brewtoomuch

Recipes 

I am building my single tier system and need 2 digital thermometers that I can make my own probes that are long enough. Tell me people are using please. I feel like I should know this but am having a brain fart.

Arkador

Recipes 

I use this one
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=120845&RN=210


has a 3 foot probe, timer, and an alarm that can go off at a target temperature, as well as a magnetic base.

weirdboy

Recipes 

I had one of those pictured above and it went pretty wonky after a few batches, bought another, and had the same thing happen again. Then I bought a Thermapen, which I really like and have been using for quite a while now.

I've been extremely happy with the thermapen, and as such I have recently gotten a new handheld mini thermocouple from the same company, along with a couple of different probes so that I can use it for various purposes. Waterproof probes for monitoring mash and fermenter temps, instant-read stick probes for checking grain temps, etc.

It's might be more than you're looking to spend, though.

Scut_Monkey

Recipes 

You have to be careful with the types of thermometers pictured above. If the braided wrap on the temp probe gets wet it craps the bed. I had one and it went on my first all grain batch. I think Bobby M posted a guide to wrap the temp probe to effectively make it water proof/resistant.

Many people like thermapens but they are a rather expensive option. Highest of quality I'm sure but not in my budget right now. I had thermometer troubles and recently bought a $7 glass lab thermometer which is accurate although fragile. It works well enough for me as of now.

b767fo

Recipes 

+1 for the water hazard in the braided line. Had that happen a couple of times - just put as much braid as you can into a 350deg oven for 30min or so. Or just wrap it tightly with some electrical tape.