What temp gun would you recommend?

I got payed today and need a temp gun. im looking to spend $50 (or a lil bit more) and was wondering what you use and recommend in my price range? Ive heard a lot of ppl using the PE-1 for around $30 or would it be a better investment to go ahead and get one for a bit more like the 412L? Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

I got one from Harbor Freight for under $20 and it works really well.

The pe2 has slightly better accuracy but in all honesty it doen't matter much the ratio maybe some but for Royals that doesn't even make much difference. They all (mostly) and all within your budget have the same specs for accuracy and very very very few have the ability to calibrate the reflectance so that isn't needed either. I'd suggest buy one that takes a regular battery.

i just purchased a pe2 today from pro exotics cost me 50 bucks shipped i prefer to keep the $$$$ in the industry oh ya thats with the case to gun itself is about 5 bucks cheaper

I use the PE-2 from tempguns.com, after shipping it comes to about $45 :)

what do you use a temp gun for? if you have a temp monitoring device already in the enclosure? O_o

rfrenia - i have the PE-1 and the metal case that coordinates with it from tempguns.com as well and i love it!

iaunu - theres nothing wrong with having more then 1 way to check temps but i see the temp gun as a more convenient method cuz you can check temps with it in different locations wherever you want whereas the corded probe pretty much is limited to where you put it and moving that around would be a pain IMO.

I have a Ryobi that I picked up from Home Depot. It has worked fine, and I use it for many other things in addition to measuring reptile temps.
If I were to upgrade, I would get a Fluke. Fluke instruments are a little expensive, but they are very nice.

I use the Ryobi from Home Depot also. Works fine for me.

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Originally Posted by mommanessy247

iaunu - theres nothing wrong with having more then 1 way to check temps but i see the temp gun as a more convenient method cuz you can check temps with it in different locations wherever you want whereas the corded probe pretty much is limited to where you put it and moving that around would be a pain IMO.

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this is exactly why. i own a blood python and they are a bit pickier with the temps than an avg bp. I want to make sure my cold side and heat side arnt to extreme. And the current one i own only works ok if its been sitting inside the tank for a bit, other wise if you have the top open (even for a sec) it will not read the correct temp or humidity. I plan on cont. to use my original one to monitor humidity but the temp gun will be wayyyy better to see the different temp ranges in the cage.

I have the PE-1. I love it. My only problem is there's no laser sight.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Ebay has the PE-2 as low as like 35 with free shipping.

Im going to wait until monday night to order one though (since it wont be shipped till tuesday anyway) so keep the suggestions coming!

iaunu - Besides what has already been raised, I think it's a much more accurate way to measure SURFACE temperatures. Probe thermometers could get affected by ambient temps too.

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Originally Posted by CLSpider

I got one from Harbor Freight for under $20 and it works really well.

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I did the same. I have my snakes on Herpstats but I double check the surface temps on the Flexwatt and tub temps here and there. I also use it when I feed to make sure my F/T are around 100 degrees. Last but not least I use it on any snakes I receive from shipping to make sure the snake is at a reasonable temp when it arrives. Harbor freight for $15 was a steal and a few degrees accuracy is fine as long as you're in the recommended range for BPs.

Regards,

B

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Originally Posted by CLSpider

I got one from Harbor Freight for under $20 and it works really well.

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Ditto...

I really hate Harbor Freight. I can't figure it out, but for some reason every time I go there I walk out of the store with an empty wallet and an arm full of stuff that I don't really need. And usually, I forget to get the item that I went there for in the first place... :rofl:

i bought one off ebay from china really cheap after all my "name brand" ones failed me time and time again..... and i have had this one for a year and it has worked great, just saying you dont have to buy anything name brand

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Originally Posted by moravaguy

i bought one off ebay from china really cheap after all my "name brand" ones failed me time and time again..... and i have had this one for a year and it has worked great, just saying you dont have to buy anything name brand

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Ya good call!

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!!