Elizabeth
Subj: Re: Fw: [gecko]Experts Note Please: Double 40 hr heat pack test in styro double boxed setup
Date: 11/19/03 10:58:03 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: Elizabeth Freer
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Leann--
The inner styrofoam box did have a single 1/4" hole in the middle of the lid. That's all...no holes in the big styro box which was insulated on all sides with newspaper and on the top with a pillow air six pack. No holes in the large cardboard exterior either.
Maybe with only a single hole both heat packs in the same styro box, one heat pack shielded within a small cardboard box, did not have enough oxygen to function optimally. I usually use only one hole when I use ONE heat pack!
I used two mini-max digital thermometers from Radio Shack. Minimum and maximum temps for the 24 hrs are held in the digital's memory. I recorded the "opening" temp immediately upon opening.
GEXERS PLEASE NOTE: I worry that since this test was performed in a room where the ambient temp was about 63 F, what would the temp drop be when it is only 50 F outside? 13 degrees less all around? That would be way too cool for Lepidodactylus lugubris. I guess I'll have to find out if Live Animal boxs are carried directly onto the plane when it is raining lions and tigers (and bears). [The SeaTac Airport received 2.6 inches of rain in the 24 hour period ending at 4 PM on 11/18/03. That is quite unusual, but while the critters might have been safe temp-wise, I'm glad that I did not post them.]
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
In a message dated 11/19/2003 12:52:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> Subj: Fw: [gecko]Experts Note Please: Double 40 hr heat pack test in styro double boxed setup
> Date: 11/19/2003 12:52:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
> From: "Leann Christenson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent from the Internet (Details)
>
>
>
>
> The only other factor not considered is air flow and movement. If the container had no air holes it would reduce the heat produced by the pacs. Movement of the box also allows the heat pacs to receive more air overall.
>
> Your next test step would be to mail your box, with the temperature recorder (is it a recorder or just a high/low indicator?) to someone who will then mail it back to you.
>
> Leann
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 1:05 AM
> Subject: [gecko]Experts Note Please: Double 40 hr heat pack test in styro double boxed setup
>
>
> In a message dated 11/18/03 5:34:59 PM Pacific Standard Time, Elizabeth Freer writes:
>
> These result seem lower than would be expected.
>
>
>
> My double 40 hr heat pack test results yesterday were puzzling. That is 2 40 hr heat packs inside the smallest styro box nestled inside a much larger styrofoam box. (Sorry about the "double" results for each temp. The digital puts out reads for both the sensor and the main unit.) I ran the test for 24 hrs in a bedroom where the high was 64.0, 63.9 and the low was 61.7, 62.4 for that time. I packed the boxes as if "to ship" sans geckos. I located the first digital inside the smaller styrofoam box and the second digital between the two styro boxes. I placed one 40 hr heat pack, shielded within the small cardboard box I'm enclosing for the return of the digital, within the small styro box. I placed the second 40 hr also inside the small styro box flush against one of the short sides of that box. Then, also inside the small styro box where the geckos would go (inside two 16 oz deli cups with some paper toweling strips), I placed the sensor for the digital right between the deli cups..
>
> Here are the results taking into account that the digitals did not read exactly alike:
> Ambient Room Temps: Highs 64.0, 63.9-------Lows 61.7, 62.4
> Inner Digital Opening temp read: 73.2, 72.7
> Highs: 76.6, 75.6
> Lows: 72.1, 72.5
> Outer Digital Opening temp read: 64.4, 65.1
> Highs: 72.1, 73.9
> Lows: 63.5, 64.4
>
> These were the reads from a 24 hour period with the box kept at about 63 F! They make me wonder about potential shipping box highs if the outside temps run about 50 F, although hopefully the geckos would not be out there long. One of these two digitals just got a new battery. It also makes me wonder about the effectiveness of my heat packs although I bought them only a few months ago and they are dated 28 June 2005! Where is ALL the heat they are SUPPOSED to produce?
>
>
> Here are the results of my single heat pack test, parameters the same except that
>
> the single heat pack was placed right between the deli cups. (In each case I let the heat packs warm up about 30 minutes prior to sealing the boxand ran the test for 24 hours.)
> Ambient Room Temps: 64.4, 62.2
> Inner Digital Opening temp read: 80.1, 68.9
> Highs: 92.7, 76.6
> Lows: 76.3, 68.9
> Outer Digital Opening temp read: 65.7, 67.1
> Highs: 74.1, 75.0
> Lows: 65.1, 67.1
>
>
>
>
> What do you folks who have much experience mailing think
> about these results?
>
> All opinions appreciated.
>
> Elizabeth
> Seattle
