PC compatible thermomoter?

[Jorge]

Wondering if anyone has any experience with a dependable and accurate probe thermometer that works with a PC?

I decided to run some Cat-5 cable out by the Bandera. Got the cable in the conduit and buried and had an idea. I love the Nu-temp that has been so highly recomended, but would like to come up with an option for those times when I have to leave the house for a bit. I was thinking that I could write a short script to send a text message to my cell if the chamber or meat temp exceeded user defined limits.

Words of wisdom?

[BigAl]

Me thinks you should just have several "Spicey Bloody Caesors".

Buy my basket and you wouldn't have to wory about it as much. :wink:

[BigAl]

And just think of the impact on the business world if your message was picked by hackers and broadcasted in emails "meat is ready, it is time to pull your pork"! :lol:

[brdbbq]

Jorge
That is a several thousand dollar mod. Do it at work it's not cheap, requires card for pc that's just the beginning. Software itself is a grand.

[chad]

Words of wisdom?


Take a deep breath. Now, do you feel better.

You are taking this way too seriously :D

If you're that far away odds are your 'que would be toast by the time you got back to the house, anyway!!

Otherwise, yes there are more than likely thermometers out there that would meet your requirements. Lots of businesses use remote sensors for freezers, etc.

However, I have no idea who those companies might be and I'm not real sure I want to know. I cook to relieve some stress not add more by having my farking cell phone or PDA go off while I'm away from the pit! If I'm that far away from the pit I deserve anything that happens! :mrgreen:

Check and see if Fluke has a computer interface on any of their mulimeters and then get the temp probe to go with it -- Brian was talking about this stuff a few months ago.

[racer_81]

I decided to run some Cat-5 cable out by the Bandera.

Words of wisdom?

Geek Mod

Buy Al's basket, it's cheaper. I have one but must finish the Pit Mod before I get
to check it out.

With Al's basket, you should be able to do lots of other cool stuff without having
to worry about the temps, unless you just feel the need to worry about the temps.

[chad]

Sorry, I was typing the above when Brian responded!! :D

[willkat98]

This idea also need the good neighbor mod.

Your in line at Costco on a Saturday morning, 10 people ahead of you, 8 miles up the road and you get a text message that your pit just went down to 180 and falling fast (I guess not that fast in TX, but here it would), then what you gonna do?

If you don't have a neighor or whatever to call (recalling wife lives in Euliss?) or no one home, then the only thing your message will buy is an accident while you high tail it home.

[Jorge]

The difference in a man and a boy is the price of the toy (for 1k I'll write the software myself, or apply it to the Klose mod though). Appreciate all the input! This all started with the take it easy approach. The reason for running the Cat-5 out the back of the house was to take advantage of the hammock by the Bandera so that I could work, and enjoy the relaxing aroma of Q. It's 63 degrees right now, sunny, a pork loin smoking, with a couple of chops, some sausage, and turds. Unfortunately I neglected to stock the fridge with beer! Thus the trip to the store, and the inspiration to take advantage of the new network connection.

[racer_81]

Jorge, just teasing on the Geek Mod thing.

I have CAT 5 (CAT 5 Retrofit Mod), wireless (Wireless Mod)
and RG6U Quad Shield (HDTV DirecTV Retrofit Mod) running
through my house. That's geeky I'd say.

So....the software you write will be freeware.....right?

[Jorge]

So....the software you write will be freeware.....right?

If it gets that far it would be for the Brethren

[badger]

Jorge
That is a several thousand dollar mod. Do it at work it's not cheap, requires card for pc that's just the beginning. Software itself is a grand.

What is the software you reccommend?

[badger]

Words of wisdom?


Take a deep breath. Now, do you feel better.

You are taking this way too seriously :D

If you're that far away odds are your 'que would be toast by the time you got back to the house, anyway!!

A person cannot take great Q too seriously!!!! David.... David... David... Sometimes the reason to do something geeky and unconventional is just because you are a geek and you can do it.

Jorge,

I am with you on this one... just for the sake of a fun project I am going to look into it.

Project remote temps!

[Mark]

I've had some experience monitoring temperature with analog-to-digital PC cards. I't does not have to be a big bucks undertaking. Here's a very technical how to including some scripts:
http://www.boondog.com/%5Ctutorials%5Cmax158%5Cmax158.htm

And here is a source for off-the-shelf a2d cards. (note they are RS232 not Cat 5)
http://www.eeci.com/

Here's one on ebay for $10:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2596020467&category=50915


All this said. I still have one question: why?

Personally, the main thing for me about smoking is unpluging and uncomplicating life. taking it easy and simple as possible to get the desired results; perfect Q. About as complicated as I get is the use of analog meat thermometers.

[brdbbq]

We use Lab View if you want to be paged or emailed etc. Another source is www.omega.com
PM me for details if interested, Jorge you have seen our dog and pony show area but it's not $hit compared to what we have back in engineering.

[Jorge]

All this said. I still have one question: why?

Personally, the main thing for me about smoking is unpluging and uncomplicating life. taking it easy and simple as possible to get the desired results; perfect Q. About as complicated as I get is the use of analog meat thermometers.

Thanks for the links. They really helped :D

Why? One is the toy factor. It's the same reason I helped a friend put a lift kit on an old Audi Quatro to tool around the boonies. Find out if it can be done, AND IF it is worthwhile. If it isn't then I've had fun exploring it.

Second is an added convenience factor when it's needed. On a couple of occasions I've needed to leave for one reason or another but didn't want to because of the Q. If this is feasible and actually works then I'm looking at added flexibility.

First choice will always be stretching out in the hammock with the cooler close by. I'm thinking about adding some cooking days when I have a lot of short errands to run close to the house. This isn't about fundamentaly changing the way I cook, but an addition to it and making it possible to cook more often.

[Jorge]

After reading this thread it has gotten close to the GeekSpeak line. If an admin feels the need to move this elsewhere please feel free to do so. My intent was not to start a philosophical discussion. :shock: I really do appreciate all of the input given so far.

[willkat98]

This is totally Q related. Some of you guys are just more so-fist-ty-edgy-cated then the rest of us **** kickers.

Babble on Brothers, we'll see you in the pit (or we'll text message you from the pit)

LOL

[BigAl]

We use Lab View if you want to be paged or emailed etc. Another source is www.omega.com
PM me for details if interested, Jorge you have seen our dog and pony show area but it's not $hit compared to what we have back in engineering.

Brd,
Don't take this wrong, but I cain't help asking since you post all day long, when do you have time to go "back in engineering"? :roll:

[Mark]

Jorge:

I suggest you explore here some:
http://business.listings.ebay.com/Data-Acquisition-Recorders_Data-Acquisition-Systems_W0QQfromZR11QQsacategoryZ25402QQsocmdZList ingItemListQQsocolumnlayoutZ3

[Mark]

Here's another $10 example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2596046973

[rusold]

This takes me back to my programming Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) days. After you get the A/D convertor to work you need a temperature sensor (probe) that provides the right signal input for the A/D. I seem to remember that getting real temperature values requires some sort of weird non-linear conversion from the raw A/D values.

There was a recent post about a device that controls the temperature on a country cooker - note that this is a sensor - A/D conversion - temperature derivation - AND a DAC and an acuator(opens and closes the values based on the DAC output) - all put in a 4X2 box.

And lastly for being useful as a cooking tool - it would be easy to generate history of temps to see if different woods, techniques etc work better than others.

R

[BigAl]

This takes me back to my programming Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) days. After you get the A/D convertor to work you need a temperature sensor (probe) that provides the right signal input for the A/D. I seem to remember that getting real temperature values requires some sort of weird non-linear conversion from the raw A/D values.

There was a recent post about a device that controls the temperature on a country cooker - note that this is a sensor - A/D conversion - temperature derivation - AND a DAC and an acuator(opens and closes the values based on the DAC output) - all put in a 4X2 box.

And lastly for being useful as a cooking tool - it would be easy to generate history of temps to see if different woods, techniques etc work better than others.

R

Auhhhhh...........the science of smoking......glad to se u post, brother! :wink:

[rusold]

Jorge,

I knew this was a tough project - check http://www.windmill.co.uk/temperature.html

for just how tough

[badger]

Snippet from "http://www.windmill.co.uk/temperature.html" regarding cost.
"The 751-TC package comprises Windmill 6 Software for Windows, a USB unit providing differential inputs to monitor 16 thermocouples or voltage signals, and an isothermal box. Connect 8 USB units to 1 PC to monitor up to 128 themocouples. The units also provide digital input and output and counting.
Price: 730 GB pounds."

Is that price in pork or beef? :lol:

[BBQchef33]

Jorge,

118 bucks at COSTCO. D-link 108MB Wireless Access point and a PCMCIA Card.

Just upgrade my 802.11B wireless to 802.11G (extreme) at 108Mb and 1000 foot range. I take my laptop all over the yard.. out by the pool, on the deck, on the hammock. Damn, this website got written last summer while I was sitting next to the pool for 16 hour days and drinkin margaritas. No need for cat 5!! go wireless!!

[BigAl]

I gots me one of them tare 108mb g roter bad ass boys mounted on that ther garage wall an wireless cards in them pcs. keep an eye on smokey and i'll catch u on the back side...10-4 good buddie

[brdbbq]

We use Lab View if you want to be paged or emailed etc. Another source is www.omega.com
PM me for details if interested, Jorge you have seen our dog and pony show area but it's not $hit compared to what we have back in engineering.

Brd,
Don't take this wrong, but I cain't help asking since you post all day long, when do you have time to go "back in engineering"? :roll:

Al

Don't take this wrong. I suspect I'm there while you are out buying another bottle or coming up with a advertisement for your charcoal basket. Just cain't help myself. aka kiss my f*u*c*k*i*n*g a$$

[willkat98]

LMFAO

I can hardly contain myself.

This thread has denegrated to hell and back, again.

From PC Thermo coupling to ad mods.

Oh man,

Its late, I have had a few, but my side hurts from laughing.

[brdbbq]

Rise and Shine Mod :evil:

[BigAl]

We use Lab View if you want to be paged or emailed etc. Another source is www.omega.com
PM me for details if interested, Jorge you have seen our dog and pony show area but it's not $hit compared to what we have back in engineering.

Brd,
Don't take this wrong, but I cain't help asking since you post all day long, when do you have time to go "back in engineering"? :roll:

Al

Don't take this wrong. I suspect I'm there while you are out buying another bottle or coming up with a advertisement for your charcoal basket. Just cain't help myself. aka kiss my f*u*c*k*i*n*g a$$

Does this mean you took my comment wrong? :lol: :lol:

[brdbbq]

We use Lab View if you want to be paged or emailed etc. Another source is www.omega.com
PM me for details if interested, Jorge you have seen our dog and pony show area but it's not $hit compared to what we have back in engineering.

Brd,
Don't take this wrong, but I cain't help asking since you post all day long, when do you have time to go "back in engineering"? :roll:

Al

Don't take this wrong. I suspect I'm there while you are out buying another bottle or coming up with a advertisement for your charcoal basket. Just cain't help myself. aka kiss my f*u*c*k*i*n*g a$$

Does this mean you took my comment wrong? :lol: :lol:

No not at all just means when I see your name at the bottom of my check I will pay more attention. Until then :?: :lol: :lol:

[jt]

Being somewhat of a geek myself this is an intriguing thought. And I work for Campus Dining so I'll check with the "cooler" guy and see what he knows...

[parrothead]

Being somewhat of a geek myself this is an intriguing thought. And I work for Campus Dining so I'll check with the "cooler" guy and see what he knows

cooler guy being the not as much of geek guy? See the geeks always look up to the cool guys.

[jt]

I wanna be cool...I wanna be cool! :D

[willkat98]

Speaking of Geeks, where the hell is Mary.

[racer_81]

sex change mod

[parrothead]

I wanna be cool...I wanna be cool!

Relax, you are a brethren. That makes you VERY cool.

[BigAl]

We use Lab View if you want to be paged or emailed etc. Another source is www.omega.com
PM me for details if interested, Jorge you have seen our dog and pony show area but it's not $hit compared to what we have back in engineering.

Brd,
Don't take this wrong, but I cain't help asking since you post all day long, when do you have time to go "back in engineering"? :roll:

Al

Don't take this wrong. I suspect I'm there while you are out buying another bottle or coming up with a advertisement for your charcoal basket. Just cain't help myself. aka kiss my f*u*c*k*i*n*g a$$

Does this mean you took my comment wrong? :lol: :lol:

No not at all just means when I see your name at the bottom of my check I will pay more attention. Until then :?: :lol: :lol:

:D Good, then we are all square and sill Brethren Brothers in smoke :!: It's a very good thing when you still have anyone signing your checks.

[Jorge]

Just upgrade my 802.11B wireless to 802.11G (extreme) at 108Mb and 1000 foot range. I take my laptop all over the yard.. out by the pool, on the deck, on the hammock. Damn, this website got written last summer while I was sitting next to the pool for 16 hour days and drinkin margaritas. No need for cat 5!! go wireless!!

Too many associated security issues, for some of the work done at home. Otherwise I'd be all over wireless.

[BigAl]

Just turn off wireless ports on your router that you are not using.