$10 thru the wall therms, pics too!

[spenghali]

Really want a thermo in my cooler, but dont want to butcher it up like this.
I wonder about rigging something thru the lid...

i was also thinking of rigging a long probe through the lid, seems easier than putting one on the side, anyone done this?

 

[GatorDad]

anyone done this?

Me. Run a piece of copper tubing through the lid as in pic. Use hose clamp to hold in place (see pic). Fill with water. Insert probe.

 

[rodduley]

Hey GatorDad, can you elaborate a little more on your setup. Why the "U" shape as opposed to a straight design? Are you actually filling the tube with water, thus you would need a water proof probe. Are you trying to get readings in two different areas?

Thanks....

 

[GatorDad]

I did the "U" shape due to it's simplicity (i.e. KISS). Yes, I fill it with tap water before use. My thermo is water-proof, but is so using heat-shrink tubing and I don't know if that stuff is food safe, so, I isolate it in the copper tubing. I don't read the temp from both sides of the "U" - just one, but I suppose you could if you wanted.

 

[CrazyBrew]

I did this project today on my HLT. It's incredibly simple and cost effective. My mash tun is a kettle on a burner so it wasn't needed there. Thanks to the OP. Here's some pictures:

 

[triangulum33]

I drilled a small hole and siliconed around it. Not pretty, but extremely simple!

 

[BeatnikTom]

I found a similar probe from the same manufacturer that claims to be waterproof and has a calibration feature for only $11.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009WE45/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[tgmartin000]

Zombie thread! I'm thinking of trying this, and was wondering how this technique is holding up for everyone. Any leaks or anything?

 

[triangulum33]

Silicone is working great for me. I put a couple more applications on, but it doesnt leak - even when the probe gets bumped by my stir spoon.

 

[tgmartin000]

Silicone is working great for me. I put a couple more applications on, but it doesnt leak - even when the probe gets bumped by my stir spoon.

so you just put some food grade silicone around the stopper?

 

[CrazyBrew]

Zombie thread! I'm thinking of trying this, and was wondering how this technique is holding up for everyone. Any leaks or anything?

This works great with no leaks. Just put the stopper in from the inside. Water pressure seals it. No silicone no leaks.

 

[triangulum33]

so you just put some food grade silicone around the stopper?

Yup.
With a little hole just big enough to fit the probe.

 

[BeatnikTom]

Follow up on this mod with my experience. I'm glad this is working for others and for me *at first* it worked great, but then it leaked...just a little, nothing that was a big deal for that batch, BUT once the inside insulation of the cooler has been compromised, it's impossible to dry (the wort leaked between the plastic walls and into the foam insulation) so after that, my cooler wouldn't maintain temps for ****.

I've since replaced the cooler and now all is good again and I just leave a dairy thermometer floating in the cooler like I have for the previous 20 years.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I know this is an old thread, and has been necroed, but I just had a thought that this would probably be a good solution to adding a thermowell to a fermenter. If you have a drilled bottling bucket, or drill one yourself, you could install a probe this way to get a better reading on your fermentation temps. I may try this with a stopper and probe and use my bottling bucket (spigot removed) for fermenting. Obviously I will need to disassemble everything between batches, sanitize well and monitor for leaks.