40 replies to this topic

[Big Nake]

So I'm at the LHBS yesterday and I pick up another analog thermo to use as a "second opinion" for the one I have been using for many, many years. My buddy Scott (local brewer and employee there on the W/Es) warned me to calibrate it "often" (he may have even said, everytime you use it...) so I make a glass of ice water which is supposed to come in at 32° and I place my old thermo in there... it shows about 28°. This suggests that when I make a beer that I thought I mashed at 152°, it may have actually been at 156°. Not good. I placed the other thermo in there and it showed right about 40°. I calibrated both of them to 32° and I'm hoping that they stay that way for awhile. So I guess I'm saying 1) Who has to do this occasionally and how often is your thermo out of whack? and 2) If you don't do this often, give it a try... your thermo may be off.

[Humperdink]

I haven't calibrated my thermometers since I bought them. some a few years ago, some almost a year. I probably should given your experience. Thankfully for me, I have three dial thermometers, (two dairy type and one fermentap in the brew kettle) and one old style glass thermometer. I always have the back up to double check a reading if it doesn't seem right. I figure if all four of them read the same or within a degree of each other then it's good enough for me.

[Trub L]

the digital ones i have don't seem to drift. i have checked them against medical ones and they're always close to within a degree. i have a floating one that i use for checking temp on the cool-down, and i don't really care if that gets off by a few degrees. so i don't do any calibration.

[dagomike]

I calibrated mine just yeasterday, but I haven't brewed with it for over 7 months. Usually every once in a while unless I really bang it or something. As long as the mash one seems to be jiving with the digital probe on the HERMs I leave it be.I use a mercury "lab" thermo for my calibrations.

Edited by dagomike, 29 March 2009 - 09:53 AM.

[Dave]

I checked the one from my mash tun when I installed it in my new MT last week and it was right on. It's a dial type and since I leave my MT outside year-round it has gone through many swings in temps so I was surprised how accurate it read ( bought it in 2002)

[BFB]

I calibrate mine maybe once a year. Usually during my annual brew room cleaning.

[rockon]

I bought a glass lab thermometer a couple years ago to calibrate my dial thermometer that I always use. It wa pretty much accurate. I check it maybe once a year or so, but it doesn't seem to drift much.

[Lagerdemain]

I have a dial thermometer on my HLT - it is accurate only at around 160 degrees - above that it understates temperatures, below that it overstates temperatures. I have found that my thermocouple thermometer never drifts or needs calibration - hell, I don't think it can be calibrated. But I trust it far more than any mechanical thermometer, and I've found glass thermometers to be entirely impractical and unsuited for brewing use.

[Greatfookin]

Will be calibrating all 6 before I brew next week. 80/shilling mash temp being important and all

[3rd party JKor]

I calibrate mine when I think it's off. I use boiling water to calibrate it since it's closer to the temp of the mash, sometimes I calibrate it in an ice bath, too. It's never really been that far off. Usually, it's just fine.

[Big Nake]

If anyone has a link to a good digital thermometer, please post it. When I went AG in 2004, I bought a digital thermometer from a cooking site for something like $30. The sucker would drift like it was getting paid for it. Honestly, it would take 5 bloody minutes to finally sit and tell me what the damn temp was. Eventually I got sick of it & bought a analog probe thermo. The guy at the LHBS had a $25 probe thermo that was better than the one I bought and I'm wondering if I should go back and get the better one. Admittedly, I never calibrated the one I've been using which is clearly my fault. Cheers.

[DaKine]

Am I the only one with a calibration station?a bit anal, i know.

[tjthresh]

Am I the only one with a calibration station?a bit anal, i know.

Wow.

[Trub L]

Am I the only one with a calibration station?a bit anal, i know.

Hey kegger, HOW hot IS it?

[DaKine]

the bottom 3 on the wall, transmit to the one above, data logger that can download to a PC via serial. then you can import into excel and make graphs.

[Trub L]

the bottom 3 on the wall, transmit to the one above, data logger that can download to a PC via serial. then you can import into excel and make graphs.

You're like the USNO of temperature.

[DaKine]

Hey kegger, HOW hot IS it?

Date Indoor Temperature Indoor Humidity Outdoor Temperature 1 Outdoor Humidity 1 Outdoor Temperature 2 Outdoor Humidity 2 Outdoor Temperature 3 Outdoor Humidity 302.21.2008 12:25 AM 71.2 40 11.3 60 71 40 67.6 4002.21.2008 12:30 AM 70.3 39 10.9 60 70.5 41 67.6 3902.21.2008 12:35 AM 69.8 40 10.7 60 70.7 40 67.6 4002.21.2008 12:40 AM 69.4 38 10.7 60 69.8 41 67.6 3902.21.2008 12:45 AM 69.4 37 10.5 60 69.4 41 67.4 3902.21.2008 12:50 AM 70.1 40 10.2 60 70.3 40 67.4 3902.21.2008 12:55 AM 70.1 39 10.2 60 69.8 41 67.4 3902.21.2008 01:00 AM 69.4 40 9.8 60 70.1 40 66.9 3902.21.2008 01:05 AM 68.7 40 9.1 61 69 41 66 3902.21.2008 01:10 AM 68.3 41 9.1 61 68.9 41 65.8 3902.21.2008 01:15 AM 67.8 41 8.7 62 69.8 41 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:20 AM 67.4 39 8.4 62 69.6 41 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:25 AM 67.4 39 8.2 62 69.4 41 65.1 3902.21.2008 01:30 AM 67.4 39 7.8 63 69.2 40 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:35 AM 67.6 38 7.5 63 68.5 41 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:40 AM 67.6 38 7.1 64 69 41 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:45 AM 67.8 38 7.1 63 69 40 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:50 AM 67.8 38 6.9 63 68.7 41 65.3 3902.21.2008 01:55 AM 67.8 38 6.9 64 68.9 40 65.3 3902.21.2008 02:00 AM 68 37 6.9 64 68 41 65.3 3802.21.2008 02:05 AM 68 37 6.9 63 68.3 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:10 AM 68 37 6.6 64 68.7 40 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:15 AM 67.8 37 6.2 64 68.1 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:20 AM 67.8 37 6.2 64 68.5 40 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:25 AM 68 37 5.9 65 67.6 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:30 AM 68 37 5.7 65 67.2 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:35 AM 68 37 5.5 65 68.1 40 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:40 AM 68 37 5.1 65 67.6 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:45 AM 68.1 37 4.8 65 67.8 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:50 AM 68.1 37 4.8 66 67.4 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 02:55 AM 68.1 36 4.4 66 66.5 41 65.1 3802.21.2008 03:00 AM 68.3 36 4.1 67 67.4 41 65.3 3802.21.2008 03:05 AM 68.7 36 4.1 68 67.4 41 65.3 3802.21.2008 03:10 AM 68.7 36 3.9 68 67.1 41 65.3 3802.21.2008 03:15 AM 68.7 36 3.9 68 67.1 40 65.3 3702.21.2008 03:20 AM 68.7 35 3.7 68 66.2 41 65.3 3702.21.2008 03:25 AM 68.9 35 3.9 68 66.3 41 65.3 3602.21.2008 03:30 AM 69 35 3.7 67 67.1 40 65.3 3602.21.2008 03:35 AM 69.2 35 3.3 67 66.5 41 65.4 3502.21.2008 03:40 AM 69.2 35 3.2 67 66.9 40 65.4 3502.21.2008 03:45 AM 69.4 35 3 67 66 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 03:50 AM 69.6 35 2.8 68 65.6 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 03:55 AM 69.8 34 2.8 68 66.7 40 65.6 3402.21.2008 04:00 AM 69.6 35 2.8 68 66.2 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 04:05 AM 69.4 35 2.6 68 66.3 41 65.6 3402.21.2008 04:10 AM 69.4 34 2.6 68 65.8 41 65.4 3502.21.2008 04:15 AM 69.6 34 2.6 68 65.1 41 65.4 3602.21.2008 04:20 AM 69.6 34 2.6 68 66.2 41 65.6 3602.21.2008 04:25 AM 69.8 34 2.4 68 65.8 41 65.6 3602.21.2008 04:30 AM 69.8 34 2.3 68 65.8 41 65.6 3602.21.2008 04:35 AM 69.8 33 2.6 68 65.4 41 65.6 3602.21.2008 04:40 AM 69.8 33 2.4 68 64.7 41 65.6 3602.21.2008 04:45 AM 69.8 33 2.6 68 65.3 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 04:50 AM 69.9 33 2.6 68 65.4 41 65.6 3402.21.2008 04:55 AM 69.9 33 2.6 68 65.3 41 65.6 3402.21.2008 05:00 AM 69.9 33 2.6 68 65.4 41 65.6 3402.21.2008 05:05 AM 69.9 33 2.6 68 64.5 41 65.8 3402.21.2008 05:10 AM 69.9 33 2.3 68 64.5 41 65.8 3302.21.2008 05:15 AM 70.1 33 2.3 68 65.3 41 65.8 3302.21.2008 05:20 AM 70.1 33 2.3 69 65.3 41 65.8 3302.21.2008 05:25 AM 70.1 33 2.1 68 65.3 41 65.8 3302.21.2008 05:30 AM 70.1 33 2.1 68 64.4 41 65.8 3402.21.2008 05:35 AM 70.1 33 2.1 68 64 41 65.8 3402.21.2008 05:40 AM 70.1 33 1.9 68 64.9 41 65.8 3402.21.2008 05:45 AM 70.1 33 1.5 68 64.5 41 65.8 3502.21.2008 05:50 AM 70.3 32 1.2 68 64.5 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 05:55 AM 70.1 32 1 69 64.5 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 06:00 AM 70.3 32 0.6 69 63.5 41 65.6 3502.21.2008 06:05 AM 70.1 32 0.5 69 64.2 41 65.6 3402.21.2008 06:10 AM 70.1 32 0.3 69 64.2 41 65.6 3302.21.2008 06:15 AM 70.1 32 0.3 68 63.8 41 65.6 3302.21.2008 06:20 AM 70.1 32 0 69 64.2 40 65.6 3202.21.2008 06:25 AM 70.1 32 -0.2 69 63.1 41 65.6 3202.21.2008 06:30 AM 70.1 32 -0.5 70 63.3 41 65.6 3202.21.2008 06:35 AM 70.1 32 -0.5 70 63.8 40 65.6 3102.21.2008 06:40 AM 70.1 31 -0.7 70 63.5 40 65.6 3102.21.2008 06:45 AM 69.9 31 -0.9 70 63.8 40 65.6 3202.21.2008 06:50 AM 69.9 31 -0.9 70 62.9 41 65.4 3202.21.2008 06:55 AM 69.9 31 -0.9 70 62.7 41 65.4 3302.21.2008 07:00 AM 69.9 31 -1.1 70 63.5 40 65.4 3302.21.2008 07:05 AM 69.9 31 -1.1 70 63.1 41 65.3 3402.21.2008 07:10 AM 69.9 31 -1.1 70 63.5 40 65.3 3402.21.2008 07:15 AM 70.1 31 -1.1 70 62.7 41 65.3 3402.21.2008 07:20 AM 70.1 31 -0.9 70 62 42 65.3 3402.21.2008 07:25 AM 70.1 31 -0.9 70 63.1 41 65.3 3202.21.2008 07:30 AM 70.1 31 -0.5 70 62.7 41 65.3 3102.21.2008 07:35 AM 70.1 31 -0.2 71 62.7 41 65.3 3102.21.2008 07:40 AM 70.1 31 0.3 70 62.7 41 65.3 3102.21.2008 07:45 AM 70.3 31 0.8 70 61.8 42 65.3 3102.21.2008 07:50 AM 70.3 30 1.7 69 62.4 41 65.3 3102.21.2008 07:55 AM 70.5 30 2.8 69 62.7 41 65.3 3102.21.2008 08:00 AM 70.7 30 3.9 68 62.4 41 65.3 3102.21.2008 08:05 AM 70.8 30 4.8 68 62.9 41 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:10 AM 70.8 30 5.9 67 61.8 42 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:15 AM 71.2 30 6.8 66 62 42 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:20 AM 71.2 30 7.7 66 62 41 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:25 AM 71.2 30 8.4 64 62.4 42 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:30 AM 69.4 31 9.3 64 62.7 41 65.4 3202.21.2008 08:35 AM 68.3 31 10 63 62 42 65.4 3202.21.2008 08:40 AM 67.6 32 10.5 62 61.8 43 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:45 AM 67.1 32 11.3 62 62.7 42 65.3 3202.21.2008 08:50 AM 66.5 32 12.5 62 62.4 42 65.3 3102.21.2008 08:55 AM 67.2 35 14.3 60 62.7 42 60.9 3502.21.2008 09:00 AM 67.2 34 16.7 59 62.4 42 56.4 4102.21.2008 09:05 AM 67.2 34 18.5 56 61.3 43 55.7 4402.21.2008 09:10 AM 67.2 34 20.1 54 60.6 44 56.1 4502.21.2008 09:15 AM 67.4 34 21.5 53 59.5 46 56.6 4602.21.2008 09:20 AM 67.6 34 23 51 58.4 47 57.5 4702.21.2008 09:25 AM 67.8 34 24.9 49 57.7 48 58.2 4802.21.2008 09:30 AM 68 34 25.5 48 57.2 48 59.1 4902.21.2008 09:35 AM 68 34 25.7 46 56.6 49 59.9 4902.21.2008 09:40 AM 68.1 33 26.4 45 56.3 48 60.6 5002.21.2008 09:45 AM 68.3 32 27.5 44 56.1 49 61.3 5002.21.2008 09:50 AM 68.3 32 27.8 42 55.9 49 62 5102.21.2008 09:55 AM 68 31 28.4 41 55.5 49 62.7 5202.21.2008 10:00 AM 67.4 30 23 35 55.2 50 63.5 5202.21.2008 10:05 AM 67.1 31 18.8 42 55.2 50 64.2 5102.21.2008 10:10 AM 67.2 31 16.3 46 54.8 51 64.7 5102.21.2008 10:15 AM 67.2 30 15.6 44 54.8 51 65.4 5102.21.2008 10:20 AM 67.4 32 15.8 46 54.6 51 66 5102.21.2008 10:25 AM 68 33 16.1 45 56.1 51 66.5 52

[Lagerdemain]

Anal? Check.

[DuncanDad]

I have a digital lab thermometer from VWR Labs. I don't really trust it as much as I trust my Kroger dial thermometer.I can't calibrate the VWR but I can calibrate the dial one.