Boil kettle thermometer

[joeg13]

I was surprised by my wife on Christmas with an amazing new polar ware 40qt pot. It came with a ball valve and a plug for the second hole. I've been trying to figure out how to hook up a thermometer and sight glass in a single hole. Then I asked myself, do I really need a thermometer in a boil kettle? I know when it's boiling by looking at the water surface. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Hammy71]

I have one on my pot because I use an immersion chiller. That way I don't need to keep dipping a thermometer into the wort . I can just look at the one on the pot.

 

[mux]

Get this
http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=45&product_id=90

 

[rack04]

I just completely my first brew session with a thermometer on my keggle. I liked being able to see how close I was to boil and when the wort was cool enough to rack to primary fermenter.

 

[rcrabb22]

I just completely my first brew session with a thermometer on my keggle. I liked being able to see how close I was to boil and when the wort was cool enough to rack to primary fermenter.

There are folks who will tell you a boil kettle thermometer is a waste of money. I disagree. It is nice to know when the kettle is close to a boil and also cooled to pitching temperature with just a glance.

 

[jfowler1]

I brewed my first batch on that same kettle and I chose to add a Blichmann thermometer. I can not believe I brewed for years without a thermometer on my kettle (I had been relying on a hand held digital unit).

I used it to watch the temp as I heated strike water, I used it to make sure my flame intensity was maintaining 160F while I was running my HERMS, I used it while ramping up to 175F for sparging, and I used it again when I was running the immersion whirlpool chiller.

The chiller was my favorite part because I actually watched the dial drop.

 

[joeg13]

Can you run a thermometer and a sight glass through the same hole? Found this on morebeer.com, but there are no instructions and it's a bit pricy for only little adapter.

Stainless Sight Gauge Adapter with plug | MoreBeer

Would you screw the sight glass into the top and insert the thermometer in the side? I figured a sight glass would be invaluable for monitoring wort/water levels.

 

[joeg13]

Get this
Welded Thermometer sight gauge fitting kit

That's pretty sweet. Just found this one also.

Large Sight Glass Combo with 3" Dial Thermometer

Has anyone bought from bargainfittings.com or brewhardware.com?

 

[mux]

I buy from bargain fitting they are the best! I have ordered a few times early in the morning and got a order shipped email by the afternoon. Awesome service!

 

[Hammy71]

I've bought from both. I have Bobby M's (brewhardware.com) siteglass combo and it is top quality. He even custom made the length for my homemade pot. Good deal.

 

[joeg13]

I've bought from both. I have Bobby M's (brewhardware.com) siteglass combo and it is top quality. He even custom made the length for my homemade pot. Good deal.

That's a great pot. How big is it? You made that yourself?

 

[Hammy71]

A friend made it for me. Stainless and about 22 gallon. Its good to have talented friends.

 

[joeg13]

Will it matter that the site gauge will be high, above the ball valve? I've always seen them start lower, near the bottom of the pot.

 

[mux]

Will it matter that the site gauge will be high, above the ball valve? I've always seen them start lower, near the bottom of the pot.

Use a tee and an elbow. Straight through the tee for valve then nipple and elbow up to sight glass. Only one hole- valve and sight glass on same level.

 

[Hammy71]

Will it matter that the site gauge will be high, above the ball valve? I've always seen them start lower, near the bottom of the pot.

Usually they are near the bottom because the site glass is used to measure the liquid in the pot. You can put it higher, just realize that the bottom hash mark on the site glass might be something like 4 gallons instead of 1.