Question about reading temps

[Reinz]

It's a tough decision picking what you trust. I have a dozen Acur-Rites and some are usually within 2 points of each other for both temp and humidity.

I have four temp guns that cost in the range from $20- 60. They are within 3-4 degrees of each other as well as the Acur-Rites. Based on this, it can be confusing. I just try to make sure that there are no extreme variances.

I rely on the temp guns for surface temps and the gauges for air measurements as Coluber42 pointed out.

[Zincubus]

It's a tough decision picking what you trust. I have a dozen Acur-Rites and some are usually within 2 points of each other for both temp and humidity.

I have four temp guns that cost in the range from $20- 60. They are within 3-4 degrees of each other as well as the Acur-Rites. Based on this, it can be confusing. I just try to make sure that there are no extreme variances.

I rely on the temp guns for surface temps and the gauges for air measurements as Coluber42 pointed out.

I guess a few degrees either way is neither here nor there tbh

[L.West]

But does it matter if the air temp on the hot side is registering 88/89 on the accurite meter but the temp gun is showing 93/94 on the surface?? If I lower the temp to accommodate the temp gun reading then my air temp would be off.

Just trying to make sure I am doing this correctly. My assumption is the accurite reading the air temp in most important since my heat source is an RHP and it's not like the snake is laying on the heat source - its coming from above.

[Zincubus]

Although ..... If it's reading 94F on the viv floor then surely it's got to be higher , maybe quite a lot higher above that in the 'air space ' ??

[L.West]

No, the air temp is reading 88/89. I checked it with two different Accurites and they both said the same thing.

[Zincubus]

No, the air temp is reading 88/89. I checked it with two different Accurites and they both said the same thing.

Thinking about it then ..... it's probably on to warm a setting as the snake will be sitting on the surface 94/95F it won't be hovering around in the cooler air !?!

That's my take on things anyways . Surface temps rule for me .tbh


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[Eric Alan]

But does it matter if the air temp on the hot side is registering 88/89 on the accurite meter but the temp gun is showing 93/94 on the surface?? If I lower the temp to accommodate the temp gun reading then my air temp would be off.

Just trying to make sure I am doing this correctly. My assumption is the accurite reading the air temp in most important since my heat source is an RHP and it's not like the snake is laying on the heat source - its coming from above.

If you think about how a RHP works, this makes perfect sense. They work by heating the surface of everything within their line of sight. The effect of this heats the surrounding environment and, as a by-product of doing this, the air around those objects. It only makes sense that the air temp would be slightly cooler than the surface temps when using a RHP. Since snakes lay on the surface, those are the temps you should have dialed in most accurately. The ambient air temps can go down to the mid-70°F range and you'd still be good as long as the surface temps are where you need them to be.

In summary, I recommend turning down that RHP a few degrees. 90°F is about the hottest they need in order to be able to do their thing effectively.

[CALM Pythons]

My Accurite has a Probe. I have it on the Floor of Hot Spot under my Butcher Paper.. This way i use my Lazer above the paper and it is always within 3 degrees .. The head unit of the Tstat i keep on the cool side for ambient.


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[L.West]

I currently have my probe for my thermostat on the hot side floor - directly below the RHP. Is this acceptable.

I will dial back my settings to coordinate with the temps I am getting on the floor surface with the temp gun since that seems to be what most recommend.

[L.West]

If you think about how a RHP works, this makes perfect sense. They work by heating the surface of everything within their line of sight. The effect of this heats the surrounding environment and, as a by-product of doing this, the air around those objects. It only makes sense that the air temp would be slightly cooler than the surface temps when using a RHP. Since snakes lay on the surface, those are the temps you should have dialed in most accurately. The ambient air temps can go down to the mid-70°F range and you'd still be good as long as the surface temps are where you need them to be.

In summary, I recommend turning down that RHP a few degrees. 90°F is about the hottest they need in order to be able to do their thing effectively.

I have my thermostat set at 88degrees and that is when I am getting high 90s surface temps with my temp gun. I can certainly lower the setting of the thermostat but was worried when the air temp on the hot side goes to 83/84 on my accurite that it was too low a reading. But, if your saying that doesn't matter as long as the surface temp is reading 90 then in reality, I don't even need the accurite in the cage except for humidity readings. Is this correct. I should rely on what my temp gun is telling me - correct??

Thanks for your help with this.