Thermometer calibration

[MrSmug]

Can someone please explain how one would calibrate their thermometer? Thanks

 

[audger]

just a quick and dirty method:

fill a glass with ice and then the remainder of water. stir it around for a while and the water should be right around 32 degrees, +/- maybe 1.

then boil some water in a pot, that should be around 212 degrees.

make sure that your thermometer reads 32 in the ice and 212 in the boiling water.

 

[foos-n-brew]

The ice water method is better than the boiling method. The boiling point of water changes with elevation changes.

 

[drkwoods]

The ice and boil water is a good start. Be careful with the boil test though. It's subject to your altitude. Use a web site that'll tell you your boiling point for your altitude. Next I would calibrate the thermometer to something in the range of what it's for. Obviously the Mash being the most important. I used a very good thermometer like a Thermapen Or laboratory thermo to calibrate around 150f. If you don't have that use the thermometer you feel
Is the most accurate after your 32/212f tests.

 

[audger]

good point. subtract about 2 degrees per +1000ft of altitude

so if your altitude is 2000 feet above sea level, water should boil around 208 degrees F.... etc

 

[MrSmug]

Fail... I have the following thermometer that states:

You may notice that the temperature range has been reduced from a typical 0°-250° to a reduced range of 50°-220°, this reduced temperature range makes the thermometer more accurate, and the temperatures easier to read.

Looks like Ill just have to test via the boiling method.

 

[Bobby_M]

That's not really a bad thing. Boiling temp is closer to what we care about anyway.