GF "wortometer" (inline temp monitor for 3/8" pipes)

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

This is a useful bit of kit from GrainFather - hadn't seen one until I was round at a mates recently, but just what I needed to monitor the temp of the wort while chilling or recirculating the mash.
It's basically a little inline vessel with a thermowell (6mm dia).
The tubes at either end appear to fit direct into 3/8" JG fittings which is handy
I got this one £15 from TMM (may be cheaper elsewhere)

(NB: it doesn't come with a temp probe - that's one of mine)

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Top tip is to put some silicone heat-transfer grease on the temp probe to make sure it gets a good thermal contact with the sides of the thermowell.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I have one of the fancy little gizmos. Tbh, I haven't found the need for thermal paste. It reacts to changing temperature fairly quickly

 

[dcbrookes]

You don't need a temperature probe! I have one of these and just use my fingers to judge temperature as the wort is passing through when chilling - it is surprisingly accurate.

 

[gyurmaember]

I went wireless, it's more convenient, less stuff to sanitise.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

You don't need a temperature probe! I have one of these and just use my fingers to judge temperature as the wort is passing through when chilling - it is surprisingly accurate.

Is that a “digital” sensor then?

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

I have something similar that I used to use with my brewzilla - the 1/2 inch thrumometer by blichmann. It's ok but it keeps falling off the pipes - definitely user error!

Now I have a GF i'll consider one of those.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Now I have a GF i'll consider one of those.

I have't yet had a chance to try this one - I don't have a GrainFather, but from my perspective it's just a useful bit of kit for any setup. Particularly handy for me as a way of checking the mash temp by measuring the wort as it recirculates .

 

[trueblue]

These really are the dogs dangles.

 

[private4587]

This is a useful bit of kit from GrainFather - hadn't seen one until I was round at a mates recently, but just what I needed to monitor the temp of the wort while chilling or recirculating the mash.
It's basically a little inline vessel with a thermowell (6mm dia).
The tubes at either end appear to fit direct into 3/8" JG fittings which is handy
I got this one £15 from TMM (may be cheaper elsewhere)
View attachment 66078

(NB: it doesn't come with a temp probe - that's one of mine)

What is the tempt probe connected to please

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

What is the tempt probe connected to please

That one is a DS18B20 (a waterproof digital sensor with a serial interface):

 

[private4587]

That one is a DS18B20 (a waterproof digital sensor with a serial interface):
View attachment 67024

Hi do you think one of these would work as a read out

 

[dcbrookes]

Hi do you think one of these would work as a read out

I have one of those - it is very inaccurate.

 

[private4587]

What would suggest then as a readout

 

[dcbrookes]

What would suggest then as a readout

Fingers - see #4 above!

 

[Agentgonzo]

What would suggest then as a readout

I can't give any recommendations as to which probe as I just use the one on my Grainfather. But essentially any accurate probe will work. If you want me to measure mine (so you know the dimensions it needs to be) then let me know

 

[private4587]

I can't give any recommendations as to which probe as I just use the one on my Grainfather. But essentially any accurate probe will work. If you want me to measure mine (so you know the dimensions it needs to be) then let me know

Yes please if you could

 

[private4587]

That one is a DS18B20 (a waterproof digital sensor with a serial interface):
View attachment 67024

What do you use for temp readout

 

[Agentgonzo]

Yes please if you could

The Grainfather probe is 6mm diameter, and 32mm long. It fits snugly inside the wortometer (hole internal diameter also 6mm)

 

[RoomWithABrew]

I use a dsb1820 wired onto my smartpid and that fits nicely into the wortometer hole. I use this second temp probe in the wortometer on the recirc pipe to check the temp of wort as it goes onto the top of the grain ( seems to be 0.3 C less than the bottom of kettle temp probe) and then after the mash I use it beyond the counterflow chiller to gauge the chilled wort temperature.
An NTC 10k sensor such as on the stc 1000 also will fit in the wortometer, it's smaller than the DSB so I just added a bit of blu tack to hold it in position.