acurite failure

I have acurite thermometers on half of my cages and in my qt cage (in a different room). I had I no longer have a snake in QT so I thought I would put it in another one of my cages. I checked it about an hour ago and it was reading 113. I FREEKED out and grabbed my temp gun. I was soothed a bit as it read 92.4, but I was still upset. Is there a better brand of affordable thermometers? I have a johnson controlling the temps and have ordered a herpstat (The johnson will be the back up and the herpstat will be the main controlling unit)

I have had Acu-Rites misread when the batteries are low and when they have gotten wet due to urine or the snakes dragging them through the water bowls!

I use them so I can keep an eye on the humidity and get a quick spot check of temps. For accurate temperature reading, I use an IR temp gun :gj:

so far both of mine have been fine, although one almost took a swim the other day. lucky for me lennie spilled his water before dragging the unit in the bowl

Overall, Acurite is the best digital thermometer you can get. But, it's true, from time to time you encounter a unit that either A) is bad from the start and must be replaced, or B) gets wet and starts reading crazy things! :)

As was mentioned, they also go haywire when the battery is low...which is how I judge replacement time. I have a PE1 temp gun as well, and whenever I can use it, it's usually within a few degrees of the acurite.
My biggest problem with the gun is that I can't figure out how to use it properly in my rack! To get the thing in close enough for a good reading, you have to open the tub almost all the way. In doing that, it takes the tub off the heat source, so the reading is defunct. I'm trying to figure out a wand of some sort to attach the gun to with a lever to raise to 'push' the button so you only have to open the tub an inch or so. :)

So, Acurite is good...but you have to be aware for the little things that can happen. :)

I have one acu-rite in each rack, i only glance at them from time to time so i know the tstats are doing there job. I have only had one bad one. I use temp guns for core temperatures (reading the animals themselves) when they move from the cooler side or the warmer side i make note and take the core temps.

When ever i get a failure or a swimmer i buy new one and return the broken one back in package. so its win win for me.