Indoor Thermometer

AzAfshin

The other day I was fiddling with the thermostat settings and I noticed the downstairs thermostat was showing 73 and the upstairs thermostat was showing 68. Bear in mind it was noticeably cooler downstairs as it should be. That tells me that the thermostats are WAYYYYY off from the real temperature. Anyone know if I can buy indoor thermometers that are accurate to 0.5 degrees?

Smitty500mag

The laser temperature guns give you an instant temperature where ever you point it. Harbor freight has them pretty cheap or you can order one on Amazon. We have one and the batteries seem to last forever.

NeoBlackdog

Are they digital or analog? The digitals we have can be calibrated to the correct temperature.

AzAfshin

quote:Originally posted by NeoBlackdog
Are they digital or analog? The digitals we have can be calibrated to the correct temperature.


They are digital, but the problem is that to calibrate them, I need to know what the temperature is near them, hence, I need an accurate thermometer [:)]

Smitty500mag

quote:Originally posted by NeoBlackdog
Are they digital or analog? The digitals we have can be calibrated to the correct temperature.


Ours has a digital read-out but I don't think there's anyway to calibrate it?

Here's a good price for one on Amazon. Looks like a good one.
https://www.amazon.com/FIXKIT-Thermometer-Non-contact-Temperature-58%E2%84%89~1202%E2%84%89/dp/B01JIXNW9K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479875323&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=laser+thermometer&psc=1

NeoBlackdog

quote:Originally posted by AzAfshin
quote:Originally posted by NeoBlackdog
Are they digital or analog? The digitals we have can be calibrated to the correct temperature.


They are digital, but the problem is that to calibrate them, I need to know what the temperature is near them, hence, I need an accurate thermometer [:)]

Try this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Pro-Temp-Commercial-Thermometer-PT-100/dp/B002Q4TQI0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479875495&sr=8-3&keywords=maverick+meat+thermometers

This is what I used to calibrate our thermostats and it's a mighty fine meat thermometer in the kitchen.

AzAfshin

Not a bad idea Neo, I have a meat thermometer that's pretty decent. Thanks gents, I knew someone would have a bright idea here.

Tailgunner1954

You really don't need "Accuracy", what you need is "Repeatability".
IOW as long as both 'stats read the same temp, they don't need to read the "exact" temp.

Here, I have 2 stats side by side, the "odd man out" is the expensive one [V] (multi-stage propane and HP lock out) and adjusting it won't help as the error is a non-linear one.

MBK

I have a Harbor Freight laser....it gets used a lot to test for freezing of apples and tomatoes while in the garden and in the refrigerator. Our refer recently had a fan problem and the crisper was unstable until the service call.

I also use it outside to just see the difference among various surfaces such as rock, dirt, pottery, wheel rims and auto parts. There is as much as 12 degrees difference all on the north side of the house before sunrise.

For inside air monitoring, try an Acurite.

nmyers

I use an inexpensive pocket HVAC thermometer for checking heating & A/C temp:

https://www.amazon.com/Supco-ST08-Stainless-Thermometer-Degrees/dp/B005S2DOAI/ref=sr_1_6?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1479922446&sr=1-6&keywords=hvac+thermometer

That's probably all you really need. Ambient air temp will vary depending upon what part of the room you are measuring. Don't confuse precision with accuracy. Most residential thermostats let you determine relative temp, not absolute. You really need only to make each room comfortable, not necessarily get a thermometer reading.

Neal

AzAfshin

I appreciate all the suggestions, the problem as Tailgunner put it is repeatability. Cheap thermometers have an error of 1-2%. That's about 1.5 degrees. So I can't really tell what the real temperature difference is at the two thermostats using the cheap thermometers. If I can find a decent thermometer that is accurate to 0.5 degrees, then I know that I can measure the temperatures at each thermostat to within at most 1 degree of the real difference.

montanajoe

Some thermostats with a battery in them will show false as the battery is almost dead. Replacing the battery they will again be accurate.

kissgoodnight

Many people change the settings on thermostats to show it is warmer for the people that always believe they are cold. Kinda a psyche thing to make them feel comfortable without roasting all the others in the room.

I suppose they could do it the other way for people that feel hot all the time.