to what Charles said, your temp gun should have come with a little booklet that will tell you what the effective distance of it is as well so you can make sure you're getting the most accurate readout. I'm sure you're well within the distance but some of the less expensive temp guns you have to have it within 6-12 inches of what you're measuring or it won't be as accurate.

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Originally Posted by Hugsplox

To add to what Charles said, your temp gun should have come with a little booklet that will tell you what the effective distance of it is as well so you can make sure you're getting the most accurate readout. I'm sure you're well within the distance but some of the less expensive temp guns you have to have it within 6-12 inches of what you're measuring or it won't be as accurate.

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We bought a pretty good one and are relatively close BUT if my screen holes are relatively small, by the time I am taking off the screen and shoot, won't the temps be very different?

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Originally Posted by mr1793tx

We bought a pretty good one and are relatively close BUT if my screen holes are relatively small, by the time I am taking off the screen and shoot, won't the temps be very different?

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I'm a little confused by what you're asking. Are you asking by the time you remove your heating element and reach inside the enclosure with the temp gun, would the temps be different? If so, possibly, but unless you're letting it sit for a few minutes before shooting the surface area that you're trying to test, it's not going to cool off drastically enough to throw your reading off. That's like if you turn your stove off, the stove is still hot, it'll cool off eventually, but if you shot the temp right when you turn it off it's still going to give you the reading you're looking for.

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Originally Posted by mr1793tx

We bought a pretty good one and are relatively close BUT if my screen holes are relatively small, by the time I am taking off the screen and shoot, won't the temps be very different?

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Your question makes me wonder how cold your house (or room) is, & if that's the case, I'd assume that your screen is also covered to keep in the warmth? If so, I can see where you'd lose some heat as far as measuring the ambient temperature in the enclosure, but (as previously answered) certainly not most of the heat where the heat source actually is. (hot stove is a good analogy)

I've actually messed around trying to find out what exactly the difference is by removing the enclosure to measure vs measuring while it's on the heat while it's on, and how much difference it makes with bare spot vs the substrate covering it. There is a lot of factors, what temp the house is, what kind of ventilation, where the ventilation is, etc.

You best bet to making sure your hot spot doesn't get too hot is a thermometer with a probe that you can get the reading while the enclosure is on the pad and using the gun to check other spots in the enclosure to make sure you have a good, slow gradient. There is some variance even keeping my house at 74 year round and the reptile room naturally running a bit hotter because of the sheer amount of things being heated.