Temp help

[JPark]

Just setup my new rack that I built. My thermometer says 91 ish(exo terra digital) but me temp gun says 86 on the hot spot. Which should I trust?

[dustin860]

I am in a similar situation. My infrared reads 90 but my thermometer reads about 95 . I just ordered a few acu rite digitals with probes to hopefully really get the most accurate reading .

[JPark]

Is the vivarium electronics thermometer any good?

[JPark]

I have my thermometer probe taped to bin right on top of the heat tape under the paper towel substrate and reads 91 -92. When using the temp gun on the paper towel I get 86.

Any my ideas or help?

[KMG]

You should NOT have any tape in the tubs. Hotglue will work if you must place a thermometer probe in the tubs.

When you place paper towels in the tub they usually create a gap between them and the bottom of the tub. This gap will cause the temp of the tub floor and the top of the paper towels two different temps. To test this you can place something that is heavy on the paper towel so that the towel stays in contact with the tub floor. This should give you a more accurate temp of what you snake will be getting as it rest on the paper towel as it stays in direct contact with the heat source.

Know that you snake CAN get under your substrate and the all the temps in the tub need to be snake safe.

I trust my temp gun and no longer use probed thermometers because they constantly die.

[bcr229]

You should NOT have any tape in the tubs. Hotglue will work if you must place a thermometer probe in the tubs.

When you place paper towels in the tub they usually create a gap between them and the bottom of the tub. This gap will cause the temp of the tub floor and the top of the paper towels two different temps. To test this you can place something that is heavy on the paper towel so that the towel stays in contact with the tub floor. This should give you a more accurate temp of what you snake will be getting as it rest on the paper towel as it stays in direct contact with the heat source.

Know that you snake CAN get under your substrate and the all the temps in the tub need to be snake safe.

^^^ What he said.

I trust my temp gun and no longer use probed thermometers because they constantly die.

Temp guns can be inaccurate. I have one that consistently reads 2.8*F lower than the other four temp guns and IR thermometers that I have. There are directions online to re-calibrate it, but since it's not that easy to do I just wrote on it in indelible marker "+2.8" so I remember.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Temps should be take on the floor of the enclosure NOT on top of the substrate.