How to calibrate cheap temperature gauges.

[Mark]

1: Boil a pot of water
2: Immerse the stem.
3: If it does not read 220 deg. F, twist the dial till it does.

Mark (STL)

[chad]

This technique is used on nearly all analog thermometers like Taylor instant reads, etc. Even my deep fry thermometers can be calibrated -- the Taylors and other brands often have a "wrench" built into the stem holder.

[Oldtimer]

Will almost. You want to check it in crushed ice water and boiling to see if it's linear. With regards to the instant reads if possible drive them with a millivolt source correlated to thermocouple type and temperature. Dial type spring driven so the wrench comes into play while the instant reads are probably done with a trim pot.

[smokeemifyougotem]

HUH? :?

[BBQchef33]

see, thats what happens when ya take the beers away from Brian. He goes techno on us.

[chad]

To further confuse the issue:

Instant read thermometers can be digital or analog -- the iced water/boiling water check is just as Brian said -- used to check that the thermometer is "acurrate" across it's range.

The analog models will usually have a hex nut on the back -- you use the supplied wrench or even a pair of pliers to turn the nut/dial up or down to adjust to the known temp -- ie. boiling 212 or "freezing" at 32 (F of course).

As Brian said the digitals will probably have trim pot -- and odds are you'll fark up the thermomter trying to adjust it :D

I used these type thermometers to varify doneness, etc. even when I'm using an electronic remote -- saves me having to put the meat back in the cooker :D

[Oldtimer]

As Brian said the digitals will probably have trim pot -- and odds are you'll fark up the thermomter trying to adjust it :D

You have to use the right screwdriver.

[chad]

Well, yep!

And you'll still stand a better than even chance of farking up the thermometer!! :D

[Oldtimer]

You only fark it up if you use Liquid screwdrivers and not mechanical ones, plus you don't screw a trim pot like a virgin. :roll:

[chad]

Interesting analogy!

Actually, a liquid screwdriver with lots of crushed ice would work for the low temp check :D

[Mark]

Interesting analogy!

Actually, a liquid screwdriver with lots of crushed ice would work for the low temp check :DNo it wouldn't; alcohol lowers the freezing point. But why bother. Remember, the subject is about cheaply measuring temperatures for smoking meat with the kind of temperature gauges that bolt into the BD's door.

I started this thread because people are allways bitching about how innaccurated these types of temperature gauges are and in another thread, TK was wondering about calibrating them.

[chad]

Right you are. I've calibrated many Taylors and other brands of analog quick reads. Actually, most of them come with directions for checking the accuracy.

[Oldtimer]

Interesting analogy!

Actually, a liquid screwdriver with lots of crushed ice would work for the low temp check :DNo it wouldn't; alcohol lowers the freezing point. But why bother. Remember, the subject is about cheaply measuring temperatures for smoking meat with the kind of temperature gauges that bolt into the BD's door.

I started this thread because people are allways bitching about how innaccurated these types of temperature gauges are and in another thread, TK was wondering about calibrating them.

Think your second coming should be thread critic. geeezzz

[chad]

And the bottom line is that most of the door thermometers can be calibrated just as the Taylors are -- look on the back of the thermometer (you'll have to take it OUT of the door) and see is there is a nut -- if there is then odds are it can be calibrated.

The icewater/boiling water check will get you pretty close (and odds are the booze in a Screwdriver wouldn't put the temp too low :D)

I apologize if you (Mark) think I'm arguing with you -- I just saw that you're a mechanical engineer -- you are forgiven :D And if you say the temp will be too low then that's the way it'll be. You do your calibration your way and I'll do mine my way and Brian will strap on his thermocoupler and do it his way.

[david]

see is there is a nut -- if there is then odds are it can be calibrated.

This would be true, except for one small thing: the New Braunfelds thermometer nut CAN'T BE TURNED!!! I tried with a big farking channel lock, and every other wrench I've got short of pulling out a 24" pipe wrench. The nuts there but it aint movin.

[Oldtimer]

see is there is a nut -- if there is then odds are it can be calibrated.

This would be true, except for one small thing: the New Braunfelds thermometer nut CAN'T BE TURNED!!! I tried with a big farking channel lock, and every other wrench I've got short of pulling out a 24" pipe wrench. The nuts there but it aint movin.

Hold the nut and twist the face, yea I'm serious.

[Mark]

see is there is a nut -- if there is then odds are it can be calibrated.

This would be true, except for one small thing: the New Braunfelds thermometer nut CAN'T BE TURNED!!! I tried with a big farking channel lock, and every other wrench I've got short of pulling out a 24" pipe wrench. The nuts there but it aint movin.I guess that rules out using New Braunfelds thermometers. I'll see what brand I have and let you know. Maybe we can compile a list of those that are easily calibrated.

Mark (STL)

PS: Sorry if I come off too critical. Afterall, its about sharing and perfecting Q techniques and not about putting other techniques down. Perhaps I do like to stick to the thread more than some but that should be expected in the Q-talk discussion area.

Mark (STL)

[david]

see is there is a nut -- if there is then odds are it can be calibrated.

This would be true, except for one small thing: the New Braunfelds thermometer nut CAN'T BE TURNED!!! I tried with a big farking channel lock, and every other wrench I've got short of pulling out a 24" pipe wrench. The nuts there but it aint movin.
Hold the nut and twist the face, yea I'm serious.
I'm thinking of breaking off the glass, and moving the needle. The face/nut combination just won't budge on the one I bought.

Of course, my bandera has never seemed right either. I think they ship the defects up to Oregon.

[Mark]

I've got a total of 5 non-electronic temp gauges 1 is a Taylor which can be calibrated by the method I described. 2 are no-names that can also be calibrated by the method I described. The remaining 2 are Coleman and I just verified that they too can be calibrated by the method I described. So before you break the one branded by New Braunfels, I suggest you immerse the stem in boiling water and see if it registers 220 deg. F. If it does, cool; you're good to go. If it doesn't you can either compensate by whatever it's off by when you immersed the stem in boiling water or else "Hold the nut and twist the face, yea I'm serious." If it breaks, screw it, You can buy a Taylor for about $10 as I recall at Kmart or wherever. When you're at the store, twist the face before you buy it to confirm it can be turned to calibrate.

Mark (STL)


BTW: All of mine have a round bushing between the face and the stem and that is what I turn to calibrate, not a hex nut.

[Oldtimer]

Bigger on the two nuts is to lock it down. There should be a thinner one(bushing) between the dial and larger nut for adjusting the calibration. Quality dial bi-metal thermometer will run you ~$70.

[Mike(Mi)]

Why not just buy 7 $10 thermometers and throw out the low and high reading ones and have 5 that are reasonably accurate ? This is BBQ not rocket science. :)

[willkat98]

Why not just buy 7 $10 thermometers and throw out the low and high reading ones and have 5 that are reasonably accurate ? This is BBQ not rocket science. :)

Rocket Science?

Well we covered Delta and Beta variants today, are you talking the Gamma effect of Q?

[Oldtimer]

Sounds like the beginning of a frat house.

Gamma Beta Delta Frat. Who is the house bitch ?

[BBQchef33]

One answer at a time.

1 - My NB thermo was calibratable(is that a word?). I held the nut and turned the face.

B - This IS a frat house. Shalll we call ourselves Beta Que'er Brethren?

III. If Tks Pit pitch, I'm the Web Bitch... Bills the Gift Bitch... Brians the trailer bitch... Colt is busy changin diapers, so he most likely the bitch bitch.. so
I guess we need a house bitch.. maybe we could vote one in every month.


Back to the Thermos.. I gave up on NB, to many were to far off with the Ice and steam test. Still have 2 brand new ones in my shed that are only good to show 12oclock is 250. I switched to Brinkmans. Bought 3, all dead on.

[stlmike]

My NB was slightly adjustable to a point, but nowhere enough to get it in the ball park of being called accurate. It went went out in the trash a long time ago. My Brinkman is "right." My Backwoods came with a Tel-Tru, and its adjustable and "right on" as well.
StL Mike

[Oldtimer]

My NB was slightly adjustable to a point, but nowhere enough to get it in the ball park of being called accurate. It went went out in the trash a long time ago. My Brinkman is "right." My Backwoods came with a Tel-Tru, and its adjustable and "right on" as well.
StL Mike

For what Tel Tru wants for the things they had better. $$$$$ I prefer my $1.380 thermocouple.

http://www.teltru.com/cart/browse.asp?subcat=43

[willkat98]

One answer at a time.

1 - My NB thermo was calibratable(is that a word?). I held the nut and turned the face.


Back to the Thermos.. I gave up on NB, to many were to far off with the Ice and steam test. Still have 2 brand new ones in my shed that are only good to show 12oclock is 250. I switched to Brinkmans. Bought 3, all dead on.

Per my hyperdictionary, no, calibratable is not a word.

You switched to Brinkmans? Is that the one that says "Warm, Ideal, and Hot"

So do you cook your ribs for 3 hours at "Ideal", then bring it closer to "Hot" for the last 2 hours?

[Oldtimer]

http://www.omega.com/temperature/Z/pdf/z218-220.pdf

I went Techno-Geek early

[BBQchef33]

[quote=BBQchef33]One answer at a time.

1 - My NB thermo was calibratable(is that a word?). I held the nut and turned the face.


Back to the Thermos.. I gave up on NB, to many were to far off with the Ice and steam test. Still have 2 brand new ones in my shed that are only good to show 12oclock is 250. I switched to Brinkmans. Bought 3, all dead on.

Per my hyperdictionary, no, calibratable is not a word.

You switched to Brinkmans? Is that the one that says "Warm, Ideal, and Hot"

nope, those are the ones that are on the ECB's. I switched to the Brinkman ones right after i bought the third NB one that failed. I picked up a 2 inch dial type brinkman at Wallys that went from 0-500. Its the one thats on my Bandera now.

[stlmike]

[quote]
For what Tel Tru wants for the things they had better. $$$$$ I prefer my $1.380 thermocouple.

http://www.teltru.com/cart/browse.asp?subcat=43

Your right, they are pricey, but Backwoods built quality in by not cutting any corners.
StL Mike

[parrothead]

I have a new braunfels in the door that is not to far off. When I started a couple of years ago, I went to the hardware store and bought 4 of those oven thermometers. The ones that sit right on a grate. The great thing about them is they also hang off a grate. I thank they were less than $5 each. Hung them off of 4 different places in the bandera, and any time I opened the door to baste I was able to get a pretty good map of the heat inside. Still keep them in there to do just that.

[Mark]

Here is a line of thermometers under $10 and can be calibrated. Note the free oven thermometer (item 124) for orders over $25

http://techinstrument.com/mcart/index.cgi?&task=show&cat=Cooper+Instrument