Acu-Rite = Accu-Rong??? Variances in Thermometers

I setup 5 thermometers on a shelf of my snake rack. all 5 probes are on the same area on the tape, and all of the units are lined up in a row.

Here are the readings,

83/95.8 30%

85.3/95.5 32%

83.5/92.3 30%

84/93.2 36%

82.9/93.4 37%


a 2.4 variance on the "Indoor" Temps
a 3.5 variance on the "Outdoor" probe Temps
a 7% variance in humidity.

Im going to pick up a temp gun, but this has been throwing off my entire perception of reality! Is there something weird going on, or are my thermometers all messed up?

if you really wanted to test them correctly, do it with them one at a time. mark the positions and do each at a time. Time consuming yes, but it'll work.

Give them all the same amount of time in there.

Tested them again,


81.9/100.1 40%
83.5/95.7 38%
82.4/95.0 39%
82.6/93.7 41%
82.2/93.0 42%


They are all in almost the same place, there is nothing that would account for 5-7 degrees thats for sure... and even 2 degrees seems like too much variance for a digital thermometer that reads in tenths.

at least this reading in humidity was closer.


Im having my wife check these for me, so i will check more in a few days when i get home, enough of having her run around for me :P Just wondered if anyone else had experienced similar discrepencies

Have you tried placing them all in the same tub with the probes in the same location? It might be worth it to see if the temps or the thermometers are off.

Doh! Nevermind... I slowed down and read your first sentence again.

i've had mine sit there, and then go to 105, then 62, then back to normal again, i think someitmes it recalibrates itself i dont know

an ice water slurry mix is 32 deg. this is a good way to test them. these can and will vary 2-5 deg. how good will a 10.00 thermometer be? most of the thermometers under 100.00 can/will vary 2-3 deg. and have an accuracy of +/- 2deg.



vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

an ice water slurry mix is 32 deg. this is a good way to test them. these can and will vary 2-5 deg. how good will a 10.00 thermometer be? most of the thermometers under 100.00 can/will vary 2-3 deg. and have an accuracy of +/- 2deg.



vaughn

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hrm, wow.... I don't think most people using these Accurites know they vary by this much then... and actually in the one case it is varying by 5 degrees or more.... I mean, when we are talking about temps for a BP, 5 degrees is a long ways off... Im assuming my thermostat probe is right, so the temp that these should be reading are 96.....

I dont see why these would show tenths of a degree if they are not acurate to even 1 degree.... seems odd...

display resolution is different from working accuracy. a thermometer can display to the thousandths, and still only be accurate to 2-3 deg. UL listed rated accuracy is what you want to look for. i use alot of accurites, they are good basic tools. i highly recommend using good thermostats like helix,ranco, etc.



vaughn

This brings up a good point about monitoring temps/humidity. What do the bigger collection hobbyists/breeders use? When you have 100 or more snakes what in heck are you using to monitor them? We've been looking at this temp gun to check our tubs with as a double-check of the Acu-Rites. Is this a good one or is there something that's more reliable? I assume the laser sighting is preferred and worth the extra money to have?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/store/p...cat=253&page=1

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Originally Posted by kavmon

display resolution is different from working accuracy. a thermometer can display to the thousandths, and still only be accurate to 2-3 deg. UL listed rated accuracy is what you want to look for. i use alot of accurites, they are good basic tools. i highly recommend using good thermostats like helix,ranco, etc.



vaughn

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I understand that display is different from working, but I think it is pointless and misleading to have it show tenths when it really just doesnt work that accurately. I am using a helix, but I wanted to make sure all of my flex watt was functioning properly so i have several accurites to monitor the tubs, and was getting a wide range of temps.

Since I obviously cant use these to fine tune my two thermostats for the rack, what are my options? Im guessing I need to find a heat gun that is more accurate than +/- 5 degrees

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

What do the bigger collection hobbyists/breeders use? When you have 100 or more snakes what in heck are you using to monitor them?

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When you have 100 or more snakes, you rely less on what the little thermometers tell you and more on what the snakes are telling you ... they'll talk to you if you know how to listen. ;)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I assume the laser sighting is preferred and worth the extra money to have?

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Still only good to +/- a few degrees ... the laser thing is really just for show.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

they'll talk to you if you know how to listen. ;)

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You mean like Parseltongue? :P Sorry, couldn't resist a Harry Potter reference with that comment. I know, I'm a dork, but at least I can blame it on my youngins'.

I find the same thing with Accurites in that they can have quite a variance. Good question though Jo.

Adam, how can you possibly know if a single piece of flexwatt hasn't malfunctioned on one of the levels of your multiple racks. I know you speak snake better than all of us :) but I want to know this more for myself for the future. I don't want to be a thermometer watcher anymore. Please free me from my neurotic bonds.

I generally use a temp gun to check my temps. However, because I have learned to observe my snakes behavior/reaction to different things, I can tell by thier actions/behavior if there is a potential environment issue, making me want to re-check to see whats going on.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Adam, how can you possibly know if a single piece of flexwatt hasn't malfunctioned on one of the levels of your multiple racks. I know you speak snake better than all of us :) but I want to know this more for myself for the future. I don't want to be a thermometer watcher anymore. Please free me from my neurotic bonds.

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Because when the heat ain't right, the snake doesn't act like it's supposed to. Fasting, wandering, laying in wierd positions, not drinking, lethargic, blah blah blah ... you just learn to know when your snake is "not right".

-adam

Point taken. Now how do I know when I am not right?

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Now how do I know when I am not right?

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You just have to look in the mirror. :rolleye2:

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

You just have to look in the mirror. :rolleye2:

-adam

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