What kind of Mash temp thermometer?

[Tmeister]

hey, im a all grain brewer with about 10 brews on my belt. I allways use a probe thermometer (the ones with the circular dial and probe) for checking mash temp, and strike water temp. I allways get worried with these because I feel like they aren't that accurate. I do calibrate my thermometer, but it just worries me.
My question is... how do you experienced AG brewers check strike and mash temp. ? Is there really nice thermometers to use or is what im using just fine.
I haven't had any problems with temp normally besides just slight variation, I just want to be exact.

 

[gturner6ppc]

I've always used one of the regular mercury lab thermometers they sell at the home brew store, but a few days ago I saw a digital thermometer with remote probe (and alarms and such) at Lowe's for $20, so I grabbed it. It was in the turkey/outdoor grilling section.

I haven't used it or checked it for accuracy yet, but the probe plugs in with a regular mono mini headphone plug, so my plan is to use a headphone splitter from Radio Shack so it can feed the display and some sort of op-amp circuit I could build to control a heater element at a given setpoint (using a trim pot to match whatever voltage the probe sends when the display says I'm at the right temperature).

 

[babalu87]

Taylor 9842 Commercial Waterproof Digital Thermometer

Has survived a few drops into the wort

 

[sudbuster]

hey, im a all grain brewer with about 10 brews on my belt. I allways use a probe thermometer (the ones with the circular dial and probe) for checking mash temp, and strike water temp. I allways get worried with these because I feel like they aren't that accurate. I do calibrate my thermometer, but it just worries me.
My question is... how do you experienced AG brewers check strike and mash temp. ? Is there really nice thermometers to use or is what im using just fine.
I haven't had any problems with temp normally besides just slight variation, I just want to be exact.

Any calibrated thermometer is good. Some of the digital thermometers may be off unless calibrated. A glass lab thermometer is the standard and the one I trust, and the one used to calibrate all the others to.

 

[Rick500]

I use one of these. Inexpensive, relatively rugged, and accurate.

 

[wildwest450]

It's my go to thermometer, very accurate.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/SELF-CALIBRATING_DIGITAL_P1434C102.cfm

 

[Yuri_Rage]

www.thermapen.com. You won't regret it.

 

[JuanKenobi]

Taylor 9842 Commercial Waterproof Digital Thermometer

Has survived a few drops into the wort

I use this as well. Picked it up after breaking my third floating thermometer. Calibration is dead on and can be adjusted if necessary. I've dropped it into near boiling wort once with no problems. I think it was like $13 at local kitchen supply store.

 

[gturner6ppc]

Does anyone else here just throw in a calibrated lobster and time how long it takes him to stop twitching?

 

[wildwest450]

www.thermapen.com. You won't regret it.

But your wallet might.

 

[khiddy]

I got a brand-new "digital wine thermometer" at the local Goodwill for $2.99. I took it out of the package, and discovered that the temp range was -40F to +300F, and I couldn't get to the front of the store fast enough!

I've calibrated it against three other thermometers in my house, and have a pretty good idea of just how spot-on it is. Best $3 I've ever spent!

 

[Tmeister]

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, I like the waterproof Taylor one. Maybe il even buy a glass lab thermometer and throw that in the mash.

 

[carl spakler]

I've always used one of the regular mercury lab thermometers they sell at the home brew store, but a few days ago I saw a digital thermometer with remote probe (and alarms and such) at Lowe's for $20, so I grabbed it. It was in the turkey/outdoor grilling section.

I haven't used it or checked it for accuracy yet, but the probe plugs in with a regular mono mini headphone plug, so my plan is to use a headphone splitter from Radio Shack so it can feed the display and some sort of op-amp circuit I could build to control a heater element at a given setpoint (using a trim pot to match whatever voltage the probe sends when the display says I'm at the right temperature).

Beware of those cheapies over the long haul. If you look at the tip of the probe you will likely see a seam between the point and the shaft, this is where liquid can seep in over time and absolutely bugger your thermo! Many of the cooking thermometers are not designed for immersion in liquids.

It will likely work for a period of time, but one day it will crap out, or worse it will read +20 or -20 and cause you a 5 gallon batch of headache.

 

[the_bird]

www.thermapen.com. You won't regret it.

I want one of those so bad! Can't quite justify the expense, though... even though the original models are now down to $74.

The digital pen thermo I bought at Target for $10 works great, much better than any of the probe thermos that I've used. Just wish it gave a faster reading.

Those thermapens are basically instant-reads, aren't they?

 

[HairyDogBrewing]

I want one of those so bad! Can't quite justify the expense, though... even though the original models are now down to $74.

The digital pen thermo I bought at Target for $10 works great, much better than any of the probe thermos that I've used. Just wish it gave a faster reading.

Those thermapens are basically instant-reads, aren't they?

I've tried just about every consumer-grade thermometer, then finally gave up and got a Thermapen.
It reads almost instantly and I know that the reading is accurate.
The others were off by several degrees.
I still use the ones with the audible alarm, but I make sure the alarm goes off early, then check with the Thermapen.

 

[UnderDogs]

It's my go to thermometer, very accurate.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/SELF-CALIBRATING_DIGITAL_P1434C102.cfm

Has anyone else used this thermometer? It looks like the price is right so I just want to get some more opinions before I spend the money.

 

[ajf]

Has anyone else used this thermometer? It looks like the price is right so I just want to get some more opinions before I spend the money.

I use the same one and it's great. It is fairly quick and can be calibrated. (I've never found the calibration necessary. It was accurate when I got it, and has never varied.)


-a.

 

[ForRealBeer]

The Williams thermo looks pretty interesting, and you are right, the price is certainly right...but I wonder how it can calibrate accurately using just one point:

"to calibrate, place it in a crushed ice solution, and press the calibration button. Within seconds, it has calibrated itself to 32° F. (the temperature of a crushed ice and water solution)."
even if it is a platinum RTD sensor and dead linear (as PRTDs are), one would think it needs a second point to accurately calibrate.

Ah, what the heck. I guess I am overthinking and trying to inject NIST-trace laboratory practice out of embedded habit.

 

[JVD_X]

But your wallet might.

I agree with Yuri-Rage on this one. If I had just bought the ThermaPen first - I would have saved a lot of money.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

Has anyone else used this thermometer? It looks like the price is right so I just want to get some more opinions before I spend the money.

I used that one and it seemed great for awhile...until the other day when it just seemed off somehow. I recalibrated it at freezing, but it remained off by several degress at the upper end. I calibrated it at boiling but it was off by several degrees at the bottom end. Previously it would be correct at both ends of the spectrum.

I tossed it and my Thermapen is on the Fedex truck Out For Delivery as I type.

 

[The Pol]

I just bought (2) Comark DT400 thermometers.

+-1F and calibratable.

They were about $25 each and have long probes.

FWIW the $5 Taylor digitals that I bought years ago, are only off 1F at 32F and 1F at 210F...

I feel a little better having calibratable thermometers though. They also have MAX temp. memory so that you can go back and see how hot they have gotten since the last reset.

I will use one to verify my MLT temp. when running the HERMS, the other will be for yeast work and coffee making.

Calibrated at 32F in a 60% ice slurry, the (2) therms read .5F different at boiling.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I 'wort-proofed' and use a Taylor digital meat thermometer almost just like the one in this thread. One of the things I like about it is that I can easily use it for monitoring keezer/lagerator temps and just leave them attached to the side of the fridge/keezer (they have magnets on the back). And I can leave the probe in the water bath for fermenting lagers. Not calibrate-able though.

After many brews I decided to disassemble and clean. Upon reassembling I found it much easier to just carefully pull the thermocouple wire out of the stainless probe, slide the tubing over the wire, then put the probe back on and slide the tubing back over the end of the probe and o-ring ( I only use one, internal o-ring and it has never leaked).

I have a non-water-proof digital similar to the Thermapen but I end up just using it for verification. The probe just seems easier to use. YMMV.

 

[JVD_X]

I feel a little better having calibratable thermometers though.

It should be noted that the new splash-proof thermapen is calibratable using a series of DIP switches if this becomes necessary.

 

[Bigsnake]

I use a Traceable Water-Proof Thermometer. After killing my digital kitchen thermometer just from heavy steam contact I decided I wanted to definately go water-proof. It's nice knowing I don't have to worry about getting it wet.

http://www.control3.com/4039p.htm

 

[AnOldUR]

I just bought (2) Comark DT400 thermometers.

Damn you Pol. Another thermometer I have to buy?

My wife's not worried about my drinking, but my obsession with thermometers is drawing some strange looks. :cross:

 

[AnOldUR]

I use a Traceable Water-Proof Thermometer. After killing my digital kitchen thermometer just from heavy steam contact I decided I wanted to definately go water-proof. It's nice knowing I don't have to worry about getting it wet. http://www.control3.com/4039p.htm

Got one of these, but have to agree with Evan!, I've Had it With These POS Traceable Thermometers! Mine is now totally unreliable also. It might be good for something, but doesn't stand up to brewing.

 

[RichBenn]

I went with a Taylor thermo, like others. Being an engineer, I got the specs --plenty accurage enough for mashing, so there is no need for anything more expensive. Mine was actually the digital wine themometer, but the water proof one would be better.

I see all these people willing to spend a bundle on a themopen or other such expensive device, but IMHO, it's not necessary today if you get a name brand and check the specs. That probably wasn't as true years ago, but digital thermos are pretty accurate today.

 

[JVD_X]

but digital thermos are pretty accurate today.

You are insane - seriously. I even have a Platinum RTD that is reading off 5-10 degrees. In fact, I have FOUR RTD's by the same manufacturer and two of them read off by several degrees. I then have FOUR additional thermometers... two glass scientific, an instant thermopen, and the thermocouple from Ideal. Only four of these eight temperature sensors read the same.

 

[Brew-Happy]

Well,

I just made me a copper-constantan thermocouple today for my pot. Just open wires with solder (lead free I am sure) and calibrated it to use for steeping and PM batches. Should be fun and easy to use with a multimeter. I will be checking against thermometer at home, but I calibrated it to a lab one.

Thermocouples are fun

I may try to make a stainless steel thermowell in the future. Weldless I am sure.

 

[RichBenn]

You are insane - seriously. I even have a Platinum RTD that is reading off 5-10 degrees. In fact, I have FOUR RTD's by the same manufacturer and two of them read off by several degrees. I then have FOUR additional thermometers... two glass scientific, an instant thermopen, and the thermocouple from Ideal. Only four of these eight temperature sensors read the same.

RTD's are not necessarily that accurate. It's old technology. I used to design interfaces for them for high speed data aquisition. They were liked, IMHO, because they produce a linear relationship between temperature and resistance, and they were rugged in industrial applications and you could do long, remote lead lengths with 3 and 4 wire systems. Easy to design for for most applications, where +/- 5 degree absolute accuracy is more than good enough. One can get better accuracy, but platinum is not cheap and 4 wire versions are a bit more pricy.

In my mind, thermocouples fall into the same category. are a bit cheaper for the device, but with more compensation circuitry needed.

The new "cheap" digital thermometers use thermistors. The device is anything but linear, and they are slow to respond(8 seconds) but the integrated circuits that compensate cost next to nothing today and are very accurate. The two I have are accurate to less than a degree at 32F (ice bath) and 212F (boiling water). The resolution is .1 degree F. Plenty good enough for my needs. If you look, it's not at all hard to find ones with .5 degree NSF accuracy, if you want one you can count on.

They aren't designed for industrial applications and don't really work well for remote applications(long wiring) But because of quantity, (the use in home medical thermometers and the like) the cost has gone WAY down and the performance way up. If they break, it's not much to replace them. Buy more expensive stuff if you like, but I won't.