Smashed my Stick Thermo - Upgrade?

[Dunkelbrau]

So i was doing a triple decoction today, and i only have a stick thermometer (painful).

I smashed the ******* when i put my paddle down to start moving the second decoction back in, and glass flew everywhere (thankfully it didnt happen in the mash tun!)

I have a second one for use in the kitchen at the Fiance's house, so i jumped in the car and made record time (stupidly in double demerits) to get back to the mash to avoid a longer protein rest than planned, i was thinking of the Dial thermos you see embedded into the side of the mash tun, but i have read some bad experiences, then theres the digital, and thats got its negatives.. so i was wondering would an STC be the way to go until i can afford to spend some cash setting up a full on HERMS?

Im usually only doing single infusions, but do steps occasionally, then once every blue moon i attempt a Triple Decoction - got some nice colour from a Munich II SMASH today!

Any other ideas or recommendations as a stand in? I really am getting the shits with the wait for the stick to slowly read up the temp, as i dont want to leave it in the grain bed, i would likely break the thing inside and end up turfing the whole batch.

 

[New_guy]

Give one if these a crack - only $40

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QM1602

 

[JDW81]

STC-1000?

 

[manticle]

Upgrade to 2 or 3 stick thermometers. Cheap enough, calibrate one off the others, back ups if you break one.

 

[Dunkelbrau]

I was thinking if I can speed up the reading that would be cool.. I guess sticks are used for a reason!

I have some STCs coming (one died in my keezer and I ordered a spare) so I'll probably calibrate that to the stick , and see if I like it!

That jaycar one looks good, would be interested in trying before buying.

 

[elcarter]

I use a STC for my esky temps now, works well but I've also got a second one for the herms so I know if something's a miss between the two.

I use a pt100 RTD in my HLT to calibrate both the STC's a mates mercury stick confirmed the pt100's been spot on every time.

Have the Jcar version that's linked and it's about 2.3 deg out. Some times more, sometimes less as it's a K type thermo +/-2 deg and will change calibration through different temperature ranges. EG might be great for 60-75 deg but out a little around 40-50 deg also that unit can't be calibrated so I've given it the ass.

This of course is my particular unit and I suspect will differ from each one.

My mate swears by these;

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Digital-Food-Cooking-Meat-Probe-Turkey-Thermoprod-Thermo-Prod-Thermo-Prod-/320787077066?pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item4ab06657ca&_uhb=1

No personal experience except watching him use it. It's pretty dead on compared to the mercury stick.

 

[Spiesy]

What are all the negatives associated with digitals?

I made the move to a badarse digital thermometer, who's name escapes me, haven't looked back.

 

[DU99]

i take my units to work and check against the high priced units we measure temp and humidity within the buildings and our's are digitial

 

[law-of-ohms]

these ones are $2 on ebay.

I don't know if k-type thermo's are accurate enough.

I really want a good quality one to 'calibrate' against.

whats the most acurate thermometer thats also not to $$?

 

[Bribie G]

Upgrade to 2 or 3 stick thermometers. Cheap enough, calibrate one off the others, back ups if you break one.

For mashing purposes I have a couple of ten dollar kitchen shop thermometers that I calibrate against boiling water and slushy ice. They usually read to within half a degree.

My Aldi thermometer lasted about four brews then got steam into it and the display died, one of the few bad bits of kit I ever got from Aldi. :huh:

 

[barls]

Thermopen is the ducks nuts. Been using their lower end one for about 7 years

 

[elcarter]

My setup, Cheap enough, durable and accurate.

You can get compression fittings ect for that probe is you so desire,

http://www.tcdirect.net.au/deptprod.asp?deptid=230/1

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-PID-Digital-Temperature-Controller-Thermocouple-0-to-400-SSR-Output-EN24H-/400640732075http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-PID-Digital-Temperature-Controller-Thermocouple-0-to-400-SSR-Output-EN24H-/400640732075

 

[TidalPete]

My HLT, MT & sparge are controlled by MashMates but if I ever needed another digital-type thermo I would look at this one --- http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=2778

This fella --- http://www.control3.com/4039p.htm is 7 or 8 years old & still doing the job for me. The above link is all about convenience.

Edit --- Fixed link problem.

 

[billygoat]

Consider one of these, they are very good.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HANNA-CHECKTEMP-DIGITAL-THERMOMETER-HI98509-Centigrade-/300322966012?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45eca4c9fc

 

[Tex083]

The eBay link Elcarter put up is the same as mine, reads +\- 0.3 of my Auber RTD100 and PID.

Somebody else mentioned the thermopen and from what I have read they are close to perfect I know the boys @the electric brewery rate them highly.

The Hanna temp checker would be good, haven't seen a bad product made by them yet.

I broke my glass thermo too and haven't replaced it because the eBay one was $8 and spot on.

On my mash tun I have installed a Fermentap dial thermo at a cost of $80 and it's great but you need to mount them low in the tun to make sure they are always covered in LIQUID. They react slowly but work well.

Brewhardware have a few cool ways of mounting thermo's and sight gauges.

P.s sorry for the long post.