accurate thermometer question

Shepton · Jan 20, 2019

Hi, I hope someone can help me here.
I am looking to buy a new digital thermometer and am confused - It seems that many brewers recommend a calibrated thermometer which as I understand it, comes with a certificate telling you how far off it is at 2 reference temperatures 0 deg and 50 deg. These thermometers state an accuracy of plus or minus 1 deg.
The other option at a similar price has no calibration certificate but states accuracy of plus or minus 0.2 deg.
Which one to choose???

skulltat280 · Jan 20, 2019

I'm no help sorry but interested in this. My brother works at testing water. His company gives the same thermometers out to customers as I have, cheap. Think they're +/-1°c

skulltat280 · Jan 20, 2019

£2.84 is the real price

foxbat · Jan 20, 2019

Shepton said:
Hi, I hope someone can help me here.
I am looking to buy a new digital thermometer and am confused - It seems that many brewers recommend a calibrated thermometer which as I understand it, comes with a certificate telling you how far off it is at 2 reference temperatures 0 deg and 50 deg. These thermometers state an accuracy of plus or minus 1 deg.
The other option at a similar price has no calibration certificate but states accuracy of plus or minus 0.2 deg.
Which one to choose???

Accuracy and resolution is directly proportional to how much you are willing to pay. At the bottom end of the price scale of calibrated thermometers is the ETI Thermapen. "Calibration" in this case means they've done the 2 point test and programmed in the offsets so the device reads true. Many folks here have a thermapen and swear by it and of course once you've got it you can use it to calibrate all your other thermometers.

chrisbjones202 · Jan 20, 2019

Thermapen are really good, it’s not just the accuracy but it reads the temperature in a couple of seconds as the probe is thin at the end . The cheap ones take ages. I use it all the time in the kitchen too, steak always spot on.

skulltat280 · Jan 20, 2019

chrisbjones202 said:
Thermapen are really good, it’s not just the accuracy but it reads the temperature in a couple of seconds as the probe is thin at the end . The cheap ones take ages. I use it all the time in the kitchen too, steak always spot on.

Yeah mine takes 20/30 seconds to get settle. I'll invest in something better, looks like a thermapen

Sadfield · Jan 20, 2019

Accuracy is irrelevant unless it's calibrated. Many cheaper thermometers aren't adjustable, however knowing how far out you may be is enough to make mental adjustments.

https://beerandbrewing.com/how-to-calibrate-a-thermometer/

Martybhoy · Jan 20, 2019

I'm a thermopen man myself. I swear by them.

One for cooking and one for beer. If one died, I'd replace it instantly.

keat64 · Jan 21, 2019

I have about 4 of these.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=303035558961

None calibrated but all within 0.1 degree of each other.

I'm not sure why you would want it to be 100% precise though, brewing beer is not a science, its an art.
My beers turn out fine.

MmmBeer · Jan 21, 2019

I have a collection of various digital thermometers, but now I use a Grainfather, I only use an Inkbird BBQ thermometer to monitor sparge water temp and a cheap infra-red thermometer to check the wort temp as it transfers into the FV.

GerritT · Jan 21, 2019

Inkbird. Tested around 0º and 100º and accurate enough for me.

Shepton · Jan 22, 2019

Thanks for the advice - I have ordered a Thermapen.
It is really the strike temperature that I want to be sure of and as has been said, having a calibrated thermometer does mean I can check all my other temperature control against it.
Yes brewing is an art (and a science) and you really need to know your starting point before you go off piste wink...

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