Thermometer Advice

Northern Brewer General
1

I need a trustworthy thermometer. I bought a digital thermometer with a probe on Amazon and its has failed me miserably. The display will cut out, and it can fluctuate back and forth about 10 degrees.

I have a sinking suspicion that this is affecting my efficiency negatively.

I’d really like to stick with the probe style. Any suggestions? Anyone have one they would recommend?

Thanks.

2

Just piggy backing on your question. My old school thermometer was off by 7 degrees this past brew day so I mashed my Dubbel at 142F for an hour! Oh well. It will still be beer, but I need to step up to a quality digital thermometer. Where better to go for advice than this forum?

3

I have 2 of the CDN ProAccurate Digitals listed here:

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brew ... meter.html

First one lasted over a year before it died, needing a new one right away I bought a second instead of sending in for the warranty. Second on lasted maybe two weeks. At that point I call cust service for CDN, the cust service agent seemed very surprised that mine stopped working. " I assumed this meant it was a rare issue." Either way, she said send them in and we will replace them. Mailed them both in, one week later, two brand new thermometers at my door free of charge. The two new ones have been going strong for about 6months now.
FWIW, I have never needed to recalibrate any of these thermometers either, they always are within 1F at freezing, mash temp, and boiling.

Long story short, I am happy with these thermometers. Although, if I did it again I would go with a thermapen.

4

Has anyone used the iCelcius Pro with their iphone or ipad? It has great reviews and is waterproof.

5

Everyone is going to whine about the cost, but I highly recommend the Thermopen. You’ll never own another cheap thermo.

6

[quote=“Baratone Brewer”]Everyone is going to whine about the cost, but I highly recommend a Thermopen. You’ll never own another cheap thermo.

[/quote]

A guy in my brew club recommends the same one. I’m ok with paying top dollar for a good solid product that won’t break on me. Starting to think this is the way to go. Thanks for the input, Baratone.

7

[quote=“Baratone Brewer”]Everyone is going to whine about the cost, but I highly recommend the Thermopen. You’ll never own another cheap thermo.

[/quote]

I got one for christmas this past year. Fantastic. I’d give it a +1, except it is so good my wife keeps stealing it for her cooking. Buy two.

If anyone knows of a simple dial thermometer with a long (18-24"), stiff sensor, please let me know. I’ve got one that’s 8-12" right now, but I’d like something longer so I can poke it through the top of my mashtun cooler lid and have it reach the (usual) middle of the mash.

8

Thats funny! My wife was trying to do the same, so I bought her one at the last sale. Good to know its there in case I ever need a backup. :wink:

9

Not sure what price range you are looking for.
This

one has an 18" probe for $70.
This
http://www.seedburo.com/productDetail.asp_Q_catID_E_508_A_subCatID_E_2433_A_productID_E_3399_A_Single_and_Dual_Range_Dial_Thermometers_E_Single_and_Dual_Range_Dial_Thermometers
is available with a 24" probe for $112.80.
Looks like the second one can be recalibrated.

10

Thermopen. I absolutely love mine and couldn’t be any more happy with it.

worth every penny. The best brewing purchase I have made.

11

I used the CDN from our host for several years and didnt have any real problems with it. Around feb-march there was an open box sale on thermopens. So I decided to grab one of those. I REALLY like my thermopen. Big read out, turns on in seconds, reads accurately in seconds as well. I figure if I take care of it I wont have to buy another one for a LONG time, if ever.

12

I absolutely recommend this remote probe. It’s waterproof and accurate and you can leave it in your mash tun or your kettle as you approach boil.

https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/produc ... =46610-024
13

i also recommend the thermapen. Awesome thermometer. its expensive but worth knowing your temps are accurate. i had a ton of meat thermometers, and a digital one. they ALL disagreed with each other and it drove me crazy. the thermapen is much better

14

I use a lab thermometer for critical measurements like strike & mash-in temp but then switch to dial thermometers (referenced to the lab thermometer) for monitoring as the mash proceeds.

15

[quote=“brwrboy69”]I absolutely recommend this remote probe. It’s waterproof and accurate and you can leave it in your mash tun or your kettle as you approach boil.

https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/produc ... =46610-024[/quote]

How long have you been using it? It looks great. I almost bough the thermapen but as I use cooler type mash tuns, you still have to open them up to use it. Despite the quality and accuracy, it’s still a pain compared to the remote type on a wire like this. Plus it’s cheaper than a thermapen. I’m just curious about accuracy and long term durability…

16

[quote=“Demus”][quote=“brwrboy69”]I absolutely recommend this remote probe. It’s waterproof and accurate and you can leave it in your mash tun or your kettle as you approach boil.

https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/produc ... =46610-024[/quote]

How long have you been using it? It looks great. I almost bough the thermapen but as I use cooler type mash tuns, you still have to open them up to use it. Despite the quality and accuracy, it’s still a pain compared to the remote type on a wire like this. Plus it’s cheaper than a thermapen. I’m just curious about accuracy and long term durability…[/quote]

I’ve used regularly for about 1.5 years. After going through about 10 cheapo wired probes, this one has performed flawlessly and is very accurate.

17

I recommend this thermometer and this procedure
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109024
for monitoring temp inside the cooler. The thermometer is made by the same people who make the Thermapen, but it is more versatile because you can use any number of probes for different purposes.

18

[quote=“brwrboy69”][quote=“Demus”][quote=“brwrboy69”]I absolutely recommend this remote probe. It’s waterproof and accurate and you can leave it in your mash tun or your kettle as you approach boil.

https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/produc ... =46610-024[/quote]

How long have you been using it? It looks great. I almost bough the thermapen but as I use cooler type mash tuns, you still have to open them up to use it. Despite the quality and accuracy, it’s still a pain compared to the remote type on a wire like this. Plus it’s cheaper than a thermapen. I’m just curious about accuracy and long term durability…[/quote]

I’ve used regularly for about 1.5 years. After going through about 10 cheapo wired probes, this one has performed flawlessly and is very accurate.[/quote]

Thanks for the recommendation. This style of thermometer is more up my alley. I think I’ll be purchasing one.

19

[quote=“kcbeersnob”]I recommend this thermometer and this procedure
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109024
for monitoring temp inside the cooler. The thermometer is made by the same people who make the Thermapen, but it is more versatile because you can use any number of probes for different purposes.[/quote]

What’s the damage $$ on that one?

20

[quote=“Demus”][quote=“kcbeersnob”]I recommend this thermometer and this procedure
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109024
for monitoring temp inside the cooler. The thermometer is made by the same people who make the Thermapen, but it is more versatile because you can use any number of probes for different purposes.[/quote]

What’s the damage $$ on that one?[/quote]

I don’t understand the need of that at all.

I only care about the strike temp and mash temp at the beginning. I set my mash temp and the most I have seen in fall in an 90 min mash is 0.5 degrees. Why are people checking their temp so often? This may be way yours is dropping so much. I do lunch mashes more times than not this days, and with the 10gal cooler setup over the four hour mash time period it has only dropped by three degrees.

Needing to know the exact temp every second of 60 minute mash is just silly. If you are losing that much in temp, you need to find a way to rework your cooler IMO.

rant over…for now.