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11-26-2008, 12:30 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 168
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Thanks for nothing, probe thermometer!
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This is just a rant, and a warning: if your digital probe thermometer starts acting funky--randomly switching from C to F, for example--you should have a backup on hand.
I learned this last night when the thermometer told me that, after 25 minutes in an ice bath, my 2.75 gallons of wort were still at 140 degrees (I can usually get it to 85-90 in 15 minutes). I noticed the sink water wasn't getting warmer anymore, so I dumped into the fermenter and topped off with ice water. Wort must have been at 75-80, because I wound up pitching at about 57, according to the strip thermometer on the bucket. 
Oh well. At least I get to buy a new toy now! 
__________________
Primary: Empty
On Deck: Amarillo Blonde, Calico Tail Pale #2
In Bottles: AHS Long Trail Ale Clone; AHS Karankawa Pale Ale; Toasty Amber
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11-26-2008, 12:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Acton, MA
Posts: 1,687
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If you are using a cheaper probe thermometer (the ones from walmart, bed bath and beyond, etc) you need to water proof your probe cable.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/remote-probe-thermometer-wort-proofing-26905/
__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa
My Cheap and Easy Stirplate
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11-26-2008, 12:44 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 168
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoClueBrewMaster
If you are using a cheaper probe thermometer (the ones from walmart, bed bath and beyond, etc) you need to water proof your probe cable.[/URL]
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You know, I thought about that. But, even with the probe unplugged--when it should, by all rights, read "Lo"--it still read 140. Maybe you're right, though, and a little water on the wire fried the base unit, too. Either way, it had been acting weird for a few weeks, so no big deal to replace it. I will take the trouble to waterproof the next one, though. Thanks.
__________________
Primary: Empty
On Deck: Amarillo Blonde, Calico Tail Pale #2
In Bottles: AHS Long Trail Ale Clone; AHS Karankawa Pale Ale; Toasty Amber
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11-26-2008, 01:47 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NEK, VT
Posts: 2,453
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sounds like the base unit is fried.
The water proofing of the cable only works up to a point. I had one water proofed and still had a similar experience to yours. The tubing must have worn out after only a few uses. Steam got into the tubing.
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11-26-2008, 02:07 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Acton, MA
Posts: 1,687
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Someone linked THIS THERMOMETER a week or two ago in another thread. For about twice the cost of a cheaper Pyrex/Sunbeam thermometer, you can get this guy, and you can even send it out to have it calibrated if you desire.
__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa
My Cheap and Easy Stirplate
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11-26-2008, 02:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NEK, VT
Posts: 2,453
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoClueBrewMaster
Someone linked THIS THERMOMETER a week or two ago in another thread. For about twice the cost of a cheaper Pyrex/Sunbeam thermometer, you can get this guy, and you can even send it out to have it calibrated if you desire. |
yeah, I have been thinking about one of those. It has its detractors though too who say it is fragile. |
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11-26-2008, 02:18 PM
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#7
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[]-O-[]
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 13,402
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Stick the probe in the oven for awhile. Make sure the plug end is OUTSIDE the oven. This will dry it out.
Multiple threads on this.
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11-26-2008, 02:20 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NEK, VT
Posts: 2,453
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Quote:
Originally Posted by olllllo
Stick the probe in the oven for awhile. Make sure the plug end is OUTSIDE the oven. This will dry it out.
Multiple threads on this.
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That won't work if the base unit is flucked up. |
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11-26-2008, 02:25 PM
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#9
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Tactical Prattlarian
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oblivion
Posts: 37,965
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I eventually switched back over to the dial thermometers and calibrate using my lab stick.
I have dunked and virtually baked several dial thermometers so far and none of them have fried on me yet. They just take a little longer to stabilize to temp.
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11-26-2008, 02:25 PM
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#10
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[]-O-[]
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 13,402
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I'm going with the theory that the base unit is fine.
We don't know for sure how the base unit should work without a probe.
My guess is that the base unit used its last best measurement and will do so until a properly functioning probe tells it otherwise.
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