Wanted to Use: Accurate Thermometer to Calibrate Against

[beermeupscotty]

Hello fellows,

I use one of those metal prod BBQ thermometers from Bunnings for most of my measuring. Given that it's designed to measure high meat-cooking temperatures, I'm thinking it's probably not so accurate around 10-25°C and 60-80°C. So now that I'm mashing (and after having a low fermentability mash), I reckon it might be worth checking it against something I know that is accurate so I can make a correction chart.

Sure I could just buy a good one but unfortunately I've gotta brew on a budget at the moment. Does anyone have a good thermometer I could use for a few hours?

Cheers.

 

[TimT]

I'm thinking you're right, you're not going to get accurate readings from that meat thermometer. You should pretty much just buy an accurate one.

I use a Fowler's thermometer. Only costs $20, you can get it online or I've seen it at stores (Bulleen Art And Garden in Heidleberg has it), and the readings on mine seem pretty reliable. I use it for both brewing and cheesemaking. There may be others that are better suited to brewing but I've had no problems with mine.

If that's impossible I could definitely lend you mine for a day or so. But I think getting a $20 one is the far better option.

 

[DJ_L3ThAL]

I've got the hanna instruments probe and lcd thermometer is fantastic and comes with accuracy certificate. Fast response too!

 

[beermeupscotty]

Hmm, thanks guys. Yeah I'm probably being a bit too cheap with my thinking. For $20 I could definitely grab a new one. Thanks for the links, I'll have a think about that one.

The Hanna instruments units sure look sweet but too exxy for me...

 

[DU99]

i have a similar of these units .also have coffee creamer analog unit.if you want to check your accuracy boil some water in cup/jug..boiling point don't change

 

[brouhaha]

I've got one of these, it's bloody fantastic. It even has high/low temp alarms. I was using a meat thermometer previously too and I think the thermometer upgrade was the thing that most helped me to improve my brews.

 

[New_guy]

$40 @ Jaycar
http://m.jaycar.com.au/m_productView.asp?ID=QM1602

 

[Spiesy]

I've got the hanna instruments probe and lcd thermometer is fantastic and comes with accuracy certificate. Fast response too!

Seconded.

 

[Forever Wort]

Some great suggestions in this thread for when I inevitably drop my glass thermometer (of which the plastic grip and string ring has already fallen off).

 

[brouhaha]

I stopped using glass after one broke in a brew. That beer tasted.... metallic. I think it was from the little ball bearings they use to weight the floating thermometers. Don't worry, I filtered (most of) them out.

 

[TimT]

Wouldn't drink a beer that a thermometer has broken in. I think they all use mercury - poisonous.

 

[TimT]

Mercury as a liquid has a peculiar habit of forming distinct beads, or balls. Like water droplets, but silvery. Saw it once in chemistry class. Fun to watch. Not so much fun to eat.

 

[DJ_L3ThAL]

All metals do that when in liquid state. Just most of them aren't liquid at atmospheric conditions like mercury
Mad hatter brewers???

 

[TimT]

Veeeeeeeeery nice 19th century/Lewis Carroll reference. Yep, for the benefit of others, in the 19th century they didn't know about mercury poisoning; hatmakers had prolonged exposure to mercury vapour during feltmaking, and the result was they went slowly crazy: hence the phrase 'mad as a hatter ' and the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. Cheery reading for everyone.

 

[TimT]

Brouhaha I think what I'm saying is if you're still drinking that brew.... please stop!

 

[Forever Wort]

I thought there was something funny about him ...

 

[brouhaha]

There was no mercury in the thermometer, I contacted the manufacturer and was informed that they use a dyed alcohol in their floating thermometers not mercury. Besides it was only the outer casing that holds the steel weights and wax that broke... I drank 20L of that beer and am still standing, takes a lot more than a little broken thermometer to bring me down.

 

[Forever Wort]

Nathan needs to be featured on an episode of Extreme Brewing. If that show doesn't already exist, then it should.

"Broken glassware in the mash? Down the hatch!"

"Metallic-tasting beer? Balance it out with a few bags of dextrose! Rrrreeooaarrr!!!"

 

[brouhaha]

I was a little worried about the glass, so I filtered it and didn't let any children drink it.

 

[Forever Wort]

(it was reserved for unwary Merri Mashers only)