accuracy of temperature probe

[joebagadohnut]

Hey all.

I got a thermometer with a probe on it to measure the temperature more accurately than those stupid strips. However, when I place the probe on the substrate exactly on the heat pad with it just *placed* there, it reads around 86-87. When I tape it down with a little bit of pressure on the carpeting, it reads about 92.

What is accurate? with the probe placed on the carpet on taped down with pressure exerted?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Taping the probe is insulating it and allowing it to heat up conductively with no radient heat escaping. Placing it, allows TONS of radient heat to escape and more airflow (wind chill).

So BOTH are highly accurate. I my setup, I place the probe where I want to measure the temperature. In your setup, that's up to you.

[joebagadohnut]

in terms of the belly heat though, is the 86 reading I am getting by placing the probe on the substrate more accurate than if I place some pressure on it?
(I am only placing a tiny bit of tape on it....we are talking the width of a toothpick to hold it down.)
Do you think that little bit of tape would heat up and keep that extra bit of heat in to increase the reading by 4 degrees or whatever?

thankx.
jeremy.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Don't use tape by any means. I use silicone or a glue gun to hold it in place. I calibrate mine to 92F. Ball Pythons can move my substrate away to get to 92F or they can just sit near it to be 90F.

[mykee]

Bp's don't weigh nothing, nor do they hover over their substrate. They will 'weigh down' the substrate.

[joebagadohnut]

so it is best to put pressure on the probe?

[Artemis]

I could be wrong, but the way I understood it was to put the probe between the uth itself and the glass to get a more accurate idea of what the hot spot is. The ambient of the tank messes it up a bit when you put it inside the tank over the hotspot.

Gurus? Wrong? I can understand this guys question as the readings will vary dramatically depending on where the probe is placed.

Artemis

[Jeff_Favelle]

I could be wrong, but the way I understood it was to put the probe between the uth itself and the glass to get a more accurate idea of what the hot spot is

You are right, you're wrong! That will tell you how hot the heat pad is getting. But that doesn't tell you the temperature that the snake has access to. And really, when we THINK about it, isn't that what its all about? Why would it matter if the heat pad got to 10,000F, if the cage only got to 60F?

Measure the temperature WHERE THE SNAKE IS GOING TO BE.

[Artemis]

crap. Being wrong sucks! Jeff, inside the enclosure then? The ambients wont disguise the true temp of the hot spot?

Artemis

[Jeff_Favelle]

The probe will take the temperature of WHERE IT IS (conductively AND radiantly). If you want ambient, suspend it from the cage roof. If you want hot spot, put the probe on the hot spot.

[joebagadohnut]

Like Jeff said, if you were measuring the temperature under a heat lamp, for example, you wouldn't put the probe on the light bulb...you would put it on the substrate where your snake would feel the heat.
Same thing with the UTH, it could be putting off 100 degrees, but if you have lots of substrate, your snake might only be feeling 85 degrees.
As for disguising the temperature of the hot spot, just remember that you are measuring the temperature for your snake......He is most likely at ground level 98% or more of his time, so that is where you need to get your readings.
If your ambient temperature is really hot as well as on a hot heat pad, you are going to want to know that and adjust the heat pad accordingly (if you can---> Rheostat).

JEremy.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Exactly what JEremy said! :D

[joebagadohnut]

haha, thanks for capitalizing the 'E'
I didn't do it in purpose!

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL, I thought you were trying to be cool and different, ha ha! ;)

[joebagadohnut]

no no....i guess my pinkie just isn't fast enough to let go of the SHIFT before I press the second letter in my name :)

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL! Or should I say lOL? ;)

[joebagadohnut]

Hey jeff, Jeff, JEff. JeFF., I think you get the point :),

where is the best place in your tank to place the hydrometer?
I have mine near the top of my tank a few inches from the top in the dead center.
Should I place it closer to ground level where the snake would be?

thanx.
Jeremy.

[marisa]

Yes most definitly!

Probes located where no snake will be are useless. :)

Put the probe where your snake will be sitting. Then you'll be able to tell what temp it has access too.

Marisa

[joebagadohnut]

Sweet. Thanx.
I guess you are right....as with the temperature, who really cares what the humidity is at the top of your tank if your snake doesn;t go there!

[marisa]

Yup. Exactly.

It could be only 70 at the top of my cages, but as long as its 90-95 on the hot spot then it really doesn't matter as my ball pythons don't float. :P :P

Good luck!

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

where is the best place in your tank to place the hydrometer?

I'm not sure, I have never measured humidity. I don't even measure humidity in my incubators. I house snakes, not water droplets. Heh heh.... ;) I don't bother myself with humidity.

[joebagadohnut]

Really?
I was always thinking that humidity is as important of a factor as temperature. IS this not the case?
As long as they are eating and shedding, does it matter?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Humidity, or the amount of water in the air, is a HUGE part of reptile husbandry. One of the biggest after temperature.

But you don't need to measure it to have correct levels.

[joebagadohnut]

how do you know you have correct levels without measuring it?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Nice sheds, no mold, and no excessive condensation. What else do I want? LOL! ;)