Homeroasters - Home Roasting Coffee Community

Posted by jzuzphreek on 04/09/2012 10:55 AM

I have a couple questions, and would like some insight from you guys.

I bought a thermometer that takes a K-type TC from Jim a few months ago. It works great, but the TC leads are affixed to the dog bowl I got from him, and don't want to remove it. So, I'm considering buying a new TC (found some prices from a few different sources). In my BM, I'd like to have a lead going to the beans and another lead for the ET elsewhere in the machine.

So here's my question, should I just purchase 2 TC wires (with ends) and swap them back and forth in my existing thermometer? Or should I spend $30 on the Sweet Maria's site to buy an additional thermometer and an extra TC?

Also, is anyone aware of a Thermometer/data logger less than $50 that works well with free software? It'd be nice to not have to write down temps/times, but don't really have much money to spend on one.

Posted by seedlings on 04/16/2012 3:32 PM

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jzuzphreek wrote:
It works great, but the TC leads are affixed to the dog bowl I got from him, and don't want to remove it.

If you change your mind, cut the TC, strip back the wires and twist the bare wires together for 3/16" or so. Twist them with some needle-nose pliers so the twist is very tight. This works perfectly fine in my experience.

CHAD

Posted by allenb on 04/17/2012 8:50 AM

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seedlings wrote:

Quote

jzuzphreek wrote:
It works great, but the TC leads are affixed to the dog bowl I got from him, and don't want to remove it.

I can vouch for Chad that this works great. I've tested them with the ice water and boiling water test and found no error on my fluke temp meter between a factory made beaded TC and the home made twisted version.

One thing to consider is that we aren't doing lab experiments here where small errors might cause a problem, we're roasting coffee.

Allen

Posted by jzuzphreek on 04/17/2012 10:42 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I went ahead and purchased a new thermometer w/ 4 TCs (2 probes) that Burner found for a good price. One can never have too many Thermometers/TCs right? This way I can preserve the DB and go back to that if I ever feel the need.

Posted by jzuzphreek on 04/24/2012 11:08 AM

sweet! I guess mine should arrive this weekend-ish. Of course I'll be out of town... Then my wife has surgery next week.... Then finals....

Guess I'll get to try is sometime before the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire.

Posted by jzuzphreek on 05/04/2012 3:55 PM

#10

So, I'm hoping to get some alone time with my bread maker and new thermometer this week while my mother-in-law is in town nursing my wife back to health (nothing serious, minor foot surgery).

What am I supposed to do with these thermocouples now? I have 2 with beaded tips, and two probes. Where is the best placement? And what's the best way to affix them?

I know I need to see the ET and BT. Is the best place for BT underneath the bean mass (a relatively easy place to position a lead), or somewhere in the middle? Where, in relation to the heat gun should I position the ET probe?