Anyone got a loan of a calibrated thermometer ?

[bigvalen]

I have my electric brewery ready for testing. I'm going to try programming the PID controllers tonight. I just realised, before I try a brew, I should ensure the probes are calibrated. Does anyone around Central/North Dublin have a thermometer I could use for this ? Ideally, accurate to 0.1C.

John

[Leann ull]

If your stuck, crushed ice and a small about of water will give you zero and in the spout of a boiling kettle for 100.

[bigvalen]

Yeah, not a bad idea. Though I'd installed the probes already, so pulling them out for steam would be awkward :-)

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[bigvalen]

Though, dammit, one of the SSRs isn't getting a signal from the PID controller, so..something is squiffy. Turns out this is harder than expected.

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[BrewDorg]

If you can wait, you should invest in a Thermopen on Amazon. They're only £24 if you don't mind purple or teal.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-SuperFast-Thermapen-professional-thermometer/dp/B003P63MEW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472460862&sr=8-2&keywords=thermapen

[Leann ull]

Pids drift and need to be measured/calibrated one every 6 months or so.

[johnrm]

How long do thermapens stay accurate?

[Leann ull]

So far 12 months

[johnrm]

How do you know though?
Ice is OK to check for Zero.
Steam goes higher than 100C though, so the steamy kettle is not going to be accurate IMO.

(Geting cranky in my old age)

[nigel_c]

John I have a calibrated probe you can borrow.
It's one I "acquired" from work last change over.
Pm me and we can arrange something. I'm only up in northern cross or you can get at next meet up.

[Leann ull]

How do you know though?
Ice is OK to check for Zero.
Steam goes higher than 100C though, so the steamy kettle is not going to be accurate IMO.

(Geting cranky in my old age)

http://thermometer.co.uk/content/121-creating-an-icebath

[HomeBrewWest]

See the table here:
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/boiling-point-water-d_926.html

Boiling point varies by a couple of degrees with the weather (0.950 bar to 1.050 bar). Also altitude of course, but I presume we mostly live at sea level in Ireland!

That ice bath method looks a bit hairy, can't touch ice, side of vessel, bottom etc.

[bigvalen]

John I have a calibrated probe you can borrow.
It's one I "acquired" from work last change over.
Pm me and we can arrange something. I'm only up in northern cross or you can get at next meet up.

I might take you up on that, once I'm done..

I'm currently retrofitting silicon seals to the tanks. Looks like the hole that was made for the element is a smidgen big, and it pulled the element through the hole in the tank. Arse.

The other element makes me sad..I left water in it for a few days, to see would anything leak. The feckin' element rusted! I assume that means a manufacturing fault ?



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[molc]

No the base of the elements can rust when left in water, unless it is also stainless steel. Check out sacrificial anodes on electric brewery or try cleaning and rubbing in olive oil.

[Leann ull]

soak it in oxalic acid or high concentration starsan and let air dry to repassivate and that will solve the problem.