I have my thermostat probe in my snakes tank & set it to 90. Probe is right under the radiant heat panel. It says 94.6 with my temp gun. So is my thermostat not working correct? I put the red dot on the probe itself.
Kevin
what kind of stat is it? some stats have a greater (+/-) value.
it doesent mean that your stats messed up. i have a "on off" stat on a rack set @90*f, the temp on the flexwatt is like 85/87 or something like that.
i have a "proportional" stat that keeps the temps alot tighter.
i hope that makes sence.
spooky
almost all temp guns are +/- 2ºF up or down. They also tend to reflect off some surfaces and read something other than what it is pointed at. (flexwatt seems to be bad for this in my experience.) I don't like general sweeping statements but the dial type often sold in pet stores are questionable accuracy. There are good dial types but they will not cheap ones.
Typically I would believe a herpstat Helix and ecozone over ANY thermometer you typically see (I have never seen specs of VEs so I can't say I don't own one.) As a rule they are less than one degree over or under and that is better than most cheap digital thermometers and as good as less expensive analogue ones (not really appropriate for herps glass analogue ones)
Most on off types are the same +/-2ºF there are some that are 2ºC (about 4ºF) that have been used a lot as well.
Sorry to threadjack a little, but while we're on the topic of thermometers, what digital thermometers would someone recommend (brandwise) that you can typically buy in stores? Out of curiosity.
A thermometer on my desk right now says the ambient air temperature at that location is 75.4 degrees F. My infrared temp gun pointed at the back of my hand measures a surface temperature of 91.5. When I aim the temp gun across the room at the floor against an exterior wall, it registers 67, at an overhead halogen light bulb - 366. See the difference? You're measuring different "things."
What type? Hydrofarm has a 2ºC error the digital readout CANNOT be trusted to be accurate. I have tested 3 of them, all read more than 1ºF high and the worst one was more than 2.5ºF high.
Brands of thermometer it almost doesn't matter, most of the less costly ones all have the same +/-2ºF. (I have tested accurites x3 exo terra combos x4, flukers x2 digital temp aquariums x 25 all vary a fair bit) Accuracy it takes ones that are individually tested and calibrated with a serial number to be more accurate and generally speaking there are better things to spend that kind of cash on. My advise is to buy 3+ units and check them against each other.
The most accurate thermometer I have found for a reasonable price is a herpstat. It is less expensive than my digital thermometer and although not quite as accurate it is so close that it makes no difference. (I tested 15 probes on 5 units and the worst one was 0.6ºF low.)
Originally Posted by heathers*bps
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