Temperature Probe Spacer

MikeCo · Jan 17, 2020

My new eBIAB kettle with BoilCoil has a 2" 14mm thread Auber probe. I've located the probe as shown in the picture. It protrudes from the coil about 3/8 inch. I do not plan to use a false bottom or basket. It may work fine without tearing the bag, but I'd rather move it back a bit so the tip is just under the coil. I'm thinking of using some kind of 9/16 ID spacer on the outside of the kettle to reduce the protrusion of the tip beyond the coil. The spacer would be on the other side of the silicone washer relative to the kettle wall.

1. Is there any reason this would affect the probe sealing or temperature reading?
2. Has anyone done this and found off the shelf spacers that work? I could use a stack of washers, but that's not as elegant as I'd like. I haven't been able to find anything exactly the size I need which is 14mm or 9/16 inner diameter and about 3/8 inch long.

OneInTheHand · Jan 18, 2020

Could you just cut the tip off the end with a hacksaw and then file it down?

day_trippr · Jan 18, 2020

It's not a thermowell, it's an actual, out-of-the-box temperature probe assembly, and the bits that do the actual measuring are undoubtedly in the last 1/4" of the tip of that unit...

Cheers!

FrostyBeach · Jan 18, 2020

please do not saw that probe off with a hacksaw. You will destroy it. The only thing that I think will happen if you move it out is that you will get a fast reheat time on your element and you will undershoot your temps

mabrungard · Jan 18, 2020

I see that the probe would probably snag the bag. Adding some extra gaskets could space it back, but it doesn't look like it would be enough.

You can't cut off the end of a thermocouple since the electric resistance component is typically at the end of the tube. However, you can bend the thermocouple. But it looks like the diameter of the tube would make bending it very difficult. You don't want to kink the tube or it could pinch the internal wiring or crack the tube.

What about fabricating some sort of metal plate that you could hang on the boil coils to cover the probe while the bag is in? Of course, you'd have to smooth all the edges so that it doesn't snag the bag either. That plate only has to stay in place while your inserting and soaking the bag.

Are you recirculating wort? That's the only way that you'll have a relatively uniform temperature throughout your wort.

MikeCo · Jan 20, 2020

I'm not recirculating to start off. I plan to just occasionally stir and see how it goes. I like to keep things simple. I did get a controller that has switches for pumps if needed someday.

I like the suggestion of a plate to shield the probe; I'll check into it.

I should maybe just get a shorter probe. I can't find a 1.5 inch probe except for those with 1/2 NPT threads, and for whatever reason I like the straight 14mm threads for going through the kettle wall.