Thermometer for mash recommendation

[itbrvilla]

Hi all,

I'm after a decent but not expensive digital Thermometer as the cheap ones I have are pretty ****. Can anyone recommend anything? Preferably amazon as I have a voucher to use.

Cheer
Ian

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Have a look at this - http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53154&highlight=digital+thermometer

 

[cheapbrew]

Of the ones in Mr Tea's link,

I bought one of the �£9,99 ones for �£5.99 in cooking shop and it was ok for a month but then temps were all over the place, others in the biofuel community also had problems with these after a few months or so.

Also had three or four of the cheap digital ones and one packed up after dropping in biodiesel but the others are still working ok and on the same batts for about two years now and had good reports from others, they are pretty accurate and also easy to read from a distance, you cannot go wrong for �£1.99 :thumb:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Digit...ivarium-Temperature-Thermometer-/221653829582

 

[Fil]

an eti thermapen isnt the cheapest option but a big lcd screen and rapid speed to settle on a reading are real bonuses.

another option is to box an stc1000 or pid controller both of which can be used as thermometers if you dont connect a load

fwiw in my experience of a couple the cheap orange and black pen thermometers that can be found for a couple of quid on ebay

read true within 1 degree of my thermapen, they just take a comparitive age to settle on a reading
less than a fiver from the uk http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-P...604195?hash=item2337b722a3:g:iCoAAOSwNNxWFH68

and a couple of quid via China http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pen-Desig...163402?hash=item567cee0e0a:g:UnEAAOSwgQ9Vh4nd

 

[GlentoranMark]

Mansemasher put me onto this from Ikea, I own 2 and their great. Those Thermapen thermometers seems great also but can't justify the £35 price tag. I bought one of those cheap chinese thermometers Fil and while it was accurate it took ages to get a true reading.

 

[Cwrw666]

This is what I use:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-F...913991?hash=item51dd67bbc7:g:HwwAAOSwd0BVyPH0
though i didn't buy it secondhand.
Them were the days.
Of course it's marked in fahrenheit, but at least mash temperature is clearly marked as it's the same as pasteurisation.

 

[TartanSpecial]

I've got two of these £15 ones from M&S (not so good for your amazon voucher). Have found them to be reliable and quick to stabilise.

 

[JapanBrew]

I think fil and I have the STC bug. I use one of mine for mashing and even chilling. They are pretty accurate. I have a small clip on my homemade false bottom so the sensor doesn't move when mashing or cooling. With the sensor in place, I don't need to open the lid while chilling reducing the risk of nasties getting in.

 

[Covrich]

I have this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00H96QFK2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It is brilliant but when I bought it , it was only £8.99.. my pot has a dial thermometer in though now

 

[Spapro]

I use this landmann BBQ one, it's been brilliant for the year I have had it. You can set a target temp, say 72c, and it beeps when things get to that temp. Wired probe to base, wireless handset with large digital screen:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00H96QFK2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It has preset target temps for beef, pork, lamb etc. but you ignore all that and just set your own target temperature.

 

[JapanBrew]

20 pounds... Not bad. The wireless option sounds good.

 

[Spapro]

It is, I have my boiler down at floor level with the probe in the top and the base down next to the boiler. Have the handset with display wherever you find it most comfortable.

 

[JapanBrew]

When's chill, I like to use the STC because the wire is so thin I can monitor the center of the wort without opening the lid.

 

[Twostage]

Thermapen :thumb:

Not cheap but you know it's showing the correct temperature within seconds.

 

[David_Riley]

I've recently purchased a hanna digital thermometer from RS component £34 fantastic purchase, I tried the cheap ones off eBay I had 3 different ones and 10 degrees difference

 

[TartanSpecial]

Given how important it is to get the strike water / mash temp right, and have a quick stable readout, I think spending a little extra on a decent thermometer is worth it.