What is the best digital thermometer?

I wanted to know what everyone is using for a thermometer with their cooler mash tun. I want to get a new one but thought I would get everyone's suggestion. My only request would be one that reads fast.

Thermopen. Extremely fast and accurate but expensive around $90

NervousDad said:

Thermopen. Extremely fast and accurate but expensive around $90

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Thermopens are the best, i love mine

Recently bit the bullet and bought a thermapen. Not sure why I didn't do this from the beginning. Best thermo you can buy.

That's kinda what I was thinking about. Just didn't know if there was anything better for checking temps in a cooler.

Just got this, seems to work pretty well. Time will tell, 2 brews on it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GE2XF8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

THIS ONE seems to get the best reviews. (Thermapen - as others have noted) Although the color choice right now seems somewhat limited, if that matters to you. I've seen them offered in a wide range of colors before, however. Maybe they'll come back with other colors soon?

CDN

And they are on sale http://www.thermoworks.com/products/thermapen/splashproof_thermapen_private_sale.html

AnOldUR said:

CDN

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I have one of those and bought a Thermapen. They're within a couple of tenths of each other.

Spartan1979 said:

I have one of those and bought a Thermapen. They're within a couple of tenths of each other.

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I'm a firm believer in "measure twice and cut once." Anyone depending on one thermometer, no matter how good it claims to be (or how much you paid for it,) is being careless. You can buy two CDN’s for half the price of one Thermapen. The accuracy, dependability and speed of the CDN are all you need.

I dropped one of my CDN’s into a pot of boiling wort. Eventually scooped it out with a spoon and it still works as if nothing happened. Try that with your "splash proof" Thermapen! (I know . . . why was I checking the temperature of boiling wort? :cross

I had a CDN and it was fast, but my Thermapen is instant (if you don't use the 10ths), which I'm fine with.

I love my thermapen.

that little chart says the thermapen takes 7 secs, like the other one does... is that correct?

AnOldUR said:

I'm a firm believer in "measure twice and cut once." Anyone depending on one thermometer, no matter how good it claims to be (or how much you paid for it,) is being careless. You can buy two CDN’s for half the price of one Thermapen. The accuracy, dependability and speed of the CDN are all you need.

I dropped one of my CDN’s into a pot of boiling wort. Eventually scooped it out with a spoon and it still works as if nothing happened. Try that with your "splash proof" Thermapen! (I know . . . why was I checking the temperature of boiling wort? :cross

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There's an old saying that goes something like, "a person with one watch always knows what time it is. A person with two is never really sure."

I see no problem with only having one thermometer, so long as one checks the accuracy from time to time. If you have two, and they get different readings, which one do you believe?

jpc said:

I see no problem with only having one thermometer, so long as one checks the accuracy from time to time. If you have two, and they get different readings, which one do you believe?

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Well, between the Ranco temperature control, an OXO thermometer in a thermowell and two hand held CDN's used for spot checking different locations in the mash, I think I'd be able to come to some conclusion if there was any discrepancy. (Yeah . . . slightly OCD )

. . . and all four cost me about the same as the list price of one Thermapen


Sure, you're fine with one thermometer (until you're not.)

Firebat138 said:

that little chart says the thermapen takes 7 secs, like the other one does... is that correct?

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I believe that Bobby_M from here on HBT ran trials on the thermometers and came up with those numbers.

(edit to add link: found it here)

Cool... the one guy sais HIS TP was INSTANT and the chart says otherwise... So I am gonna go with the cdn.... thanx for the link

Are these any good? :

http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=HH370&Nav=teml041

$350? And two-handed operation at that?

"I don't think so, Tim"

Cheers!

Buy a lab thermometer for a fraction of the price... I bought mine at VWR for +- 60$ but they have tons of models.

Mine is their 46610-024, it's the Ultra model and got like a 10 feet cord.... a lot better than a handheld one like the thermapen.... and almost as fast.... I dont remember waiting for long, maybe 10 sec max... It's also lab tested for standard certification, which is nice.

The CDN at brewhardware.com sure looks nice and it's dirt cheap at 17$...

Good luck

It's all about accuracy, not repeatability or correlating results. When you are buying, look for calibration data. If you have a thermometer that you like, check it in boiling and freezing water.

If you understand series and parallel resistance you can add calibration adjustments to an oven thermometer.
http://woodlandbrew.blogspot.com/2012/10/circuit-diagram.html?m=1