Thermometers

[Krim]

I was doing a little reading and found that many of the digital thermometers are not all that accurate. after hearing this, i am now second guessing the accuracy of my own.

What is the general consenus surrounding the accuracy of digtal thermometers and what type of thermometers are most people using.

thanks

[kau_cinta_ku]

I use a ranco temp controller on my 75 gal. along with the coralife digital one and both have read close to the same for 3 years.

[pjf]

I have a Medusa HC-150 temperature controller that I recalibrate annually. It displays to a tenth of a degree. When I purchased it, it was off by almost a full degree Fahrenheit. Subsequent recalibrations have shown that it may drift by a couple of tenths of a degree after a year.

Nearly all electronic thermometers or controllers are prone to drift. I advise purchasing only that those that can be recalibrated in the field.

For calibration, I use a Miller & Weber non-mercury liquid-in-glass thermometer. It is a foot-long with a 66 to 80 degree Fahrenheit range and 0.2-degree markings that are 1 mm apart. It is available as the model TM-9301 from www.hmalabsupply.com for $40. It is also available with NIST certification for $120.

[crvz]

I've been using a no-name digital one and a the probe on my AC3 for about 2 years now and they've both read within .5 degrees or closer. Maybe they're drifting at the same rate.

[WLachnit]

My Marinepoint Digital Thermometer is off by a whopping ~5 degrees and it can't be calibrated. Needless to say, I'm higly dissapointed.

[Krim]

Wow! 5 degrees are siginificant imo.