National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: kaipee on December 09, 2013, 05:05:27 PM

Title: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: kaipee on December 09, 2013, 05:05:27 PM
So I have been having a hunt for digital thermometers and came across this. It's a 'turkey-probe' style but is digital.
I'm hoping it would be long enough to be usable for homebrew

http://www.thermometersdirect.co.uk/home-brewing-thermometers/thermometers-direct/a-digital-waterproof-pocket-thermometer-stainless-steel-construction_ct523bd195pd2015.htm
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: JD on December 09, 2013, 08:56:46 PM
Personally I'd go with something else. There is a cheaper one on the same site that would be more useful if a little less robust.

http://www.thermometersdirect.co.uk/waterproof-thermometers/comark-thermometers/comark-dt400-waterproof-thermometer_ct509bd194pd1991.htm (http://www.thermometersdirect.co.uk/waterproof-thermometers/comark-thermometers/comark-dt400-waterproof-thermometer_ct509bd194pd1991.htm)

The benefits of the DT400 is it is more accurate and it reads in 6 seconds.
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Covey on December 09, 2013, 09:23:01 PM
My two cents, i got one of these. Have it 6months no probs. i checked it vs and proper calibrated probe and it +/- 0.5C. Plus it has two probes so you can leave them different parts of the mash.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Digital-Thermometer-Meter-HD23LHandheld-Contact-TYPE-K-Digital-Temperature-Meter-/121167351354?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c36230e3a
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: brenmurph on December 09, 2013, 09:27:10 PM
@ covey

excellent idea two probes, is there two seperate displays of do u toggle between probe 1 & 2?
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Covey on December 09, 2013, 09:34:49 PM
Quote from: brenmurph on December 09, 2013, 09:27:10 PM
@ covey

excellent idea two probes, is there two seperate displays of do u toggle between probe 1 & 2?

both displayed at the same time, reads every 2 seconds. Can set alarms on it max min.Handy for the end of the mash. pull one out of the mash and then stick  one in the HLT for sparge temp.
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Damofto on December 09, 2013, 09:52:05 PM
Thanks Covey I'm gonna buy one of those
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: kaipee on December 09, 2013, 10:50:20 PM
Quote from: Covey on December 09, 2013, 09:23:01 PM
My two cents, i got one of these. Have it 6months no probs. i checked it vs and proper calibrated probe and it +/- 0.5C. Plus it has two probes so you can leave them different parts of the mash.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Digital-Thermometer-Meter-HD23LHandheld-Contact-TYPE-K-Digital-Temperature-Meter-/121167351354?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c36230e3a

Awesome, those wee jobs look the ticket! I think I'll have to invest in one :D

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: RichC on December 10, 2013, 12:01:26 PM
Quote from: Covey on December 09, 2013, 09:23:01 PM
My two cents, i got one of these. Have it 6months no probs. i checked it vs and proper calibrated probe and it +/- 0.5C. Plus it has two probes so you can leave them different parts of the mash.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Digital-Thermometer-Meter-HD23LHandheld-Contact-TYPE-K-Digital-Temperature-Meter-/121167351354?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c36230e3a
Do you need thermowells with those? The TCs look like theyre just exposed conductor? or are they enclosed somehow?
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Will_D on December 10, 2013, 12:02:33 PM
Quote from: Covey on December 09, 2013, 09:23:01 PM
My two cents, i got one of these. Have it 6months no probs. i checked it vs and proper calibrated probe and it +/- 0.5C. Plus it has two probes so you can leave them different parts of the mash.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Digital-Thermometer-Meter-HD23LHandheld-Contact-TYPE-K-Digital-Temperature-Meter-/121167351354?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c36230e3a
Looks great OK

Are the probes really that "unfinished" looking ? Are they water proof?
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Covey on December 10, 2013, 01:11:13 PM
Are the probes really that "unfinished" looking ? Are they water proof?
[/quote]

Not sure i get ya, they are Ktype thermocuples which measure at the tip. They all look like that AFAIK. Each cable has two wire which are soldered at the tip. The are used for Thermal mapping industry wide. Thought you worked in a Lab?
Covey.
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: kaipee on December 10, 2013, 01:41:30 PM
@Covey are they braided or plastic sheathes on the wires?

I don't fancy braided wires, might be a bit difficult to clean/sterilize

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Ciderhead on December 10, 2013, 01:47:12 PM
I used them pre use of stc1000's and occasionally if I want to be sure of something I drag it out if the box.
They are in HLT which is not an issue, and you boil everything post mash so no concerns there either.
They do stain from wort


Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Covey on December 10, 2013, 01:53:53 PM
what he said, no issue with them, not braied. Not stained on me yet
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: RichC on December 10, 2013, 05:33:11 PM

Quote from: Covey on December 10, 2013, 01:11:13 PM
Are the probes really that "unfinished" looking ? Are they water proof?

Not sure i get ya, they are Ktype thermocuples which measure at the tip. They all look like that AFAIK. Each cable has two wire which are soldered at the tip. The are used for Thermal mapping industry wide. Thought you worked in a Lab?
Covey.
[/quote]
I doubt you'd ever see anyone in a lab sticking a bare TC in a liquid:)
They are indeed used for temperature measurement in a wide variety of industries but in most cases they would be installed in some sort of thermowell. Where I see them they're installed in a quartz sheath to prevent exposure to process chemicals. Seen as they look bare it's surprising that they're not electrically compromised inserting them in a mash.
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: HomeBrewWest on December 10, 2013, 07:15:45 PM
I've only come across them in stainless steel probes, lent one to a friend that was about 700mm long.

But, you could always tape them to the outside of your fermenter. I've done this and taped some paper over them. Works perfectly.

Ah, mashing! That's a bit trickier. Put them in a silicone rubber tubes that have their ends tied.  This would work:
http://www.homebrewwest.ie/silicon-hose-9-x-13-mm-per-metre-1684-p.asp (http://www.homebrewwest.ie/silicon-hose-9-x-13-mm-per-metre-1684-p.asp)
although its probably a bit too big; a thinner tube would be better. I've seen them here recently but I just can't find them. And I've spend a few minutes trying.

NHC: improve your search engine! Doesn't come up under "silicon". And it then makes me wait before I can search again.

But I do remember the thread and he has thinner tubing which would be perfect.
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: slayerking on December 10, 2013, 08:07:35 PM
I'm in the market for a decent digital thermometer. Anyone got any suggestions?
I've bought some in the past (these kinda ones (http://www.ebay.ie/itm/BBQ-Thermometer-Digital-Cooking-Food-Probe-Meat-Kitchen-Selectable-Thermometer-/251312701407?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a83677fdf)) but they can break after a few uses, usually the condensation/steam kills them and I have to resort to the old reliable glass one.
One I got even seemed to be about a degree out!
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: RichC on December 10, 2013, 08:12:47 PM
@HBW, I like the look and price of that thermometer but I'd prefer a SS or copper thermowell. Kinda feel the silicone would delay response quite a bit as it's an insulator
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: HomeBrewWest on December 10, 2013, 08:27:35 PM
Ya, but if its for mashing, then presumably you just want to watch temp drop over and hour or so.

Slayetking, I've used those too. But through a grommet (or pushed through  a silicone rubber bung) so that the electronics stays away from the fumes.

Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Ciderhead on December 10, 2013, 08:56:07 PM
Wort exposed bit v's unexposed, never had an issue in the 10 or 15 times I used it in the mash, a good swill off after use and dried before I put it away

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/11/u9y3yjev.jpg)


Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: RichC on December 10, 2013, 09:51:32 PM
@HBW, not meaning to be an arse BUT that stuff isn't silicon it's silicone(looking at URL)
Silicon - naturally occurring semi conductor element
Silicone - man made rubbery stuff used in breast implants
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Covey on December 10, 2013, 10:14:31 PM
Quote from: RichC on December 10, 2013, 05:33:11 PM

Quote from: Covey on December 10, 2013, 01:11:13 PM
Are the probes really that "unfinished" looking ? Are they water proof?

Not sure i get ya, they are Ktype thermocuples which measure at the tip. They all look like that AFAIK. Each cable has two wire which are soldered at the tip. The are used for Thermal mapping industry wide. Thought you worked in a Lab?
Covey.
I doubt you'd ever see anyone in a lab sticking a bare TC in a liquid:)
They are indeed used for temperature measurement in a wide variety of industries but in most cases they would be installed in some sort of
thermowell. Where I see them they're installed in a quartz sheath to prevent exposure to process chemicals. Seen as they look bare it's surprising that they're not electrically compromised inserting them in a mash.
[/quote]


I see them with and with out thermowell, Ive have used them use to map autoclaves (big ones no probs) and  it this case they seem not to mind the mash (prob due to it act as an electrolite or something). You could cover them but they seem fine.
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: HomeBrewWest on December 11, 2013, 05:17:45 PM
Quote from: RichC on December 10, 2013, 09:51:32 PM
@HBW, not meaning to be an arse BUT that stuff isn't silicon it's silicone(looking at URL)
Silicon - naturally occurring semi conductor element
Silicone - man made rubbery stuff used in breast implants
I know, I know. I used to work for Analog Devices, and designed ICs,

My point was that an NHC search for "silicon" should find "silicone", but it doesn't !
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: brenmurph on December 11, 2013, 06:39:40 PM
I think silicon is a mineral, silicone is for breasts and bathrooms :) ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: DEMPSEY on December 11, 2013, 07:07:37 PM
So next tine the moth starts nagging for a breast implant job can I just fill her favorite bra with wicks general purpose silicone. :P
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: Will_D on December 11, 2013, 07:47:10 PM
Quote from: DEMPSEY on December 11, 2013, 07:07:37 PM
So next tine the moth starts nagging for a breast implant job can I just fill her favorite bra with wicks general purpose silicone. :P
Would have to be food grade (Think About It ;))
Title: Re: Any opinions on this digital thermometer?
Post by: brenmurph on December 11, 2013, 07:48:09 PM
a lot oif women unfortunatly didnt get the food grade stuff dey were supposed to :o