accurite is junk, or is it ranco that is junk?

I also had what i thought was alot of fluctuating so after a lil advice i purchased a temp gun so i could check at any moment. Low and behold my ranco was always within a degree of what the display said and what the actual temp was and my lil accurite could be 4 or 5 degrees off what the ranco said so that 12 bucks spent on the accurite was a waste i ended up tossing it!

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

1. Trust the ranco.

2. Secure the probe to the heat source on the outside of the tank somehow. With 2" of substrate, you may need to turn the Ranco's temperature setting a few degrees higher than what you want your hot spot inside the cage to be. Then, measure the hot spot inside the tank with the accurite and adjust the Ranco accordingly.

Hope that helps.

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Keep in mind, however, that if you're using Flexwatt you should never set the thermostat temp above 95. Flexwatt is not designed to be used above that temperature per the manufacturer's warnings.

Our accurites are kinda funky too. I have taken temps that are 10 degrees off before with our temp gun. And it doesnt help when the snake dunks it in water dish. Then you get all kinds of crazy.
We have the ranco on a... 3 degree difference? I think, it works like a charm, and its always spot on for us. :)

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Originally Posted by CntrlF8

Keep in mind, however, that if you're using Flexwatt you should never set the thermostat temp above 95. Flexwatt is not designed to be used above that temperature per the manufacturer's warnings.

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I'm afraid it's almost mandatory that BP owners using flexwatt let the tape get over 95 degrees. I've done some tests and the 11" definately gets hot enough to burn things and start a fire, and I would never let any heat tape go at full power, but to get an enclosure to 94 degrees, I've found that the heat tape has to heat to at least 97-98 degrees. For me at least. Depending on the enclosure and substrate you are using, you might have to set it to get even hotter, which I think that anything under 110 is safe, as long as the temps inside the enclosure stay under 95. I don't go over 98, but as long as you're not setting this up on cardboard or something with a really low combustion temp, I don't see any problems going over 95. Does anyone disagree?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CntrlF8

Keep in mind, however, that if you're using Flexwatt you should never set the thermostat temp above 95. Flexwatt is not designed to be used above that temperature per the manufacturer's warnings.

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Not true, I don't know where you got that from.

Straight from Calorique's (the manufacturer of FW) website:

http://www.calorique.com/documents/TIS/TIS118-1.pdf

This one says the maximum operating temperature is 185 degrees.

More here:

http://www.calorique.com/Technical5.html

I have been using the Rancos for a while and I noticed the same inconsistency in temperature. I will tell you that a lot of it has to do with glass. Glass is not nearly as good at maintaining a temperature as plastic. My Reptile Basics cages and racks are spot on with the same thermostats. My glass cages can be plus or minus 3 degrees.

The last thermostat I bought was a Johnson Controls from RBI and it has worked out better for me than the Ranco.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Not true, I don't know where you got that from.

Straight from Calorique's (the manufacturer of FW) website:

http://www.calorique.com/documents/TIS/TIS118-1.pdf

This one says the maximum operating temperature is 185 degrees.

More here:

http://www.calorique.com/Technical5.html

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That's not for the flexwatt product.. Calorique makes many products, most of which are meant for use in heating buildings, not reptile enclosures.

http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/flexwatt_userinfo.pdf

Thanks for everyones input. I guess I'll just go with the ranco reading and disregard the accurite. I just have heard so much hype on here about having to have an accurite. I guess I will be in the market for a temp gun