Brewing Master

Question:

Having been in the electronics field for quite a while, I use a multitester that has a temperature probe.  These are pretty accurate. You should be able to find one around you. Good luck, Barry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Pardon me if this post comes up twice, but my other reader hasn’t put it on the NG, since I posted it last week, so I’m trying again. I’m getting into mashing pretty soon, and am wondering on the best thermometer to get. Of course, I already have a floating dairy one, but I want a few more for various kettles, etc. I’ve heard the "bimetal" ones are the most accurate, but am wondering what make, price range dealers, etc. Not being a scientific type, I would think that the mercury ones would be more accurate than the mechanical (bimetal) ones? If anyone up here in Canada is reading, could you direct me to possible suppliers here, prices, models, etc? Thanks.

Response:

Pardon me if this post comes up twice, but my other reader hasn’t put it on the NG, since I posted it last week, so I’m trying again. I’m getting into mashing pretty soon, and am wondering on the best thermometer to get. Of course, I already have a floating dairy one, but I want a few more for various kettles, etc. I’ve heard the "bimetal" ones are the most accurate, but am wondering what make, price range dealers, etc. Not being a scientific type, I would think that the mercury ones would be more accurate than the mechanical (bimetal) ones? If anyone up here in Canada is reading, could you direct me to possible suppliers here, prices, models, etc? Thanks.

Response:

Pardon me if this post comes up twice, but my other reader hasn’t put it on the NG, since I posted it last week, so I’m trying again. I’m getting into mashing pretty soon, and am wondering on the best thermometer to get. Of course, I already have a floating dairy one, but I want a few more for various kettles, etc. I’ve heard the "bimetal" ones are the most accurate, but am wondering what make, price range dealers, etc. Not being a scientific type, I would think that the mercury ones would be more accurate than the mechanical (bimetal) ones? If anyone up here in Canada is reading, could you direct me to possible suppliers here, prices, models, etc? Thanks.

Howdy from Ottawa. I’ve found those floating thermometers to be just about useless.   Judging by your address, you are in Ottawa as well.  DeFalco’s brewing has nothing to offer in terms of useful thermometers, and it’s been a while since I’ve been out to the Hop Stop in the East End, so I don’t remember. However, on Bank St immediately north of the bridge going over the Rideau (River, I think), there’s a kitchen supply place (name escapes me) that has a selection of several different dial thermometers.  Also, if you are in the sciences at one of the local universities, you should be able to cheaply get a good chemistry thermometer (alcohol glass type).  I’ve got both. If you have any problems or questions, give me a jingle at 723-1337. cheers, -Alan — Alan McKay                Nortel Technologies Norstar Team          amckay at nortel dot ca

Response:

I was recently able to get my hands on a lab thermometer and *tested* my floating one against it.  Off by at least4-6 degrees.  What more,  it’s not constant.  At higher temps it’s off more than at lower temps.  Sheesh! Whatever thermometer you get,  try to borrow/buy a quality lab thermometer to use for calibration and buy one that’s recalibratible. — heubs Spammers forced me into this. Real responses…remove you know what. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Pardon me if this post comes up twice, but my other reader hasn’t put it on the NG, since I posted it last week, so I’m trying again. I’m getting into mashing pretty soon, and am wondering on the best thermometer to get. Of course, I already have a floating dairy one, but I want a few more for various kettles, etc. I’ve heard the "bimetal" ones are the most accurate, but am wondering what make, price range dealers, etc. Not being a scientific type, I would think that the mercury ones would be more accurate than the mechanical (bimetal) ones? If anyone up here in Canada is reading, could you direct me to possible suppliers here, prices, models, etc? Thanks.

Response:

Looking for a decent digital thermometer with a minimum 22" probe – any ideas or am I going to have to make one using the BT articles? Has anyone made one of the BT thermometers?  I’d be interested in hearing if it functions well or not. Thanks much. They can take my beer when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers. . . or when it’s reached room temperature, whichever comes first. Kallen

Response:

Looking for a decent digital thermometer with a minimum 22" probe – any ideas or am I going to have to make one using the BT articles? Has anyone made one of the BT thermometers?  I’d be interested in hearing if it functions well or not.

I tried.  I got linear readings when I took a transister, battery and DVM and put in different temp liquids.  However, when it came down to wiring the op amp, I remembered why I changed majors from EE to computer science.  8-) | Tim Robinson                   | Lonely Web page.  Please visit.   | | "The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by | | men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."  L. Brandeis |

Response:

I just finished building a digital thermometer from plans in "Electronic thermometers for brewers" in the Brewery web page and it worked well in the mash of my most recent brew.  I used the digital panel meter circuit and after a couple miswirings and bad solder problems I eventually got it article.  With the case it came out costing about $30.  A long dial thermometer would have been cheaper, but not as good for resolution and versatility. — Stuart Looking for a decent digital thermometer with a minimum 22" probe – any ideas or am I going to have to make one using the BT articles? Has anyone made one of the BT thermometers?  I’d be interested in hearing if it functions well or not. Thanks much. They can take my beer when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers. . . or when it’s reached room temperature, whichever comes first. Kallen

  = Stuart = AR-10, Univ. Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 . . . . . .  206-543-5350

Response:

Looking for a decent digital thermometer with a minimum 22" probe – any ideas or am I going to have to make one using the BT articles? Has anyone made one of the BT thermometers?  I’d be interested in hearing if it functions well or not.

If you’re gonna build your own, go for it!  Otherwise… I’ve treid a lot of over-the-counter thermometers and have yet to find a digital that was as accurate as my quick-read mechanical model (or as cheap!)

Response:

Looking for a decent digital thermometer with a minimum 22" probe – any ideas or am I going to have to make one using the BT articles? Has anyone made one of the BT thermometers?  I’d be interested in hearing if it functions well or not. One way to go is to buy the handheld temperature readout units available from

many sources, and which allow you to plug in probes of any kind (using standard type thermocouples).  An example is shown on p. L-13 of the Omega Temperature catalog (Vo. 29) available from Omega 1-800-826-6342. The cool thing is you can wall-mount the readout portion of the unit and cover it with a spalsh shield, then run a hand-held probe to it. This keeps the electronics out of the Splash Zone (and the sugar zone), while allowing you to measure the temperature of the grain bed, compost heap, molten lead bath, etc. KRF Colorado Springs

Response:

I’ve been keeping an eye out for a while for a good digital thermometer for my brewing, and now that I’ve found one I thought I’d let anyone else who’s interested know. I found, for $28 a digital thermometer/timer/alarm.  It operates from 0