Heat gun

txrepgirl · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:40 am Post subject: Heat gun

I posted this in case some one of you all needs one.I think that thing is cool.It would measure the heat a lot better than the thermo-hygrometer that sticks on my enclosure

.

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=66&de=590072

tupinambis · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 3:52 am Post subject:

Actually, not to upset you, but I'd say those are a lousy deal. First, you can get the unit from the actual company (tempgun.com) for $5 less. Secondly, that particular model is pretty bad. A +/- 2 degree accuracy is pretty lousy (at least as far as my needs are that is) and the field of view on that model is 1:1, which means if you are 5' feet away from your target, the area which you will be measuring the temperature of will have a 5' diameter - not very accurate for measuring the temp of your reptile unless you are basically holding it right against the reptile. The emissivity is fixed at 0.95 which is about all the average user would need beings that most things they would want to measure fall at or near that value and I'm sure most people don't understand the concept of emissivity; still, it would be nice to have one with emissivity you can adjust if you actually know the value you need for the surface temperature you are trying to measure.

I'd personally recommend spending a few bucks more and getting a model with a field of view of at least 8:1 and +/- 1 degree accuracy. At least that way you could get a little distance between you and the subject to make the cost worthwhile.

But that's just my opinion.

txrepgirl · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:04 am Post subject:

Hi tupinambis.First thank you for the cool info.Second you don't have to worry about me getting upset when some one has a good point and explains to me why my idea is bad.Wich in this case my idea was a bad one.I just get upset when some one is being rude about it and doesn't explain to me why my idea is bad.But still, thank you for being so sensitive about it

.Take care.

tupinambis · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:14 am Post subject:

No no no, I wasn't saying your idea was bad in and of itself, sorry. It's just that I see plenty of hobbyists that buy those things thinking they are wonderful but beings as they don't understand how they work (particularly the field of view) they'll aim it at their reptile from across the room and when I explain to them they aren't measuring just the reptile but likely the average value of the entire wall from that distance, they feel like they've been conned.

Scientifically, the accuracy on that particular model is just horrendous. A variance of 4 degrees is simply unacceptable.

Personally, IR thermometers are a great idea, I have one myself. I have an older model with a field of view 8:1 and I think +/-1.5 degree variance, which is not wonderful (I certainly wouldn't use it for research) but at least I have a little more accuracy. I'm trying to get a 50:1 optics with +/-1 degree accuracy, but that kind of sensitivity puts the price range into several hundred dollars, not really price effective for simple animal husbandry.

txrepgirl · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:30 am Post subject:

I know you didn't tell me that my idea was bad.I sad it

because that thing is to complicated and seems like it doesn't do a good job.Don't laugh at this one but what do you think about me putting a meat thermometer on the mulch under neath the basking light

.Would that work ?

tupinambis · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:51 am Post subject:

What's to laugh at? I frequently have to employ equipment designed for other uses for my reptiles. Years ago I got a portable tanning bed for UV therapy for sick reptiles; some of the best and price efficient hygrometers (measures humidity) I've found at cigar emporiums. I'd say a meat thermometer is probably pretty accurate (they're typically based on thermocouple technology which is far more accurate than most other systems), is probably built from better corrosion resistant materials (blood is pretty corrosive to most metals), so just as long as it isn't one with a fairly sharp tip you've probably got a good thermometer there. Only thing I'd say is that most substrate has a very low thermal conductance, so if your probe is buried deep, you aren't going to be getting a good idea of the actual basking spot above. On the plus side, though, you do have a fair idea of what the deep substrate temperature is (if that is your goal).

txrepgirl · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:57 am Post subject:

it can't get any better than that.I would of loved to be there when you had the reptiles in the tanning bed

.That is a picture that is priceless

.I'm not trying to get the temps from in side the mulch just from the top where my Tegus are basking.I would just lay it on top of the mulch.