Thermocouple/thermistor probe and where to buy?


 
R

RKHanso

TVWBB Fan
I have the single thermocouple HM board. I've read a bunch of the posts about probes.

I was planning on getting THIS from Amazon for food probes - and maybe get 2 sets of 2 (total of four) for spares. The Maverick ET-7/73.

For the Thermocouple pit probe, I don't see those available on Amazon any longer. I was going to get the Thermoworks thermocouples, but their prices are considerably higher on their website. I thought thermocouples were supposed to be way under $10...

I found Auber thermocouples and they have more reasonable prices, but are they as durable since they're not rated as high temperature ranges?

Wondering what way to go on the thermocouple? Does someone have a source for good quality, inexpensive thermocouples that will work with the HM?
 
If i recall correctly I believe the thermistor probes are cheaper direct from Maverick. For the thermocouple, you need a "type k thermocouple". Look for the yellow pronged end that looks like the photo below. Here is a link to amazon. Choose one that fits how you want to rig your pit up with. Also keep in mind that Maverick sells grill clip for something like $3, and I believe they have free shipping.

72-8366.jpg
 
Thanks for all the info.
I think I'll be getting the thermoworks probes (thermistor).


For the thermocouple pit probe at Auber, do I really want the alligator clip version? Won't the alligator clip on the grate affect the actual temperature reading?

In the description it says: The sensor junction is at the round section of the alligator clip handle. It will measure the air temperature close to the handle, not the tip of the clip. With a compensated connector, it can give controller a more accurate readout by excluding the heat transmitted from hand. What is a compensated connector?

Or should I just get THIS one.
TC-K6H.jpg


Or THIS one?
TC-K3MM-C.jpg
 
Get this and attach it to this and use this for the end.

Actually, that one's only 3 feet long. Probably want one a little longer.

This is what mine looks like.

t5cmCZd.jpg


It's been sitting in some water for a few days...
 
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Here's on I made. Very similar to the Auberin type except 6 feet. Works like a charm. Total cost was about $5 (australian) so about $3.50 in US dollars. I bought a 30 meter roll of k-type thermocouple wire for $30 ($1 a meter) which will get me about 15 6ft thermocouples. I enjoy making my own, as you can set up in any configuration you want.

qwk9wlt.jpg
 
I was looking on ebay for the k-type plugs. There are many listed with different letters after the plug. Do they mean anything, as in different pin design or something specific to each plug? I'm guessing not and it's more of a seller's identification. But I thought I'd ask before I buy one.
DJNG, FNRG, GBNG, JHRG, JHXG, JMHM, etc.
 
I've found that you want the Thermocouple end to be a little bigger to average out the temperature variations a bit. A smaller probe tends to be overly responsive. I use ones that have a 50mmx5mm probe on the end. I have about 100 of those grill clips shown in the picture above. I just make the hole a little larger and use it with the Thermocouple.

As for the Maverick style probes, the high heat ones perform just as well as the Thermoworks probes. I supply these with the HeaterMeters that I've built for folks on here. The lower temperature Maverick ones use a far less robust thermistor and lower temperature wiring. One good spike in temperature and they are toast.
 
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I killed two of my Maverick ET-73 probes by washing them before I learned that they're not waterproof. They read hundreds of degrees at room temperature. I ordered the 2-pack of Maverick ET-73 probes from Amazon - the listing plainly says they're for the ET-73 and NOT for the 732. Of course two new Maverick 732 probes arrived from Amazon. I reordered the ET-73's from Maverick, free shipping as noted, and they arrived in 3 days vs 2-day Amazon Prime shipping of the wrong ones.

Meanwhile, my two "dead" probes, which didn't dry out through a 20-hour cook, did dry out just sitting inside for a few days and they now work good as new. No discernible variation probe to probe, and they survived a high-heat cook.
 
Karl Vacek said:
Meanwhile, my two "dead" probes, which didn't dry out through a 20-hour cook, did dry out just sitting inside for a few days and they now work good as new. No discernible variation probe to probe, and they survived a high-heat cook.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that. At least you have a couple of extras on hand for the inevitable probe failure 6 hours into a brisket! I haven't had any permanent failures on any of my ET-73 probes yet, but you know it's going to happen some day!
 
I've brought my probes back to life by placing in a pan with some vegetable oil, and heat on low/med till no more bubbles come out of probe.
 
Dave Smith said:
I've brought my probes back to life by placing in a pan with some vegetable oil, and heat on low/med till no more bubbles come out of probe.
Click to expand...

Yah, I did the same with a deep fryer to cure my water soaked Maverick probes... it brought them back to life for a while at least. Since then I have moved over the Thermoworks probes and find them to be much more water resistant.
 
I have a credit at Amazon and want to buy my food probes there. It appears that the ThermoWorks probes aren't available on Amazon, so I'm stuck with getting the Maverick probes. I saw there is supposed to be some higher temp Maverick probes. Are these the probes I should get? Are they the high temp? The ad says the probes are rated to 410, but it doesn't say what the cable is rated for.

Or, maybe that Amazon seller named "Maverick" isn't really the real Maverick company that makes the probes - just a hijacked name?

Looking at the real Maverick website, it appears that we may want their PR-005 model? (though it doesn't tell us a temp rating - just that it's the high temp version).

Since I have the Amazon credit, I really need to get these things from Amazon.
 
Maverick has what they call "Hi heat" probes that are rated into the low 700's F, their standard probes are rated lower, I dont recall the exact temp limits on them. It appears the ones you linked are of the standard lower temp variety. Regardless, both the high heat and regular type are very susceptible to taking on moisture and giving false readings. The Thermoworks Pro probes are rated for lower temps (even their "high heat" variety) but they do stand up to moisture much better than the maverick probes, and for low and slow temps their temp limits are well beyond what you would need.
Before thermocouple support I had been using a Maverick High Heat probe as a pit probe because the top end on the thermoworks probes was a bit low for searing and pizzas, and used a Maverick high heat as a pit probe... But I was still melting the maverick high heat probe when I made pizzas so I moved over to a TC pit probe and stuck with the TW Pro food probes and am totally happy with this setup. I haven't bought a probe in over a year, the TC and the TW food probes have survived anything I have thrown at them.
You can see all the Maverick probes on the following website, http://www.maverickhousewares.com/parts, perhaps looking over that webpage will give you a better idea what you are looking for on Amazon.
 
I guess the ET-732 is the high-temp version of the Maverick. It's listed on the Heatermeter config page, so I suppose it will work. I'll get that version for the food probes.

I did read on the forum that some have had issues with having to pull out the plug a bit from the HM to get contacts to be made. And that others have had to solder a wire from the plug sleeve to the braided cable.

Thanks.
 
IF you look at the Maverick page, the high heat probe is listed as a 72/73 probe, not a 732. I had found the 732 to be the most problematic of all maverick probes, back in the day (with older HM hardware versions that didnt have the RC filters on the probes) the 732's wouldn't register even at room temp because of the noise level, and you are right, the plug is too long and can't be inserted all the way. Bryan redesigned the board on the HMv4.2 with a goal of elimination noise and did a great job, so all the probes perform better, but I would still recommend you stay away from the problematic 732 probes and stick with the 72/73 models. I also notice they have some new "waterproof" probes that have the bead around the junction where the cable enters the probe (similar to how the TW probes are made). I haven't tried any of those probes yet, but if it is as effective as the TW design then those may be some really nice probes, though those are listed as 732 and 735 probes so it may be a crap shoot, as 732's have had the above issues and there is no preset for the 735's in the HM (yet).
 
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