Anyone use HDE THERMOMETER GUN INFRARED?

[Maddumpling]

I just ordered one and I was wondering if anyone in the bp community is or has used one before for checking temps. I saw the reviews and there were 80 people who gave it 5 starts, 20 who gave it 4, and 20 who gave it 3 or below. And even though there are a lot more people who like it, the people who gave it 1 star has made me a bit curious.

[Maddumpling]

Really? NOBODY?

[kitedemon]

I tested a similar looking one a few years back a Chinese company I don't remember the name the illustration on the side was the same. It was off to the end of the allowable range of the specs as I recall. Check it check the detailed specs and plan that the accuracy is as it stats and just plan according same for all cheap thermometers, unless you are talking LC ones they are 0.5 +/- generally of what ever they are touching.

[adamjeffery]

i have one as a back up. it holds within its accuracy description. it holds a fairly steady temp within 2 degrees of my $80 unit made by ryobi. i prefer my ryobi though. just feels like a better built unit. but any temp gun is better than no temp gun.
adam jeffery

[kitedemon]

I think if you check the specs on 90% are +/- 2ºF some are 3º+/- that is getting a bit much for my taste. It seems like an ok gun for the price. Expensive ones are generally better made and have differnt features that most of us neither need or understand.

[Compher]

Looks like a decent unit. If the Emissivity level is changeable, You're going to want:

.90 for wood substrates
.95 if you're measuring the glass.
.85 if you're measuring plastic
.80 for newspaper/paper towels
.90 for a ceramic hide

[Maddumpling]

i would buy a more expensive temp gun but I'm not a breeder or breeder yet and right now I only have 3 ball pythons. I need to buy one because my thermometers are acting weird. I have my thermometer probes taped on the heat tape and when I took a snake tub out of the rack to clean it, the temperature on the heat tape became 86-92 from 91-95. I mean how the hell does that happen. Like when my thermostat would change the thermometer would be the same degrees as the thermostat many +/- 1 or 2 degrees and now the temperatures from my thermometer are way different from the thermostat.

[Maddumpling]

Looks like a decent unit. If the Emissivity level is changeable, You're going to want:

.90 for wood substrates
.95 if you're measuring the glass.
.85 if you're measuring plastic
.80 for newspaper/paper towels
.90 for a ceramic hide

whats emissivity level?

[Compher]

whats emissivity level?

What it does, is certain surfaces give off different IR heat signatures based on how shiny or flat they are. For example a very reflective metal would need a lower Emissity level. The device should have level written on the side if it's not changeable (looks like a weird E, most of the ones that can't be changed will have a level of .95) Some devices can change their level. For example when I set mine to .90 it shows 90 degrees when I point at my forehead, when I set it to .98 (The manual says .98 for human skin) it shows a temp of 98.9 that's a 9 degree difference because my head isn't shiny enough to give an accurate reading at .90

[kitedemon]

ℇ

That one? :-)

this one for wavelength
µ

Nice description.

OP Digital thermometers use a resistive sensor. They measure the electrical resistance at various temps. The problem is if there is a poor joint or bad connection it will change resistance and therefore the temp. Cycling warm cool will stress metal solder joints and pinching cords also can alter resistance. They are easily altered, sometimes they just go sour.