Thomas Traceable Kangaroo Thermometer, 7.5" Probe Length, -58 to 572 degree F, -50 to 300 degree C,4430

Purchased this traceable thermometer to check on incubator (GQF 1588) temperature accuracy. I was suspicious due to poor hatches that maybe something was off with the GQF temperature readouts. Using this Thomas Thermometer I found that temps were lower in two of the three incubators I was using than was was being reported by the built in GQF temp controller. In one incubator's built in temp readout which I had steady at 99.6 F this Traceable Thermometer reported 98.1 F . This particular incubator had been used for 6 seasons. Using this Thermometer I was able to adjust the temperature in the incubator close to the recommended 99.5F for chickens. I had to set the actual temp controller that is built into the incubator to a much higher temp setting to achieve this. I've been having much better hatches as a result. One thing I've noted about this comparative temp testing with the GQF 1588. The older the incubator, the more inaccurate the temperature readout on the built in controller. The short of it is.. for the money, the Thomas Traceable Kangaroo Thermometer is a good tool to have when it comes to hatching chicks.

Another reviewer mentioned the on/off button is easy to activate and run down battery. He is 100% correct. Mine arrived powered on when I removed from the shipping box. The unit itself works great and is a great value for a certified instrument. But remove the battery when not in use. Or make sure you have new batteries with you.

The meter works great but the quality control is not good. I purchased 5 and one of them doesn't function well.

Love it. Finally a real thermometer. I have had aquariums most of my life and have thrown away a lot of money on the electronic thermometers from pet stores that a so cheaply made that they don't usually last more than a few months. The old "mercury in the glass" ones tend to be ok, but hard to read. Now that I know what a REAL thermometer is like I'll never go back. This product is awesome, and so easy to use. And of course, the supplier is quick and the price is good especially when you consider the quality.

Setting a setpoint is painfully slow. To set the High Temp set point, you press and hold the High Temp button. The display now counts UP from the minimum value (-58F). If you want to set a temp of 175F you have to wait for it to scroll past 120 numbers. If you overshoot, don't worry. You can't go back down, but you can continue to hold until it scrolls past 572 and loops back around. It doesn't remember your last set point. If it at least recalled what was last set, it wouldn't be so bad. But it ALWAYS counts up from the minimum (or down from the max if you're setting a low temp point). I'm using it to control temperatures within the 170-180F range and have not found this to provide more accurate readings than kitchen and grill thermometers. The real benefit of this product seems to be the measurement range. But it's already painful to set an alarm at 180F, I'm pretty sure I'd smash it in rage if I needed set points above 500F. If you set the High set point and then try to set the Low set point (because you have a tight temperature range that you must maintain), then the high set point is cleared. In fact, once a set point is set, pressing nearly any button (including changing from F to C) causes the set points to clear. And it's immediately obvious that the alarm has been turned off. I can imagine a grad student walking away from their experiment only to have a curious classmate, friend, etc press a seemingly innocuous button with disastrous side effects (alarm never sounds, experiment ruined). The temperature probe is not replaceable.

Overall, this is a pretty good thermometer. The only real problem Im running into is the diameter of the probe is much thinner than most thermometers out there. The probe has a diameter of about 3.5mm, where as most thermometers have a diameter of between 5.0 and 7.5mm. And additionally, the probe can't be switched out for another one that would fit. I find myself jerry rigging it to get it to fit properly. Aside from that, it's a decent thermometer.

Yes it does come with a NIST traceable calibration certificate (I received my unit in Jan 2018 and it expires in October 2019). It has min/max memory. The probe cable is approximately 3 feet long. The cable is stowed away in a little plastic compartment when you first open the package. You need to open the compartment and unwind the cable. Runs good!

I have purchased 3 of these meters to date. The oldest one works fine and is accurate. The second meter worked when it arrived but is now reading 20 degF off after one use. The third meter is when it boots seems to work but usually just beeps at me and resets.

Good

I purchased this with high hopes. It was very accurate and worked well for all sorts of uses. Unfortunately, initially the switch to change from Centigrade to Fahrenheit died, then it sort of fell apart, specifically the battery area. Would not buy again.

it work well, no problem for now. A bit fragile.