Temp question

[MikeLight77]

Just got a new probe thermometer. I was double-checking temps around the viv and I noticed something that caused me to question what I am doing.

Question: when measuring temps, should I be measuring the AIR temperature or the temperature of the SURFACE that he will be standing on?

Example: on Max's favorite basking branch, the AIR temp directly above is around 95-98, but the SURFACE temp of the branch is quite a bit higher, like 100 or 105.

I would think the temp of the surface of the branch would more accurately represent what the effect would be on his body temp, since the air temp wouldn't capture the radiation heat.

Just want to make sure I'm measuring accurately...

Thanks!

Mike

 

[stang8689]

What I did was mount the sensor to his basking platform because I wanted his basking platform to be accurate. I had it mounted to the side of the tank next to the platform initially but wasn't getting hot enough. When I glued it to the basking platform I gained 10 degrees, so if I got the temp to between 105 and 115 which I was looking for when the sensor was on the side of the tank it would of actually had his basking platform between 115 and 125.

 

[FBradshaw]

The object the light is shining on is going to get hotter than the air around it, think of it like an asphalt road, on a 90 degree day the asphalt is alot hotter than the air around it, sometimes 10 to 20 degrees hotter. Ideally you want to put the probe on his basking spot, not attached just resting on it. That should give you the reading you're looking for. By attaching the probe to the surface and having the light shining on it constantly you can actually alter the accuracy of the temp gauge.

 

[MikeLight77]

Thanks,

Yes I understand the surface will be hotter, due to the effect of the radiant heat (whereas the air temp will only measure the convective heat).

My question was more to the point of - if my ideal basking temp is 105, is that the air temp or the surface temp that we are talking about? I would THINK it should be the surface temp, since Max will be feeling the effect of both the convection and radiation from the bulb. Prior to now, I had only been considering air temps, but now I'm thinking I was wrong.

Thanks!

 

[MikeLight77]

Yes, good call. I will try laying the probe on his branch and see what that produces. Holding the probe in the air is probably giving me a low reading, and holding it against his branch is probably giving me a high reading.

Will try - thanks!

Mike

 

[stang8689]

Yes the surface temperature

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Also make sure to leave the probe on the basking spot for a good 45 minutes for best reading.

 

[alkemisten3]

To all of u folks, just wanted to share some quick info that has gotten me (AND my beautiful girl) out of some worrying painful time consuming-- you guessed it: temp measuring!

The answer for me was:
Infrared thermometer
for 20 bucks!

Measures INSTANTLY AND MORE PRECISE THAN ANY PROBE THERMOMETER IN ESSENCE

you can buy it from amazon.com

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Yes, the infrared temp guns work great as well. I use both the digital w/probe and temp gun.