ACIII PRO Temp Probe is way off

[wfgworks]

I have thought ever since I installed the ACIII PRO that my water is much cooler. So today I bought a JBJ Digital Temp monitor ($8.99)and the temp between the two is much different. Its also much different than what my chiller reads as well.

ACIII PRO- 81.1
JBJ Digital Temp-76..8
JBJ Chiller-77.7

So which should I go by. I dont want my fish to stress in COLD water but I dont want them to stress is HOT water either.

Any ideas?

 

[clp]

If bought the temperature probe and controller together and they came in the same box, then they were calibrated together. In that case they were calibrated against a NIST traceable source and should be +- .5 F.
If you initialized memory on the controller (setup->init memory) then the default temperature calibration offset is reset (.5F). Some other value may have shipped w/ your controller.
If you upgrade from version 3.0 firmware dated 1/18/05 to a later date, the internal temperature starting point was raised 3 F. You should reduce the AquaController's temperature offset by 3.
To know for certain what your temperature is, you must use a NIST traceable temperature probe/monitor. A lab supply store would be a good source for these. Most inexpensive temperature probes have accuracies no better than +- 2-4F.

Curt

 

[wfgworks]

Curt

I purchased my unit from Premium Aquatics. I purchased the ACIII PRO, TEMP PROBE, PH PROBE all together but I guess that doesnt mean that the temp probe I got was calibrated specifically with the ACIII PRO unit I got.

The temp probe when open had a piece of paper for offset but nothing was written on it.

My firmware was upgrated just last week from 3/17/05 to 6/20/05.

Just unsure what I should do at this point?

 

[clp]

I assume that they probably weren't calibrated together then. What is your calibration offset?

Curt

 

[wfgworks]

Well, when I go to Setup----Temp Calibrate...the offset is at 0.

 

[clp]

I'm not certain which temperature is correct. Most of the temp probes on the 3 Pro are currently going out with offsets in the -1.0 to -2.0 range. To know for certain the temperature you must check w/ a NIST calibrated probe

Curt

 

[wfgworks]

Curt

Was something not done before I received my ACIII PRO an TEMP probe?

Why wasnt anything written on my TEMP probe to show an offset?

 

[clp]

I don't know what any of our resellers do after we ship the controllers. In the past temperature probes have been swapped out because they don't have an individual one in stock, etc.
Usually nothing is written on the temperature note if it is placed in the AquaController box.

Curt

 

[wfgworks]

Curt

I had seperate box for the Temp probe and PH probe. The ACIII PRO was in a box all by iteself.

This doesnt seem right to me. I feel now I have to play a guessing game with the temperature in my tank because I have no idea how to compare it with a NIST calibrated probe.

 

[clp]

Please call or email, and I'll give you an RMA # and exchange it for one with a calibration offset note.

Curt

 

[Talonn]

Seems I have the same problem as wfgworks, I just received the ACII and the temp probe, ph probe, and the ACII were all in different packages and the ORP probe will be dropped shipped.

The temp probe is reading aprox. +3.5Ã"šÃ‚°F based on two other temperature intruments. The tag on the Neptune temp prob does not have anything written in under offset so I have no idea what it is or what the true accuracy is. The ACII shows an offset of -0.2Ã"šÃ‚°F.

I hate to ask for a RMA number but I really would like to have a calibrated temp probe that I know what the offset is so the accuracy is correct.

Please advise....

Thanks,
Chris

 

[wfgworks]

Curt

I recieved my Temp probe with a .1 offset. Thank you for shipping that out. Now, I assure when I go into the Temp setup, I put the offset as a .1, not as negative .1 correct?

The difference between my new probe and my chiller temp and JBJ digital temp is still over 2 degrees.

Is it safe to assume that the other two deives are pretty far off?

 

[clp]

The temperature probe sent to you was calibrated to a NIST traceable standard. It should be within +- .5F of the true temperature.

Curt