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Post by maineultraclassic on Jun 13, 2014 18:30:02 GMT -5
What is the best way to verify the accuracy of a temperature probe?
How do you believe that a reading is accurate from one device to another?
I just took a probe from my RA and put it under my tongue, seeing that a normal person is around 98.6 degrees. The temp only got up to about 96 degrees and stopped climbing.
I took another probe and got the same results.
I have thermometers in the sump and display that read different from each other and from the RA.
I have a infrared temp gun that I can use as well to get readings.
But what do you really trust?
There are only a few things that are a "standard".........water boils at 212, water freezes at 32, and the human body is 98.6.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Jun 13, 2014 18:45:55 GMT -5
In restaurants, they calibrate using a cup of ice, filled with water. Ice water should be exactly at 32 degrees. I don't know if this would be harmful for an aquarium probe however.
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Post by maineultraclassic on Jun 13, 2014 18:54:58 GMT -5
I'd feel safer putting the probe in freezing water then putting it in boiling water.
It just makes you think...........we all trust that we are at a set temp, but are we really?
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 13, 2014 19:00:09 GMT -5
The Neptune ones come calibrated. The RA ones don't?
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Post by maineultraclassic on Jun 13, 2014 19:07:03 GMT -5
How do you know they are calibrated?
Just because they say they are.............ever test them?
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Jun 13, 2014 19:15:42 GMT -5
I'd feel safer putting the probe in freezing water then putting it in boiling water. It just makes you think...........we all trust that we are at a set temp, but are we really? Not to mention there is more variation in the boiling point. It's 212 at sea level with a certain barometric pressure. Freezing is less dependent on pressure and is typically considered stable. However, the purity of the water will effect the freezing point as well. |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 13, 2014 21:26:10 GMT -5
Go to the RA forum. I know if there was something wrong with the temp probe on the apex a ton of people on the Neptune forum would know. Their crazy with the controllers. They test everything and put more back ups on stuff then I could of ever of imagined.
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Post by speedyron on Jun 14, 2014 8:00:51 GMT -5
keeping tank parameters constant are more important then at a specific a couple degrees off makes little difference as long as it stays at same temp ur ok
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Post by maineultraclassic on Jun 14, 2014 8:22:52 GMT -5
Temperature is the hardest thing to verify, because you don't know for sure that your comparison is accurate too.
Oh well, just put it in the back of my mind and move on..........LOL
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Post by gotareef on Jun 14, 2014 9:09:47 GMT -5
with my tank I have temp probe on rk, digital temp probe, glass thermometer, and the blueline controller that the heater is connected to.
every one of them say a different temp...
rk says 76.8, digital says 79.4, glass thermometer says 76-79, and my blueline is set to 78
I am guessing my temp is somewhere around 77-78
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Post by BriMc on Jun 14, 2014 9:36:38 GMT -5
When I worked for Osram we had certified ISO calibrated thermometers that we used. We would run one in the vat for the phosphate coating and the QC person would have their own. I do know that they are ridiculously expensive but extremely accurate.
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Post by maineultraclassic on Jun 14, 2014 10:13:21 GMT -5
Yeah, I guess it struck me that I have 4 thermometers in my system...........and none of them read the same. They all vary by 1-2 degrees, even the ones that are right next to each other.
I'll set the temp at 79 and let it go from there.
I still have my Ranco controller down there too, but I'm not using it with the Reef Angel.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 14, 2014 11:41:10 GMT -5
Are they all plugged into the same module?
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Post by speedyron on Jun 14, 2014 11:44:49 GMT -5
no they are all different types read back
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Post by speedyron on Jun 14, 2014 11:51:04 GMT -5
Ice Bath Test
If your thermometer will measure temperatures of 32°F or below, you can test it using an ice bath. The advantage of this method is that you don't have to take atmospheric pressure into account. An accurate thermometer will read 32°F in an ice bath at any altitude or atmospheric pressure.
Fill a glass with ice, and then add just enough water to cover the ice, but not so much water that the ice floats.
After a couple of minutes, insert the thermometer stem or probe into the middle of the ice bath and stir gently. Don't let the thermometer rest against the ice or you'll get a low reading.
An accurate thermometer will read 32°F
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