thermometer question

brucewo1b

stick the probes in ice water and boiling water to find out which is closest or maybe both off by 2.5 degrees

Mike AK

perhaps a bit off topic...

But I was wondering whether a digital thermometer or a mercury thermometer is more accurate. I've been trying to figure out how cold my basement gets, but my two thermometers are 5 degrees different from each other.

It probably varies. But given two moderately priced thermometers off the shelf at a hardware store, which can you more readily depend on for an accurate reading?

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I figured you all were a good group to ask. Thanks,

Mike

Unknown

ive always found that the digital ones work great. I like them alot better than any other probe type sensor. they're a little more expensive but i like the digitals more

Dave_4

My experience is that even cheap, modern digital thermometers are more accurate than "typical" mercury thermometers. While I suspect that laboratory-grade mercury thermometers are still in use, made and remain the true standard for accuracy, "reasonably accurate" mercury thermometers seem to have gone the way of the dinosours.

Brad White

Digital Oral or Rect...

in an actual taste test.

Hard to beat a thermistor of known conductivity.

Mercury (until it is outlawed) is about as accurate when you start using the tall scales (36" meteorological or laboratory grade with closer tolerances and higher resolution.

Imagine trying to read a tenth of a degree with a single degree mark 1/8" of an inch and a curved meniscus.... a breeze with a digital.