Can't get it in snugly!

[Brewing Clamper]

I have this thermowell from Darrin and this temp sensor (k-type) but the sensor has a lot of wiggle room in the thermowell. How do I fix it? Thanks guys & gals!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_grease

 

[P-J]

Sorry. The images do not tell a single thing about the parts that you have.
It appears that the threads on the probe do not match the thermal well.
What are we talking about.

How about a link to the part instead of a picture.

Just saying...

 

[zilch]

Who's Snugly?

 

[Brewing Clamper]

Sorry. The images do not tell a single thing about the parts that you have.
It appears that the threads on the probe do not match the thermal well.
What are we talking about.

How about a link to the part instead of a picture.

Just saying...

My bad, I changed the links to the items I purchased. The thermowell is just that, there is no thread on the inside. The Thermocouple has a Male thread that seems non-standard, somewhere between 1/4" and 1/3" maybe...

I might just dismantle the thermocouple's bolt segment, keeping the sensor intact and epoxy it into the thermowell... maybe...

 

[P-J]

My bad, I changed the links to the items I purchased. The thermowell is just that, there is no thread on the inside. The Thermocouple has a Male thread that seems non-standard, somewhere between 1/4" and 1/3" maybe...

I might just dismantle the thermocouple's bolt segment, keeping the sensor intact and epoxy it into the thermowell... maybe...

The thermal well is one issue. The second issue is the temp probe is metric. You are going to have issues putting those parts together.

You might want to go to a hardware store and buy a nut that fits on the temp probe threads. Then an o-ring that is a snug fit. This way you can put the probe directly through the kettle wall.

 

[Walker]

I suggest trying to remove the bolt from the thermocouple if you think you can do it without damaging the probe. That kind of threaded attachment is meant to screw into the side of a kiln or something dry. The bolt freely spins around the probe and cable.

You don't need it in this case. You want to be able to insert that probe all the way into the thermowell, and that bolt is in your way.

In fact, even if the bolt did fit in snugly, you wouldn't get good temp readings because the tip of the probe is too close to the outside world.

The PID I bought came with that kind of probe and I've never even taken it out of the baggie it was in. Just threw it in a box since it wasn't really suitable for what I wanted to do.

 

[Walker]

The thermal well is one issue. The second issue is the temp probe is metric. You are going to have issues putting those parts together.

You might want to go to a hardware store and buy a nut that fits on the temp probe threads. Then an o-ring that is a snug fit. This way you can put the probe directly through the kettle wall.

What P-J suggests here is an option.. I think The Pol did this a long time ago... but you will also have to seal up the tip of the probe. Liquid will leak through the gap between the probe and the drilled out bolt.

If you try and cut the bolt off and mess it up, I can send you another probe exactly like that one. Mine is just sitting in a box unused.