Installing Temp Gauge In Urn

[boobiedazzler]

I want to install an analogue thermometer through the bottom sight gauge hole of a birko urn, but wondering if this will provide an inaccurate temp reading for the entire mash because it is only 4cm from the base- and if the probe needs to be mid-way up the kettle instead.

If it needs to be higher, I would need to build a semi-circular housing with holes drilled into it, then weld it over the probe, because I am doing BIAB and it would otherwise get caught on the bag.

 

[boobiedazzler]

Bumping this for any advice? If this is a silly question, forgive me, becuase I really dont know if the placement of an analogue thermo is going to matter or not, but suspect it might. The reason for this question is because I dont really want to drill another hole in my urn. I plan to take the sight gauge off anyway, and would have to plug the hole, so it might as well be with something that will benefit the process.

Have also been considering that if it measures for example 67 degrees, but my hand held digital thermo measures 66 degress from the top after a good stir, maybe I could calibrate the analogue thermo 1/2 a degree less than zero, so the hot reading would be more or less representative of the overall mash temp. This is the thermo Im looking at.
http://www.mashmaster.com.au/p/923730/-wel...s-and-kegs.html

 

[RdeVjun]

Yeah IIRC, there's been plenty of debate about where to locate a temperature probe for the mash, seems no matter where it is measured that seldom is consistent throughout the whole mash, ergo the question where is best/ most representative etc.

I'm not an urn user, so I can't really say much, sorry... Perhaps BribieG and other electric BIABers might advise? :unsure:
By the sounds, the sight gauge hole is probably just as good as anywhere, although it is pretty close to the element I guess, while on the other hand it is probably less likely to get snagged on the bag- if it isn't expensive to fit it then try it out and see if it works for you.

FWIW, I've been inclined to not rely one place but to check several places and sure enough it hasn't been quite as uniform as I'd hoped. This knowledge would probably be worth more if many of the beers hadn't been pretty darned good though...

 

[Bribie G]

The sight tube is only there to show how many cups of tea are still available for the bingo ladies in the church hall, without having to take the lid off and steaming your mascara off. (or fogging your bifocals). I reckon it's a health hazard myself and using the hole for something brew related is probably a better use for it.
However when I mash in the urn I take a reading after a good stir, by poking a probe thermometer into it, then I do a passive lag with sleeping bag and doonah, and it usually drops around 1.5 degrees in 90 minutes. I think a thermometer probe towards the bottom of the mash would work fine provided it's been thoroughly stirred at the beginning of the mash.