Thermostat Probe in Thermowell

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by minderbender, Jun 10, 2013.

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  1. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    I am about to buy a chest freezer and a digital thermostat so that I can control my fermentation temperature more easily. (Up until now I have been using something similar to the "Son of Fermentation Chiller.")

    At the website for my local homebrew store, the description of the thermowell includes this somewhat worrying description:

    In other words, to put the probe of the Ranco into the thermowell, you have to file it down slightly. Although the website assures me that this will "not negatively affect its performance," I am reluctant to do it. I would rather buy a thermostat with a probe that fits into the thermowell without modification.

    Has anyone else had this issue? Can you recommend a thermostat that can be used with a thermowell without modification?
     
    #1 minderbender, Jun 10, 2013
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I assume you're talking about a carboy cap thermowell, so that you can measure wort temp. If not, you don't need a thermowell just to hold a probe that's measuring the freezer's temp.

    The probe on the Johnson A419 will fit that type of thermowell.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Jun 10, 2013
  3. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    One of my themowells will accept a ranco probe, one will not. I have thought about using a drill to open up the one. Maybe that and a light sandpaper job will do it.
     
    #3 hopfenunmaltz, Jun 10, 2013
  4. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    our shop mechanic uses green pot scrubbing pads to do delicate sanding. it is next to impossible to remove too much without being very aggressive, which the point.
     
    #4 billandsuz, Jun 10, 2013
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  5. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    Thanks everyone. Yes, I am talking about a carboy cap thermowell. I understand the sanding can almost certainly be done harmlessly, but I would prefer not to do it at all if I can avoid it.
     
    #5 minderbender, Jun 10, 2013
  6. DrewF

    DrewF Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    #6 DrewF, Jun 10, 2013
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