Acu-Rite = Accu-Rong??? Variances in Thermometers

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

I setup 5 thermometers on a shelf of my snake rack. all 5 probes are on the same area on the tape, and all of the units are lined up in a row.

Here are the readings,

83/95.8 30%

85.3/95.5 32%

83.5/92.3 30%

84/93.2 36%

82.9/93.4 37%


a 2.4 variance on the "Indoor" Temps
a 3.5 variance on the "Outdoor" probe Temps
a 7% variance in humidity.

Im going to pick up a temp gun, but this has been throwing off my entire perception of reality! Is there something weird going on, or are my thermometers all messed up?

[Roundabout136]

if you really wanted to test them correctly, do it with them one at a time. mark the positions and do each at a time. Time consuming yes, but it'll work.

Give them all the same amount of time in there.

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

Tested them again,


81.9/100.1 40%
83.5/95.7 38%
82.4/95.0 39%
82.6/93.7 41%
82.2/93.0 42%


They are all in almost the same place, there is nothing that would account for 5-7 degrees thats for sure... and even 2 degrees seems like too much variance for a digital thermometer that reads in tenths.

at least this reading in humidity was closer.


Im having my wife check these for me, so i will check more in a few days when i get home, enough of having her run around for me Just wondered if anyone else had experienced similar discrepencies

[xdeus]

Have you tried placing them all in the same tub with the probes in the same location? It might be worth it to see if the temps or the thermometers are off.

Doh! Nevermind... I slowed down and read your first sentence again.

[shadraak]

i've had mine sit there, and then go to 105, then 62, then back to normal again, i think someitmes it recalibrates itself i dont know

[kavmon]

an ice water slurry mix is 32 deg. this is a good way to test them. these can and will vary 2-5 deg. how good will a 10.00 thermometer be? most of the thermometers under 100.00 can/will vary 2-3 deg. and have an accuracy of +/- 2deg.



vaughn

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

an ice water slurry mix is 32 deg. this is a good way to test them. these can and will vary 2-5 deg. how good will a 10.00 thermometer be? most of the thermometers under 100.00 can/will vary 2-3 deg. and have an accuracy of +/- 2deg.



vaughn

hrm, wow.... I don't think most people using these Accurites know they vary by this much then... and actually in the one case it is varying by 5 degrees or more.... I mean, when we are talking about temps for a BP, 5 degrees is a long ways off... Im assuming my thermostat probe is right, so the temp that these should be reading are 96.....

I dont see why these would show tenths of a degree if they are not acurate to even 1 degree.... seems odd...

[kavmon]

display resolution is different from working accuracy. a thermometer can display to the thousandths, and still only be accurate to 2-3 deg. UL listed rated accuracy is what you want to look for. i use alot of accurites, they are good basic tools. i highly recommend using good thermostats like helix,ranco, etc.



vaughn

[frankykeno]

This brings up a good point about monitoring temps/humidity. What do the bigger collection hobbyists/breeders use? When you have 100 or more snakes what in heck are you using to monitor them? We've been looking at this temp gun to check our tubs with as a double-check of the Acu-Rites. Is this a good one or is there something that's more reliable? I assume the laser sighting is preferred and worth the extra money to have?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/store/p...cat=253&page=1

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

display resolution is different from working accuracy. a thermometer can display to the thousandths, and still only be accurate to 2-3 deg. UL listed rated accuracy is what you want to look for. i use alot of accurites, they are good basic tools. i highly recommend using good thermostats like helix,ranco, etc.



vaughn

I understand that display is different from working, but I think it is pointless and misleading to have it show tenths when it really just doesnt work that accurately. I am using a helix, but I wanted to make sure all of my flex watt was functioning properly so i have several accurites to monitor the tubs, and was getting a wide range of temps.

Since I obviously cant use these to fine tune my two thermostats for the rack, what are my options? Im guessing I need to find a heat gun that is more accurate than +/- 5 degrees