Question about those stick-on fermometers

[damdaman]

It's hot out, and I'm planning on using a cold-water bath to keep my fermentation temp under control. My question is, if I have my bucket sitting in the cold-water bath, and the stick-on fermometer is submerged in the cold water, will the temp it reads reflect the cold water, or the actual temp inside the bucket?

 

[Walker]

the cold water.

 

[rollinred]

If the stick on is above the water level you will be getting the temp of the wort inside the bucket. If it is below the water level then it will read something in between the temp of the two but it won't be accurate enough.

 

[tasq]

Just FYI you will probably ruin the fermometer by submerging it. I know I did.

 

[JBrady]

yea I heard that they are inaccurate under water. Just peel it off and stick it on the top of the fermenter where it will be out of the water bath but below interior liquid level. Based on my previous expeirences it should still have enough sticky stuff to restick to the fermenter. If not, just tape it back on, lol.

 

[damdaman]

Cool, thanks guys.

 

[kappclark]

Just FYI you will probably ruin the fermometer by submerging it. I know I did.

Ditto

 

[Bassman]

Just FYI you will probably ruin the fermometer by submerging it. I know I did.

What about if you wrap a towel around it that sits in a tub of water in order to cool it? My guess is that is just as bad.

 

[redalert]

Just FYI you will probably ruin the fermometer by submerging it. I know I did.

Same here.

 

[deflagratio]

I just submerged mine yesterday. While I haven't been taking temperature readings at the same water level my Fermometer is reading about 4-5 degrees above what my thermometer in the water is reading.

 

[tasq]

What about if you wrap a towel around it that sits in a tub of water in order to cool it? My guess is that is just as bad.

I ruined one that way too.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Water ruins them...I know...

What I do is I "laminate" the therm strips in clear packing tape and cut the tape down smaller. Then I place a another piece of tape over the whole thing (be sure to bend over and edge for easy removal) and place that on the primary bucket. Watertight and reusable.

I pull them off before washing the buckets and carboys...