Magnetic Thermometer


 
TonyUK

TonyUK

TVWBB Gold Member
For those of you who don't wish to drill their kettle to install a thermometer, this might be an alternative. A magnetic thermometer. It's primary design is to measure the flue temperature on wood/coal burning stoves, so you have the optimum and most efficient burn.

It works on the same principle as the Tip Top Temp utilising a bi-metal spring coil. It sits perfectly on the kettle lid, and quite well on the curved bowl just below the lid. I haven't tried it yet, and I doubt it is as accurate as a digital thermometer. It will only tell you the temperature on the surface you've placed it on. But I reckon it will put you in the ballpark, for a cheap price. I'll report back after firing up the kettle tomorrow, and comparing it to the River County thermometer I have installed through the top vent on the kettle lid.

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I’m curious about this one Mr. President, this will give temperature of the barrel side sure enough but, not the air column inside.I see your concept and if there is consistent correlation between the barrel and air inside. One will know what the discrepancy may be and can learn how to use it.
 
Correct. That was my thinking. (Compare it against a digital probe, & work from there). Plus the therm is open to the elements, so they would be factors that affect it.
It was cheap as chips. I'll test drive it tomorrow and see how it fares. I'll laugh if this £10 gizmo works. (Remember, the $20 TTT.....works!).
I've just put it on my car bonnet, (hood), and it went up to 125F, (black car). The outside temp is 75F and sunny.
 
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The coil thermometers are a great sanity check. While they may or may not be accurate, they typically stay consistent. So once you have yours figured out, the need for digital pit thermometer is pretty much overrated. Except when competing and having to deal with appearance as being 1/3rd the score. For backyard cooking, taste is 100% the score
 
ChuckO said:
The coil thermometers are a great sanity check. While they may or may not be accurate, they typically stay consistent. So once you have yours figured out, the need for digital pit thermometer is pretty much overrated...........
Click to expand...
And this was my thinking ChuckO. The laws of physics do not change. I'm going to use the temp gauge I've installed, a grate probe and this magnetic gizmo...and compare all three. As I mentioned, the TTP utilises the spring coil and it just......works. I haven't read a negative review of the TTT.
 
I'd like to know the results too -- for interest and practical use. The cooker probe of my 10 or so year old Maverick has apparently gone bonkers. I'll get a new one, but want to research it some first.

I use one of these on the chimney pipe of my wood stove where the exhaust leaves the stove. Haven't burned down the house in 30 years, so it's "reasonably" accurate.

I'd like to know how it reports the temp on the WSM side near the upper grate vs on the lid both at the thermometer location and next to the vent. Kinda don't want to use the one from my stove. You know, if it ain't broke...
 
First run with the cheapo Gizmo. The cheapo Gizmo was reading the lid temp. The DOT & River County were reading about 2" below.
DOT: 310.
RC: 305.
Gizmo: Just pegging 300.
There was no food on the grill. When I placed food directly over the coals the RC ran about 20deg higher than the Gizmo throughout the cook.
So what can I deduce from that? I don't know, except the cheapo Gizmo will have you in the ballpark.
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TonyUK said:
First run with the cheapo Gizmo. The cheapo Gizmo was reading the lid temp. The DOT & River County were reading about 2" below.
DOT: 310.
RC: 305.
Gizmo: Just pegging 300.
There was no food on the grill. When I placed food directly over the coals the RC ran about 20deg higher than the Gizmo throughout the cook.
So what can I deduce from that? I don't know, except the cheapo Gizmo will have you in the ballpark.
Click to expand...
I love dial thermometers. Here's one of my favorites on the job in the SF. It cost $3 USD and has been going strong for years

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