Pre-Purchase Sanity Check


 
J

JasonB

New member
After lots of reading, videos, reviews and countless threads here I am about to buy everything needed to build a heatermeter. I have a few questions before the purchase, want to make sure I am getting the most current recommended setup. Appreciate any and all feedback!

1) I assume I should go with 4.3? no reason to look at 4.2 right?
2) It appears that I should go with Raspberry Pi 3? Latest builds support this right? With built in WiFi, readily available, I should be good?
3) The 4.3 case from myshopify will fit the Raspberry Pi 3 right?
4) Will I regret not doing thermocouple version? I run a WSM, there is really no "high heat" situation there but still wondering if I will regret not getting the thermocouple version.
5) For thermistor probes, the thermoworks stuff is on sale, any reason to stray and look at the Maverick parts?
 
Hello Jason,

There are no right or wrong answers to your questions, but I will give you my personal opinions.

JasonB said:
1) I assume I should go with 4.3? no reason to look at 4.2 right?

They are functionally identical so you can go with either. There are a great number of 4.2's out there but 4.3 is the latest. The main difference is the case button(s) and internal WiFi with 4.3 and a Pi 3. There are Pros and Cons each way.

2) It appears that I should go with Raspberry Pi 3? Latest builds support this right? With built in WiFi, readily available, I should be good?

If internal WiFi is something you want, than a 4.3 with a Pi 3 is the way to go.

3) The 4.3 case from myshopify will fit the Raspberry Pi 3 right?

Dunno about myshopify, but the Heatermeter Store has everything you need in a one stop shop. Case prints are available from many fine people on this forum. Be sure your case matches your Thermocouple option.

4) Will I regret not doing thermocouple version? I run a WSM, there is really no "high heat" situation there but still wondering if I will regret not getting the thermocouple version.

The thermocouple probes are inexpensive, accurate, responsive, and rugged. Not sure your reasons for not using one, but IMHO I would get the thermocouple version. Here is the probe I use:
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_3&products_id=172

And another handy item:
Probe Tree

5) For thermistor probes, the thermoworks stuff is on sale, any reason to stray and look at the Maverick parts?

No, use the Thermoworks Pro Series thermistor probes. They are great.
Click to expand...

Have fun building and cooking!
 
Last edited:
Len M. said:
Hello Jason,

There are no right or wrong answers to your questions, but I will give you my personal opinions.



Have fun building and cooking!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. Curious - what are the potential cons with a 4.3 setup?

Regarding the thermocouple - it was really cost driving the decision, the thermistor probes appear to be less expensive (all the thermoeorks thermocouple options were many times more). I will check out the one you linked, price is certainly more agreeable
 
Yeah the thermoworks thermocouple probes are wicked expensive for some reason, considering they are just two pieces of wire welded together at the tip. The aubers are a good compromise of being built to handle grill environments (even up to steak-searing level), having decent mini plugs, and not costing a bundle.

The only downside of the 4.3 are the 4 separate buttons (if you prefer a single 4-way switch) and the form factor is slightly thicker than the 4.2 (but less wide). It also costs $1 more, but you'll save that by not having to buy a wifi adapter. They are fully compared on the wiki but it just comes down to which Pi is more available / cheaper and that is usually the Pi 3 unless you can get lucky on eBay finding an original Pi.
 
Bryan Mayland said:
Yeah the thermoworks thermocouple probes are wicked expensive for some reason, considering they are just two pieces of wire welded together at the tip. The aubers are a good compromise of being built to handle grill environments (even up to steak-searing level), having decent mini plugs, and not costing a bundle.

The only downside of the 4.3 are the 4 separate buttons (if you prefer a single 4-way switch) and the form factor is slightly thicker than the 4.2 (but less wide). It also costs $1 more, but you'll save that by not having to buy a wifi adapter. They are fully compared on the wiki but it just comes down to which Pi is more available / cheaper and that is usually the Pi 3 unless you can get lucky on eBay finding an original Pi.
Click to expand...

Excellent, decision is made! Order for the 4.3 thermocouple model, Pi 3, SD card and power supply will happen today. Still have to figure out the blower situation for my WSM but seeing how this journey started as a better than my iGrill temp monitoring search (for both smoking and home brew) I think i will have plenty to play with and use while i figure out the blower
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top