Author Topic: Electronic thermometers (Read 3385 times)

Jaded · « **on:** 17 January, 2021, 11:12:51 pm »

Any recommendations, or the opposite?

We have a lovely glass thermometer, that needs careful looking after. (And a lot of explanation before use...)

I know this can now be done with some Chinese equipment, so any recommendations, or ones to avoid?

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 January, 2021, 07:32:20 am »

Avoid the French ones with the ribbed ends.

chrisbainbridge · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 January, 2021, 09:13:58 am »

I would just suggest not stressing and buy what you can find.Most of the ones available from the chemists are infra red sensing I think. Certainly not for intra oral use. They either use tympanic membrane or forehead.

Polar Bear · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 January, 2021, 09:24:10 am »

We have had a couple of different electronic ones from the local chemists and they have been unreliable and of very poor quality. One doesn't even have a replaceable battery and they both lasted about a week before no longer working.

The items I am talking about here are the elongated teardrop shaped things with a metal tip for under the tongue etc. and a simple lcd display.

Waste of money and just more landfill ime.

Regulator · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 January, 2021, 09:30:37 am »

We've stuck to oral thermometers - albeit going from liquid to digital.

I wouldn't bother with non-contact infrared forehead thermometers - the trials show you need to get spendy and use them properly to get accuracy. Tympanic thermometers were found to be more accurate than forehead thermometers (if used properly) - and they're cheaper.

Kim · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 January, 2021, 01:12:49 pm »

Barakta struggles with alcohol thermometers (she finds them hard to read, and can't do the wrist-flick manoeuvre to reset them), so we had an electronic one that had a LCD and speech output. It was slow and used annoying batteries, and after a few years died of snappy plastic death. I quite liked that it could tell you when the reading had stabilised, so you didn't have to take it out and look.

ETA: I should add that since its demise we've fallen back on a traditional alcohol one. There was a pandemic, so a thermometer that barakta could operate without assistance seemed like a low priority given that they were in high demand.

Regulator · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 January, 2021, 01:26:08 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 18 January, 2021, 01:12:49 pm

Barakta struggles with alcohol thermometers (she finds them hard to read, and can't do the wrist-flick manoeuvre to reset them), so we had an electronic one that had a LCD and speech output. It was slow and used annoying batteries, and after a few years died of snappy plastic death. I quite liked that it could tell you when the reading had stabilised, so you didn't have to take it out and look.

We've got similar - it bleeps when the reading is ready. They seem to have got better and cheaper in recent years. I got a care pack from work which included a digital thermometer (plus gloves, wipes, handrub, masks... and - most essentially - chocolate!)

robgul · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 January, 2021, 01:39:05 pm »

We have a Braun in-the-ear thermometer - it's the same model that they used on me (about 6 times a day!) when I was in hospital and was recommended by them . . . has disposable single-use covers. No idea on costs.

DuncanM · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 January, 2021, 01:43:10 pm »

Quote from: robgul on 18 January, 2021, 01:39:05 pm

We have a Braun in-the-ear thermometer - it's the same model that they used on me (about 6 times a day!) when I was in hospital and was recommended by them . . . has disposable single-use covers. No idea on costs.

We have one of them as well. We bought it when our daughter was a baby - she's now 11 and the thermometer is still going strong. It takes 2 AA batteries, so that isn't going to be a problem. It's quite easy to use as well - you put it in the ear and press a button, and it beeps at you when it's done. A quick google suggests they start around 35 quid and go upwards if you want more bells and whistles.

T42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 January, 2021, 02:02:26 pm »

We have one that you stick somewhere and another that reads forehead temperature. I don't believe the latter and don't know where the other one has been.

Davef · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 January, 2021, 05:58:31 pm »

We have a infra red forehead one that comes up with very similar reading to the one they used at the gym. It was c £25 from Costco. I suppose I should try calibrating it to be certain.

Jaded · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 January, 2021, 08:02:59 pm »

Well, thanks all. Just walked to Stroud and picked up an ear one. Click and Collect.

Now I shall stick it in my ear!

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 January, 2021, 08:12:42 pm »

You've had a decent walk at least.

Jaded · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 January, 2021, 08:19:32 pm »

About 7.5 miles

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 January, 2021, 08:20:44 pm »

Should have pinged me. I'm not in the bath, but i do have a fridge full of beer

Jaded · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 January, 2021, 11:45:16 pm »

We are all encouragingly normal, temperature wise.

jsabine · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 January, 2021, 12:12:57 am »

Quote from: Polar Bear on 18 January, 2021, 09:24:10 am

We have had a couple of different electronic ones from the local chemists and they have been unreliable and of very poor quality. One doesn't even have a replaceable battery and they both lasted about a week before no longer working.

The items I am talking about here are the elongated teardrop shaped things with a metal tip for under the tongue etc. and a simple lcd display.

Waste of money and just more landfill ime.

We've got one that sounds like these only more reliable - Middle-of-Lidl¹ god knows how many years ago. Can't have been expensive (or I wouldn't have bought it). Chirps when the reading has stabilised, which sometimes feels disconcertingly long, and the display's quite small, but appears to work fine.

1: Or possibly Aldi

citoyen · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 January, 2021, 09:14:55 am »

My Thermapen is one of my favourite kitchen gadgets. Absolutely indispensable. You probably could use it to measure body temperature as well but the probe has a very sharp point, so I really wouldn’t recommend it for that purpose.

L CC · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 January, 2021, 03:47:06 pm »

I read this and thought "sugar thermometer or meat?"

We only have temperature gauges on Garmins or in the kitchen. I assume I'd make him stick an Edge 520 in his armpit, in extremis. No way I'd use my chocolate thermometer for that.

Jaded · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 January, 2021, 03:55:39 pm »

Yes, the chocolate thermometer only goes in one place.

arabella · « **Reply #20 on:** 19 January, 2021, 04:22:41 pm »

this thread reminds me - now that mercury thermometers are banned I should really go and look for a red alcohol one. I don't trust the battery on an electronic one not to have expired by the time I next need a thermometer in 2027 or so (last used in about 2009, most likely)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 January, 2021, 05:29:04 pm »

Didn't know mercury thermometers were banned. When did that happen? The only thermometers we have are one on a bike computer (old skool with wires and magnets, not GPS) and the one in the oven.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 January, 2021, 06:01:14 pm »

Quote from: Jaded on 19 January, 2021, 03:55:39 pm

Yes, the chocolate thermometer only goes in one place.

Straight in the starfish

rogerzilla · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 January, 2021, 06:16:03 pm »

I love a cat's facial expression when the vet does that. They don't even warm it first.

Regulator · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 January, 2021, 10:23:11 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 19 January, 2021, 05:29:04 pm

Didn't know mercury thermometers were banned. When did that happen? The only thermometers we have are one on a bike computer (old skool with wires and magnets, not GPS) and the one in the oven.

Banned in 2007 but there was an exemption for medical use for a few years after that* (primarily related to sphygmomanometers). You can still have mercury thermometers if they’re antiques.

*I can remember helping draft clinical guidance around use/disposal.

Author Topic: Electronic thermometers (Read 3385 times)

Davef