temp gun & digi therm cannot agree

[pet_snake_78]

I am measuring the same spot on substrate above the flexwatt with the accurite digitherm probe and an analog therm setting directly on the substrate surface and getting mid 80s. I then scan the same again with the HDE temp gun and get 75 degrees, Sometimes it also shows parts of the cage as 65 but the room is 78F according to both the analog devices and 2 digitherms. I bought a second accurite because I thought maybe the first one was bad. Do your probes set directly on the substrate and your temp gun usually vary that much, with the temp gun showing 10F lower? I can see the temp gun definitely knows when something is warmer or cooler but I'm questioning it's accuracy.

[Starbuck]

remember that the temp gun is measuring an a radius arund the focal point, so the farther away you are from whatever you are measuring, the more 'average' your temp will appear; i.e. if youre basking point directly below the light is 100 F, and three inches away your substrate is 80 F, your temp gun at a distance will probably be reading around 85-90, as you get closer to the basking focal point temps should get to be more accurate.

it does sound to me as though your temp gun may be off by a bit.

[Terranaut]

Use the temp gun from just a few inches away to measure the tip of the temp probe on the thermometer and compare. This is the most accurate way to see if they are the same but it will not tell you which is out if they are not the same.