stephelton
Well-Known Member
I'm having a hard time designing the quick disconnects I want to use for my electric brewery. Actually, forget I said quick -- anything that acts as a disconnect without any threading will make me happy.
What I'm aiming for is exactly what Kal has done here: http://theelectricbrewery.com/temperature-probes
...except that I'm using a microcontroller and dallas 1-wire ds18b20 sensors so I can't use the spring lock assembly he's used (he states above the third image on that page, "Temperature probes as received," leading me to believe that whole assembly comes packaged with the RTD probe). If, however, I could find this spring lock assembly somewhere, I'd be more than happy to use it and figure out the thermowell myself.
The only solution I've come up with that I know will work is to use a tri clover thermowell, something like: http://www.brewershardware.com/1-1.5-Tri-Clover-Temperature-Probe-End-3.html
However, this is going in a 1/2" NTP tee (just like Kal does), so it needs to be a lot shorter. This is also crazy expensive... each sensor assembly would run me nearly $100 by the time I make the wiring, disconnect, etc. The flanges on the tri clovers are also really big; I think they'd look really awkward with all my 1/2" fittings.
I'd appreciate any good ideas... Here are my requirements:
- must accommodate ds18b20 sensor (1/4" - 3/8" ID thermowell)
- must be disconnectable without any threading
- must be very water resistant
- must fit 1/2" NTP
- coupling parts should not run more than $30 total, if possible
What I'm aiming for is exactly what Kal has done here: http://theelectricbrewery.com/temperature-probes
...except that I'm using a microcontroller and dallas 1-wire ds18b20 sensors so I can't use the spring lock assembly he's used (he states above the third image on that page, "Temperature probes as received," leading me to believe that whole assembly comes packaged with the RTD probe). If, however, I could find this spring lock assembly somewhere, I'd be more than happy to use it and figure out the thermowell myself.
The only solution I've come up with that I know will work is to use a tri clover thermowell, something like: http://www.brewershardware.com/1-1.5-Tri-Clover-Temperature-Probe-End-3.html
However, this is going in a 1/2" NTP tee (just like Kal does), so it needs to be a lot shorter. This is also crazy expensive... each sensor assembly would run me nearly $100 by the time I make the wiring, disconnect, etc. The flanges on the tri clovers are also really big; I think they'd look really awkward with all my 1/2" fittings.
I'd appreciate any good ideas... Here are my requirements:
- must accommodate ds18b20 sensor (1/4" - 3/8" ID thermowell)
- must be disconnectable without any threading
- must be very water resistant
- must fit 1/2" NTP
- coupling parts should not run more than $30 total, if possible