Constructing my Keggle

[cutarecord]

Hey guys,

Getting all my part together to put together my first keggle. I'll be doing BIAB for a while so I'm only building one.... for now.

I wanted to hear what you think about installing a thermometer to the keg vs. a laser point-and-shoot thermometer. I'd be happy with either but i wanted to hear you guys weigh in. Some guys in my local brew club have said they have had problems with the installed thermometer getting skewed readings because its too close to the bottom. Let me know where you guys stand.

Also, i wanted to hear some opinions about sight-glasses. AND where to find a good one.

Links to both types of thermometers im considering...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YE3FS4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

OR

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064OFLVE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

with attached:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064OFN8U/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[1KD1]

I am new to brewing but very familiar with non-contact thermometer (laser point and shoot, as you called them).

While non-contact thermometers can be pretty accurate, they might not be as accurate as you would like for brewing. The readings are skewed terribly when pointing at a reflective surface. I have also noticed inaccuracies when pointing them at water. If you pointed it at the top of your wort (and could take a reading), you would be measuring the temp at the surface and might be several degrees off from the "middle" of the pot.

I do my own powder coating and use the N/C thermometers several times during the process and the more reflective the surface, the harder it is to get an accurate reading.

Just my two cents.

 

[Brew-boy]

No a big fan of that type for a brewing session. I love this Thermometer it has never let me down.

 

[lpdjshaw]

The only time I use the temp reading on my BK thermo is when I'm cooling and it doesn't mater how high or low the thermometer is positioned because the burner is off (obviously) and the wort is recirculating. The dial is nice and big so I can just glance at it while I'm cleaning up and I don't have to stop what I'm doing, grab a thermometer and take a minute or so, on numerous occasions, to take a temp reading. I'd go with the installed thermometer.

 

[1KD1]

Just an update ****

I brewed Saturday and used a non-contact thermometer along with dial thermometer. As I suspected the readings were inconsistent. I was brewing a batch of dark ale and the darkness of the wort actually seem to help the n/c thermometer to get more precise readings. I still wouldn't trust it as my only option but you could probably get by with one if it is all you have.

 

[cutarecord]

thanks for all your input guys... i've been talking with some brew pals around here and they seem to have problems with their probe thermometers being inaccurate over brew sessions. most of them have suggested a waterproof digital probe thermometer

 

[1KD1]

I would tend to agree. My brew pals use digital thermometers and it seems to work very well. I have one on the wish list but uncle Sam wants all my money for taxes! Ugh!

 

[TopherM]

For BIAB, a thermowell isn't going to do you mush good. If you have the thermowell high enough to measure the grain temp, then the BIAB bag is going to get snagged. If you put it low enough not to snag the bag, then it isn't measuring the grain temp.

I have a BIAB keggle, and I invested in a Thermapen. Easy breezy:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003P601S2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20