DA temp probe

G

Gravesj1s

New member
Question for anyone using a temp probe.My temp probe is reading low compared to my house thermostat,visitherm heater,and a cheap glass thermometer.
I checked the Da site ,they say the probe is more accurate than most themometers and such.
Anyone with the RKL ,Rke or other temp probe readers have a take on this?
 
In my reading it is my understanding they have 2 types of temp probes. One looks like the ph probe the other has just a wire with a little sensor on the end. I'm using the one with the wire and little sensor on it and mine is always within .5 of each other. Hope that helps...
 
Gary - have you heard of consistency or accuracy problems? The rke can calibrate the temp probe which can correct accuracy. If it's not consistent over time that's not good!
 
Ok thanks everyone I gotta cut out here and off for awile house got robbed no computer if any other ideas come post it I can acess and read just can't really reply with phone
 
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Well,I thought it was pretty cut and dry as far as getting my stuff back.Nope and its unlikely I ever will.I broke down and bought another computer.Its BullS@#$% but whatever.,

As far as the probe ,I'm now convinced the probe is the most accurate of the bunch.I just had a hard time believing my temperature could have been fluncuating in a 5-6 degree window.
 
Graves - 2 things I observed with my DA wire temp probe:

1. At times I have had massive fluctuations of the readings, like electrical noise on the line. I have searched the DA forums for a solution, but could only come up with "Don't have it placed near any electrical wires or high-frequency motors". That's almost impossible in my setup with my under tank sump setup. But, I repositioned it as far away as possible, and it had no discernible difference. This doesn't have a large impact on me except that I cannot use the temperature probe to control things like fans because they turn on and off like crazy at times.

2. I don't care what DA says about the accuracy of their wire probe, but I did not believe mine to be accurate, and re-calibrated it to increase the temperature about 2 degrees. I checked the absolute temperature value with 4 other different thermometers (including a NIST traceable infrared temperature gun), and they ALL, EXCEPT the DA wire probe, read the same value. So, I went with the law of averages and made the educated assumption that 4 were right and 1 was wrong.

Sorry about your house...
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 358 Graves - 2 things I observed with my DA wire temp probe:

1. At times I have had massive fluctuations of the readings, like electrical noise on the line. I have searched the DA forums for a solution, but could only come up with "Don't have it placed near any electrical wires or high-frequency motors". That's almost impossible in my setup with my under tank sump setup. But, I repositioned it as far away as possible, and it had no discernible difference. This doesn't have a large impact on me except that I cannot use the temperature probe to control things like fans because they turn on and off like crazy at times.

2. I don't care what DA says about the accuracy of their wire probe, but I did not believe mine to be accurate, and re-calibrated it to increase the temperature about 2 degrees. I checked the absolute temperature value with 4 other different thermometers (including a NIST traceable infrared temperature gun), and they ALL, EXCEPT the DA wire probe, read the same value. So, I went with the law of averages and made the educated assumption that 4 were right and 1 was wrong.

sg1838-,You definately got my attention with that reply.I'm not sure now what to think at the moment but I can borrow the same type of infarred gun you described ,I never thought about that.I was wondering how the heck I would be able to recalibrate the probe if it was off.
Some quick stats here :
House temp right now per thermostat 82 degrees (kids dont like to keep doors shut)
Glass floating thermometer in tank over flow 82 degrees
Identical as above thermometer placed in sump right next to Da temp probe 78-79 degrees
Da temp probe 79.2 degrees

This is current but I have seen a variation of 5-6 degrees between insump heater,glass therometers, probe.ect

I'll borrow that gun and see what comes of it,I'm really curious now that you've posted your experience ,good to know ,thanks for the info.
 
Ok, I borrowed a lasered infarred thermometer to check this out a bit.I took pics but I can't log into photobucket for some reason.So the pics will have to wait till I figure that out.

Comparing the gun reading to the probe (wire type)

Probe:78.5F
IFR gun 80.6F
 
Gravesj1s said:
Ok, I borrowed a lasered infarred thermometer to check this out a bit.I took pics but I can't log into photobucket for some reason.So the pics will have to wait till I figure that out.

Comparing the gun reading to the probe (wire type)

Probe:78.5F
IFR gun 80.6F
Click to expand...
My opinion - your probe is reading low just like mine was. Personally, I would recalibrate it, which in essence would lower your tank temperature by 2 degrees. Others might not agree, but from my experience I don't believe the DA wire probes are as accurate as DA would like us to believe.

That said, I personally don't care about their overall accuracy, as long as they are repeatable. At this point I'm pretty confident that mine had an accuracy error of about 2 degrees, but it appears to be very repeatable (minus the noise issue thing which crops up once in a while).

Good luck!
 
Yeah,I think your right.I'm going to try and get a few more readings so when I do try to recalibrate it I can get it as close as I'm able.

These are the pics I took.


House thermostat

gravesj1s


DT floating thermometer,noting here I submerged it under the surface with a vegiclip.I was thinking the heat from the lights might interfere with the temp reading.

<a href="http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/?action=view&current=040-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/040-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Another thermometer placed in sump,notice the temp probe in top of pic.

<a href="http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/?action=view&current=041-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/041-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


IR temp gun reading shot at minimal distance in same location as probe and insump thermomter


<a href="http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/?action=view&current=045-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/045-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Rke probe readout


<a href="http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/?action=view&current=038-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/gravesj1s/038-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Thanks

The pics are just for reference.As I heard it ,it didn't happen without pics.

The readings of the 4 temperatures are all reading 80F,+/-1/2 degree.Except the Rke probe whitch has a reading of 78.2.
I gota agree with what sg---- said.Probes off.(wire type)

Anyone have any experience with the new probe? From what Ive seen its an actual probe but I dont know anything about the accuracy.My thoughts right now are if this thing starts getting squirrely as it gets broke in with slime coat or what ever.
 
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If anyone has or uses these probes ,I would let you borrow the gun and the thermometers to check your tank.
Might be interesting to see what other readings you get.
 
thanks guys, now i had to go check mine!

77.5 IR (note harbor freight model)
78.8 random digital laying around
79.2 DA

think I need to get more samples!
 
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