Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Im wondering and thought i should ask before i make my blockhead. How do people add thermometers in their columns. I want to add a digital on like i saw in Dez's thread just now, well maybe ill see how it works first.

Can i just have a 1/2" tube going into the column,with a cap on it like an inverted tee that is closed off so no vapor gets out, stick the probe in and maybe put a cork in to stop air moving around in there. does this work since the copper transfers heat fast or do people do it another way. dont see another way to do it without using 2000 degrees near a thermometer :))

cheers

Surely you can get a screw in probe for a digital thermometer and tap a thread into a bit of pipe/the blockhead cap?

Or just a heap of thread tape so it's a proper jam fit?

I use 1/4" compression fittings. Compress a 1/4" copper tube into one, cut it just outside the nut, then poke the probe through. It'll be a loosish fit but not too bad. Figure out how long it needs to be then mark it on the inside. Pull out the probe put the nut on then smear silicone from the mark out. Use acetic cure silicone as it sticks really well to, well, anything. Carefully thread the probe back through so the mark realigns on the inside of the 1/4" tube piece and wipe off any excess silicone. Reinstall to fitting when dry.
Viola. A removable temp probe. I'm comfortable with the miniscule amounts of silicone that would be exposed to alcohol so it would be up to you if you are. If you use stainless fittings there would be no brass involved and it will also depend on your temp probes girth what size fittings you need to use.

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier WT.

I made and soldered in a thermowell to house the digital thermometer probe.

The thermometer I used was http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-or-DC-8-12V-LCD-digital-thermometer-range-from-50-150-/121051234693?hash=item1c2f374185

To make the thermowell I used http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-6mm-Inner-Dia-Straight-Hold-Wire-Passing-Copper-Connection-Tube-GT-G-16-/391271458840?hash=item5b1998a818

I soldered some scrap over one end........filed it to the same profile as the tube......soldered it about halfway into the 90 and cut/filed off the excess.

The thermometer probe fits into it perfectly. I added some heatsink/thermal transfer paste to the probe before shoving it in there.

It appears to be accurate enough within a 2 or 3 degrees tested in and out of the thermowell with boiling water and ice.
When I could be bothered I'll calibrate the thermometer to measure completely spot on.

Thats how I built my thermowell on my boiler :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Putting one in a boiler is something else I'll get around to doing one of these days. :think:

Should be able to get a weldless type that does up the same as an element I reckon. The one on my boiler is but was too big to put in 2" pipe.

Dez wrote:Sorry I didn't see your post earlier WT.

I made and soldered in a thermowell to house the digital thermometer probe.

The thermometer I used was http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-or-DC-8-12V-LCD-digital-thermometer-range-from-50-150-/121051234693?hash=item1c2f374185

To make the thermowell I used http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-6mm-Inner-Dia-Straight-Hold-Wire-Passing-Copper-Connection-Tube-GT-G-16-/391271458840?hash=item5b1998a818

I soldered some scrap over one end........filed it to the same profile as the tube......soldered it about halfway into the 90 and cut/filed off the excess.

The thermometer probe fits into it perfectly. I added some heatsink/thermal transfer paste to the probe before shoving it in there.

It appears to be accurate enough within a 2 or 3 degrees tested in and out of the thermowell with boiling water and ice.
When I could be bothered I'll calibrate the thermometer to measure completely spot on.

So just a bit of pipe with closed end soldered into pipe. Then thermal paste to fill gap between temp probe and pipe(thermowell)?

I recon you don't need the thermopaste without it there mite be a. 00001 difference in temp reading
I have 2 one in the pc and one above it

Thanks :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Used to use glass and digital thermo's,but wanted to standardize them across my mashing and distillation set up ,I found the 3inch dial thermos with 2and 1/2 inch probe and 1/2 inch NPT thread ,easily available at most brew shops ,donot require batteries ,can be easily adjusted,are more durable and are not bothered by getting wet or bumped.I use a 1/2 inch female NPT to 1/2 inch hose barb fitting to mount them all ,just trim all but 5mm off the hose barb end ,drill a 1/2 hole were ya want the thermo and TIG or braze it on with the hose barb bit located in the 1/2inch hole,ta work really well from boiler to thumper to column and head positions.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I saw this today;



The tight fit cap has a socket welded to it, probe with adapter screws into it. I have no idea where to get the gauge/probe.

Also this on a boiler (it needs a good wash on the outside);



Socket is welded onto side of boiler with adapter/receiver for gauge to slide into (the adapter is a sealed tube)


Again, I have no idea where to get these things from, but they do exist.

Yep have seen them they are called thermowells. Which is what the copper pipe with closed end replaces. Wondering is the probe supposed to have an airgap around it so it doesnt touch the well or doesnt it matter?

bluc wrote:Yep have seen them they are called thermowells. Which is what the copper pipe with closed end replaces. Wondering is the probe supposed to have an airgap around it so it doesnt touch the well or doesnt it matter?

It's a really neat fit into the hole with minimal slop, so I'm guessing no contact - but I cold be wrong. Anyways, like electricity, the heat will transfer through contact at the fitting.