Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One is on my wish list for a birthday present. Any reccomendations? Raytek looks good but I don't have any hands on experience except for the small inexpensive ones that aren't all that accurate.
Thanks,
Bob.

I'm curious as well.
I want a temp gun that can be taken on field herping trips to record both ground temperature when herps are out, and temp of ground/logs that have salamander eggs when I find them.

So I'd love to have something fairly accurate that can be taken with me.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 0.0.10 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

Me Too! After listening to FR's posts, I'm very curious about the outside conditions to improve the inside conditions.
Bob

nm

Raytek looks good but I don't have any hands on experience except for the small inexpensive ones that aren't all that accurate

I have found that the cheap ones work well enough for general field work. I have found they give consistent measurements and are therefore reasonably accurate. I think their precision is plus/minus 2%, which is precise enough for anything I need to do.

Of course, the more you pay, the more accuracy and precision you get.
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

plus/minus 2% of what?

Usually accuracy is measured in terms of units, percentage of error is relative to the measurement.

plus/minus 2 degrees centigrade is a lot different (and much smaller than) plus/minus 2 percent.

2% of, say, 20 degrees centigrade is 0.02 * (273.16 plus 20) is about 6 degrees.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 0.0.10 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

MT4 Accuracy: /- 2%(of reading), or /- 2 degree C( /- 3 degree F) whichever is greater.

So on a 100*F day the accuracy is /-3*F. Any temp over 150*F will be figured at /- 2% of reading.

* = degree

The lower priced temp guns are not very accurate. However, the very high-end ones are alot more accurate. The best ones will still be with a thrmocouple end.

The way thermometers worked when I was in the physics lab, they were calibrated at two points (generally 0 centigrage and 100 centigrade) - they were most accurate near those readings, and less accurate the further away you got - but the absolute error unless stated otherwise was the smallest unit of measurement - IE at 0 or 100 it was most accurate, at 50 it was least accurate, but still accurate within 1 unit of measure (which is all you could claim for the calibration points anyway). On the outside of the calibration points, it really only was valuable for a rough estimate, and was not guaranteed to be accurate within a unit of measure.

They generally were calibrated to 0 and 100 centigrade because those are the easiest temps to produce (stirred ice water and boiling water)

but 2% of a temperature doesn't make sense unless you are talking kelvin, because the 0 point is an arbitrary point. It happens to be 273.16 kelvin for centigrade, chosen for the freezing point of fresh water at I believe 1 atmosphere of pressure.

I'm guessing the 2% or 2 degrees means that it is accurate to 2 degrees, but is really only designed for temps between OC and 100C. 2% of something below 0C doesn't make sense, are they claiming it has 2 degrees accuracy all the way down to -100C? I would be very surprised if it did. I would expect it to be accurate between 0C and 100C and I would expect that it loses accuracy outside that range.

But I'm probably overcomplicating things as far as herping goes, since no herp is going to be anywhere near 100 centigrade, and few out below 0 centigrade (I've found long toed salamanders out when there is still snow on the ground).
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 0.0.10 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

What do you think they are measuring? Degrees sir. You can buy ones that work only with F or only C or ones that can be switched to which ever you desire. Also percentage of error varies more by distance then by price of the unit. The better units are more accurate at greater distances. If your using them for close work, they all are accurate.

There are real precise units that are far more then we need, these can measure the difference in temps from the eyes to the nose. I imagine all you have to do is run a search and learn much more, heck, you can connect them to your computer and make a log of temps(thats what they are for) Cheers

My purpose isn't for computers. If I want to make a log, I'll enter the data manually into a spreadsheet. Unfortunately, a lot of lab devices that interface with computers have proprietary drivers for a certain operating system I prefer not to use (I'm a penguin) so unless I want to figure out and write a device driver, computer connectivity doesn't matter to me. But the lab isn't where I want to use it anyway. I don't have a "lab".

My plan is just to try and make field notes that are a little more accurate. One thing I noticed is many field guides state that there are declining ranges of some species, and some unknown locations.

So I want to GPS record everything I find (other than fence lizards) - and in addition to recording date and time and possibly photograph, I want to record as many conditions as I can that were present when the herptile was found. Too much info is better than not enough.

Academicly (sp?) I'm a nobody, but perhaps my field notes would be useful for someone who is a somebody to locate and confirm and count populations should there be a need. It seems that a lot of range question marks exist in the trinity/shasta area.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 0.0.10 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

It is % of full scale. So if the unit's range is given as 0 to 300 deg F, then 2% is 6 deg. But that is error across the scale, and not for each reading. Plenty accurate.

There is far more error in usage as FR stated compared to the accuracy of the electronics.

Manufacturer says the inexpensive tempguns accuracy is 2 degrees Farenheit.
(As G Gordon Liddy would say "and now for a crass commercial message"
post by Lindsay Pike, kingsnake enthusiast who ahem also happens to sell Tempguns

The Raytek is a good unit. I know a lot of people that use and like them. But, check some of these out. Interesting options, especially with a couple of the "specialty" meters that can also give you humidity, ambient air temps, etc as well as IR. Probably overkill for most herp needs.
Extech Instruments

I always wonder when someone asks for the best. How about one that works is best. One in your hand, when you need it, is best.

I actually have and use the very first one I bought 15 years ago. It still works(a RayTech) It works well. But I have no idea if its the best. It was not cheap.

It has traveled the world and worked in habitats from extreme deserts to extreme tropical rainforests, and from sea level to very high montane areas.

I also use it for its intended design, you know, to check bearing temps, in fact, this is its most common use. I guess mine is best, because I have had no reason to get another. Cheers

Come on FR, give me a break LOL. I'm really asking "what do you guys use and why do you like it?" "Have you found it to be dependable and would it be a good choice for me to use for herp stuff" It's like asking you whats a good dependable quad since you use one on your adventures. When your shopping you want to make an informed choice and cash in on folks experience you trust. It's one thing to learn from your own mistakes but it's better to learn from other folks mistakes so you don't have to make the same ones.
Thanks again everyone.
Bob

I think I said, I got mine 15 or so years ago, I have taken it all over the world and it still works. I guess that is some sort of recomendation.

But because I have not had a need to test all the newer types, I cannot say which is best. My old Raytec works well. We do quick read mer thermometers to check for accurancy.

Same goes for my bike, I bought it in 85, and its still going, never broke or left me stranded. I am sure there are better bikes, but mine works great. I did put in a new plug last year and rebuilt the carb. Oh, it still runs on the original tires and chain. 21 years, dude. cheers,

A 15 year track record is a good endorsement. Thanks FR. I know you are always checking on other things as you've said but if you run into those winter time pits again I'm sure a lot of us would be interested in anything else you observe with them.Always appreciate your field pics and observations especially Gilas.Not that I can ever work with them or observe them here where I live but it's a vicarious thrill.
Bob

> I always wonder when someone asks for the best. How about one
> that works is best. One in your hand, when you need it, is best.

Well, sometimes people would rather hear about models that other people use and like than to buy one, and then later be disapointed with it because of known issues they didn't know about.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 0.0.10 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

for both of you, go out and buy the cheapest one you can find. I think the two least expensive are from Pro Exotics and Radio Shack(Tandys).

The reason I say this is, Either of those will most likely work great for you. But if you decide you need more, then go spend the extra money on a more expensive model. The cheaper ones are so inexpensive, that they will make a good backup. Cheers

The published data for the TEMPGUN (which I am a distibutor of... hint hint) is 2 degrees not percent. doesn't say if that is F or C and since it is switchable between Farenheit and Celsius modes I'll get a clarification from the mfg. To me the cheap one seems sufficient for non-lab herping use and is small enough to always keep handy and for $25. I paid $150 for my first Raytek years ago. If the object is small or temps are nonuniform you do need to hold it up close. For a few more bucks there is the PE-2 with a narrower field of view which might be handy if you're measuring next to a hot snake and want to lessen the chance of spooking it. Maybe same applies if you use it for cage temps of crotes, crocs or croc monitors, you can measure from farther away. As with all infrared thermometers you are measuring surface temp not air temp of course.

>>for both of you, go out and buy the cheapest one you can find. I think the two least expensive are from Pro Exotics and Radio Shack(Tandys).
>>
>> The reason I say this is, Either of those will most likely work great for you. But if you decide you need more, then go spend the extra money on a more expensive model. The cheaper ones are so inexpensive, that they will make a good backup. Cheers
-----
Lindsay Pike
Urotopia Uromastyx