accuracy of temp gun and accurite?

i have a little problem which can solve the big temp problem im having. i cleaned raydens tank yesterday while he ate(separate tank). i was checking the temps on the glass where the uth is. my accurite says 90f and the ir temp gun is saying 81f. i set the accurites side by side and both were saying the same temp. what should i do?

you might try moving the temp gun closer to the spot that you are measuring. The further the distance away you measure temp, the lower the accuracy.

i have done that and nothing.

Not sure if this will help but ill try. The acurite measures ambient air temperatures while the temp gun measures surface temperatures. The temp gun should be used to measure the temp of the animal,heat source ect..The temp gun wont give you an ambient air temp that will match what your accurate reads. I think the glass will be colder than what the acurite reads being placed next to the glass. I have been doing a little temp gun research but I still wonder if I will also have this problem when the temp gun arrives. Please don't take what I wrote to the bank! I could be 100% wrong and I hope someone else can post to clear up your situation. --Josh

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Originally Posted by Jsh

Not sure if this will help but ill try. The acurite measures ambient air temperatures while the temp gun measures surface temperatures. The temp gun should be used to measure the temp of the animal,heat source ect..The temp gun wont give you an ambient air temp that will match what your accurate reads. I think the glass will be colder than what the acurite reads being placed next to the glass. I have been doing a little temp gun research but I still wonder if I will also have this problem when the temp gun arrives. Please don't take what I wrote to the bank! I could be 100% wrong and I hope someone else can post to clear up your situation. --Josh

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I think what you said is spot on. I notice a big discrepancy when I point the temp gun on the animal through the glass. It has been as much as 12 degrees cooler than when I put the beam directly on the animal, not through glass. I think it may have something to do with how the light is refracted through the glass, but I am no scientist so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I would trust the Acu-Rite in the OP's situation simply due to the fact that he is measuring through the glass.

i set the probe on the glass where the uth is. when the accurite gets to the correct temp i point the temp gun right next to the probe the gun shows 10degrees colder. the temp gun is about an inch away. so basically what you guys are telling me is that the gun will read cooler because its glass? i know the temp gun will not measured correctly if i point it at aluminum tape. will this be the same thing?

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Originally Posted by MUSTANGGTANDGSXR

i set the probe on the glass where the uth is. when the accurite gets to the correct temp i point the temp gun right next to the probe the gun shows 10degrees colder. the temp gun is about an inch away. so basically what you guys are telling me is that the gun will read cooler because its glass? i know the temp gun will not measured correctly if i point it at aluminum tape. will this be the same thing?

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I'm just not sure. What temp does the substrate above the UTH read on the temp gun? I wasn't aware of inaccurate readings on aluminum tape but it seems like the same principles would apply to glass. I just don't want to give inaccurate information to somebody on these forums when there are people on here with far more knowledge and experience than I. I'm trying though:). --Josh

Reflective surfaces don't give a good read for most temp guns.

Also, when you try to read through the glass, you're getting a reading off the glass -- not the animal.

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Originally Posted by MUSTANGGTANDGSXR

i set the probe on the glass where the uth is. when the accurite gets to the correct temp i point the temp gun right next to the probe the gun shows 10degrees colder. the temp gun is about an inch away. so basically what you guys are telling me is that the gun will read cooler because its glass? i know the temp gun will not measured correctly if i point it at aluminum tape. will this be the same thing?

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I got this info from: http://www.transcat.com/technical-re...rm_Theory.html

Do not take temperature measurements through glass: Glass has very distinctive reflection and transmission properties that do not allow accurate infrared temperature readings. Infrared thermometers are not recommended for use in measuring shiny or polished metal surfaces (stainless steel, aluminum, etc.).

This should answer all questions.

you guys have been great. very helpfull info. now i can relax and enjoy the hobby. thanks

What kind of temp gun are you using? Most guns have a sensitivity of 1%. Some will even be worse than that, like 2% and higher. Guns also have a ratio on them of like 2:1, 20:1 etc etc. Which means at 20 feet away, your measuring a circle approximately 1 foot in diameter.
The lower the sensitivity, the better. So if something is "scientifically" 100 degrees, and it has a 1% sensitivity, your gun could say 99, 100, 101.

Or if it's "scientifically" 500 degrees, your gun could say 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, or 505. Make sense?

Hope this helps.

BTW I'd trust my temp gun before I trusted an acurite. But that's because I know I have a good temp gun with good batteries.

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Originally Posted by MUSTANGGTANDGSXR

i set the probe on the glass where the uth is. when the accurite gets to the correct temp i point the temp gun right next to the probe the gun shows 10degrees colder. the temp gun is about an inch away. so basically what you guys are telling me is that the gun will read cooler because its glass? i know the temp gun will not measured correctly if i point it at aluminum tape. will this be the same thing?

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Do an experiment, put a piece of black electrical tape on the glass above the UTH and then place a piece of paper next to that. Then check the temp of the tape, paper and glass.

Great info everyone. I use temp guns to take core temps from the animals them selves, just wanted to add that you shouldnt forget about the animals core temp on the warm side of the gradient and the cool side as well.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

What kind of temp gun are you using? Most guns have a sensitivity of 1%. Some will even be worse than that, like 2% and higher. Guns also have a ratio on them of like 2:1, 20:1 etc etc. Which means at 20 feet away, your measuring a circle approximately 1 foot in diameter.
The lower the sensitivity, the better. So if something is "scientifically" 100 degrees, and it has a 1% sensitivity, your gun could say 99, 100, 101.

Or if it's "scientifically" 500 degrees, your gun could say 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, or 505. Make sense?

Hope this helps.

BTW I'd trust my temp gun before I trusted an acurite. But that's because I know I have a good temp gun with good batteries.

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Did you read any of the prior posts? You make good and valid points, but the OP was attempting to use the temp gun through glass and that simply won't give you accurate readings regardless of the sensitivity. In his scenario the AcuRite was right.

Good point. I was simply stating some info about the temp guns. But yes, your right, IR temp guns temp the first thing they hit, even glass.

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Originally Posted by lmartelli77

Did you read any of the prior posts? You make good and valid points, but the OP was attempting to use the temp gun through glass and that simply won't give you accurate readings regardless of the sensitivity. In his scenario the AcuRite was right.

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so, i should go by what the accurite says in this case? i gor an extech ir therm. i forgot the model i think it may be 42505

In that case I'd lean more towards the acurite.

You could always switch to a tub setup or a plastic commercial made cage. Your tempgun would give more accurate readings in one of them.

You could also put a couple acurites at the same spot to double check they're accuracy.

As a side note can anyone tell me where to find the best deal on a temp gun. I believe I have found a good one for $30.00, but some of you may already have one that you got a great deal on that works just as good. Any help would be appreciated thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by Jsh

Not sure if this will help but ill try. The acurite measures ambient air temperatures while the temp gun measures surface temperatures. The temp gun should be used to measure the temp of the animal,heat source ect..The temp gun wont give you an ambient air temp that will match what your accurate reads. I think the glass will be colder than what the acurite reads being placed next to the glass. I have been doing a little temp gun research but I still wonder if I will also have this problem when the temp gun arrives. Please don't take what I wrote to the bank! I could be 100% wrong and I hope someone else can post to clear up your situation. --Josh

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yes that is true

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Originally Posted by BullsBPs

As a side note can anyone tell me where to find the best deal on a temp gun. I believe I have found a good one for $30.00, but some of you may already have one that you got a great deal on that works just as good. Any help would be appreciated thanks in advance.

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I got my Raytek MT4 off of eBay, never used before. That model's MSRP is like 80 bucks, got it for 40...

Yeah the Raytek MT4 is what I found for $30+ shipping and handling.

I guess I will go with that then.

I actually found a great one at Home Depot in the Electrical Tool Section. Accuracy of plus or minus 2 degrees for $39.00+ tax. The Raytek MT4 would have been more than that with shipping.

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Originally Posted by BullsBPs

I actually found a great one at Home Depot in the Electrical Tool Section. Accuracy of plus or minus 2 degrees for $39.00+ tax. The Raytek MT4 would have been more than that with shipping.

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+/- 2 degrees is a significant amount

It sure is, but most of the ones I found are plus or minus 6 degrees or worse. Unless you are spending well over $200+ for one.

You can go with one of the Pro-Exotics temp guns.

Look under the specs of these. The first one is the same accuracy and you need to be at a closer distance 1:1 than the one I bought. Yes it is cheaper, but after shipping paying nearly the same. The second one is comparable to the one I bought with the same accuracy which will cost $16 more than what I paid after shipping. The third is also at + or - 2 degrees and considerably more.

Not to mention no wait time for shipping wether it be freight shipped or 1 day.

This is the tempgun I use
http://www.reptilebasics.com/412L-IR...r-p-16288.html
its 12:1, +-1.8* and I find the always on max is awesome! Shipping wouldn't be too bad I don't think.

The reptile basics one just mentioned is what I use. EXTREMLY accurate. its stats say it is + or - 1 degree.... but I have tested it, and as long as you are within a reasonable distance (less then 12 inches on this particular model) it is near perfect.. no more then 1/2 of a degree off.