Temp Probe Stick
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:28 pm
I needed a probe in my cooler mash tun, and created this probe housing that others might find useful as well. I didn't really want to drill a hole into the side of the cooler when I could drill a hole in the top instead. Not only does this probe work great for taking grain bed temp measurements, but I plan to use it with a stopper in a fermentation carboy as well.
The build was extremely simple, 2 parts. Length of 3/8 OD soft copper, and a brass 1/4 to 3/8 compression union, Watts A-109. Doesn't get any easier than that
A few things that I ran into.. The tip of the probe wasn't exactly round, probably from melting it shut at the manufacturer, but I rubbed it on a piece of sandpaper and it cleaned right up and the union slid over. Also, I wasn't sure if the clear plastic that joins the probe to the wire would fit inside the copper. But with a little pressure it squeezed in. So I didn't have to make any permanent changes to the probe, other than sanding down the end, which I consider an improvement.
Its fully waterproof, and has already proven to be so handy that I'm going to make a second. And if your worried about brass, you can easily substitute stainless tubing/union.
The build was extremely simple, 2 parts. Length of 3/8 OD soft copper, and a brass 1/4 to 3/8 compression union, Watts A-109. Doesn't get any easier than that
A few things that I ran into.. The tip of the probe wasn't exactly round, probably from melting it shut at the manufacturer, but I rubbed it on a piece of sandpaper and it cleaned right up and the union slid over. Also, I wasn't sure if the clear plastic that joins the probe to the wire would fit inside the copper. But with a little pressure it squeezed in. So I didn't have to make any permanent changes to the probe, other than sanding down the end, which I consider an improvement.
Its fully waterproof, and has already proven to be so handy that I'm going to make a second. And if your worried about brass, you can easily substitute stainless tubing/union.