Temp Probe Calibration

I've got a Hanna PH-5 hand held that also measures temp. It reads tenths. Unless you are talking down to hundredeths or beyond, it corresponds to the floating, suctioncupped, $2.00 Petsmart glass thermometers.
 
I still have my nano and i threw my rkl on it. I just want to get an accurate temp because my 2 probes are 2 degrees off. If i get an accurate temp i can calibrate them. Im not sure i trust the 2 dollar glass one i have...
 
@Matt wrote:
Glass thermometer? said:
actually you are not suppose to use glass thermometer

You need to use a nist standard thermometer.


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Just cheat and place it in a cup of crushed ice for 10 minutes (or until it no longer changes) to see what it read's then apply the offset from 32*. You can really really cheat and choose one probe reading as the reference temp, and go with that. [smilie=rofl.gif]

** Be sure to disable anything that will turn on/off relative to temp if doing the ice method. [smilie=wink.gif]

Cheers,
 
High accuracy ( < +/-0.5C ) NIST thermometers (usually digital) can get pricey. I think over $100. +/-0.1C can cost several hundred. How accurate do you need to be?

The crappy thermistor probes we use in the hobby are usually good to within 2 degrees Celsius. If you are getting two probes that are only 2F off, then you're doing good. Just average them and you'll probably be real close.
 
@kuyatwo wrote:
[I]@Matt wrote:[/I][quote="Glass thermometer? said:
actually you are not suppose to use glass thermometer

You need to use a nist standard thermometer.


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Can you elaborate please... NIST...

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Nist are lab calibrated thermometers.

Say you use a glass thermometer it is off 2 degrees. So if temps says 81 it really is 83. Right there you are at jeopardy for killing your corals.

We don't use float gauges to test your salinity. We use almost lab grade refractometers. Why would you use a glass thermometer that is massed produced to calibrate your temperature that needs to very accurate.


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It's not necessary to be dead on accurate. Even if you calibrate it against a lab grade ultra super duper reference thermometer, the accuracy of the measuring device(controller) will still skew your measurements and that doesn't take into acount the amount of inherent drift of said measuring device, over time. [smilie=wink.gif] We use nothing in this hobby that is truely accurate enough for scientific work, not even test kit's.....consistency is what it's all about. If someone is running their tank on the upper end of the temp range and then nit-picking the accuracy of their temp probe calibration, their priorities are way off track imo. [smilie=lol.gif]

Cheers,
 
Most digital meat thermometers are NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) calibrated. Think about it, they have to be accurate.
 
@Ashlar wrote:
Most digital meat thermometers are NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) calibrated. Think about it said:
They also should be calibrated yearly in order to maintain that accuracy. Most high precision measuring instrument's require both the probe and meter to be calibrated together as a unit.

Cheers,
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