BIAB temp probe questions?

[akthor]

So I'm moving to BIAB. I am going to have a 400 micron SS basket inside my brewpot as opposed to a bag. They are being fabbed right now so I haven't received them yet but I assume there will be around 1" ish of space between the basket and the sidewall of the pot.

I've been looking and have yet to find a 1" or less thermowell.

What do you guys do for your temp probes?

 

[PlinyTheMiddleAged]

Akthor,

I think most folks don't bother with a thermowell. All I do is get my water to strike temp, put my bag in my kettle, and dump in the grain. Then I stir like crazy, stir some more, and check the temp with a probe thermometer. If I'm satisfied, the kettle gets sealed up and covered with old sleeping bags for the duration of the mash. There's no need for a thermowell in the mash tun/kettle as far as I can tell.

Regards.

 

[akthor]

I'll be going electric with a controller that will automatically maintain temps. So I will need a temp probe in there somewhere.

 

[jekeane]

Are you going to be recirculating with electric or just letting it sit? If you are recirculating use a T at the valve on the way into or out of the mash, I would think going into the mash might be more accurate for biab. Put the probe into the "bottom" of the T so it measures the wort flowing. If you are not recirculating you will already need some sort of clearance under the basket for your element so just instal the probe below the elements. I think there are likely limitations to both methods if your probe isn't measuring the mash temp inside that basket you may be off a bit. You could look into a probe that dangles into the mash.

 

[NeoBrew]

I use an stc 1000 for my temp control. I put a food safe sleeve on the last foot of the probe with a piece of heavy copper wire inside it. I then wrap the copper around the pot handle and run the probe under the lid into the mash. The copper wire lets me position it wherever I want inside the bag.

Not the most elegant, but it works.

 

[akthor]

That's a great idea! I do plan to recirculate. But I will also have the ability to monitor multiple temp probes.

Are you going to be recirculating with electric or just letting it sit? If you are recirculating use a T at the valve on the way into or out of the mash, I would think going into the mash might be more accurate for biab. Put the probe into the "bottom" of the T so it measures the wort flowing. If you are not recirculating you will already need some sort of clearance under the basket for your element so just instal the probe below the elements. I think there are likely limitations to both methods if your probe isn't measuring the mash temp inside that basket you may be off a bit. You could look into a probe that dangles into the mash.