Should I trust my thermostat, air thermometer, or infrared thermometer?

[CloudtheBoa]

It's not a matter of which to trust most, they all do different things. So long as all are good quality, use every one of the devices. Thermometers measure your ambients and temp guns the surface temp. Thermometers aren't as important if you're using something like a UTH or heat tape, but temps guns are mandatory here since neither efficiently raise ambient temps and instead focus on providing a hot spot. Temp guns aren't as important if you're using an ambient heater like a CHE or RHP, but can be useful to have on hand anyways.


Keep in mind, thermostats do NOT measure temperatures. They're meant to control your devices, your thermometers and temp guns do all the measuring, and you set the thermostat so that the temp gun and/or thermometer read appropriate temps. For example, in my T12's I have my thermostat set to 83F so that I get a hot area of 88-90F and ambients of 80-85F. If I set it to 90F, my snakes could easily overheat. In my heat tape set ups I may have to set the tape to 93F to get a 90F hot spot.