I just want to ask everyone...is an electronic themometer better than a mercury one? I have a mercury one an electronic one, the mecury one is higher by about +1.5 degrees F. Not sure which one to trust. My chill has an electronic one and thats off by 1 degree from what the mercury one says. Not sure what to believe. You're opinions are much appreciated. Thanks.
Electronic or Mecury
- Thread starter bderos
- Start date
pjf
Premium Member
Liquid Thermometer
Liquid Thermometer
The mercury thermometer is more accurate and does not drift as an electronic one does. I’ve used a precision mercury thermometer to calibrate both my electronic temperature controller and thermostatic heaters. My Medusa controller can drift by a full degree. My thermostatic heaters can drift by 5 degrees. I obtained both the mercury thermometer and the controller from Sea Life Supply (http://www.sealifesupply.com). After selling my mercury thermometer, I purchased the nearly identical T-4900/S80F1 thermometer from Miller & Weber (http://www.millerweber.com). The T-4900 is filled with a non-toxic blue liquid and is especially easy to read.
Liquid Thermometer
The mercury thermometer is more accurate and does not drift as an electronic one does. I’ve used a precision mercury thermometer to calibrate both my electronic temperature controller and thermostatic heaters. My Medusa controller can drift by a full degree. My thermostatic heaters can drift by 5 degrees. I obtained both the mercury thermometer and the controller from Sea Life Supply (http://www.sealifesupply.com). After selling my mercury thermometer, I purchased the nearly identical T-4900/S80F1 thermometer from Miller & Weber (http://www.millerweber.com). The T-4900 is filled with a non-toxic blue liquid and is especially easy to read.
J. Montgomery
Mouth Pipetting
Chances are that the mercury thermometer is more accurate.
To find out, make a slurry of ice water and record the temp (assume the thermometer goes that low) it should read 32 deg. F, or 0 deg. C. If the mercury thermometer goes up high enough, you can also test it in boiling water and should read 100 deg. C depending on your altitude.
To find out, make a slurry of ice water and record the temp (assume the thermometer goes that low) it should read 32 deg. F, or 0 deg. C. If the mercury thermometer goes up high enough, you can also test it in boiling water and should read 100 deg. C depending on your altitude.
pjf
Premium Member
Temperature Calibration
Temperature Calibration
Both of the "liquid-in-glass" thermometers that I have owned have a range between 66 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A test outside of that range will not be possible.
Another way to determine which type of thermometer is more accurate is to talk to the manufacturer of your temperature controller. If your controller can be calibrated, then there are calibration procedures. Ask the manufacturer which reference thermometer is recommended for calibrating your controller. That thermometer will probably be a precision mercury thermometer, not an electronic one.
Temperature Calibration
Both of the "liquid-in-glass" thermometers that I have owned have a range between 66 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A test outside of that range will not be possible.
Another way to determine which type of thermometer is more accurate is to talk to the manufacturer of your temperature controller. If your controller can be calibrated, then there are calibration procedures. Ask the manufacturer which reference thermometer is recommended for calibrating your controller. That thermometer will probably be a precision mercury thermometer, not an electronic one.
