El Cheapo Thermo

[deanoaz]

Well, I tried it and found it was worth about what I paid for it.  Bought a remote thermo at Wally World for under $20.  Worked with it about 3 times before it failed.  I was smoking a small Canadian bacon loin today and kept noticing the IT was hung at 62 degrees.  It hung too long, so I had a digital thermo I stuck in it and it was really at 138 degrees.  I was heading for the pork temp of 160 degrees, so I was okay, but it was still frustrating.  It was made in China, but that is all I can read on it or I would give you a brand.  Anyway, don't buy  the one at Wally World for under $20

  Yeah, I know I should have known better!

 

[jarjarchef]

I have a couple of the remote ones from Wally World. They give me weird numbers as well. But like you said " got what I paid for"

 

[pit 4 brains]

Finding any cheap electronic device that is made in the USA is darn near impossible. I bought the Taylor model that wall of china mart sells and so far it has been pretty good. I have had a problem with it reading LL and I just tug the wire a little to move it by the probe and it will read again. It stays on the money most of the time but will drop 10 degress for a few seconds then go back to the correct temp. I checked it in ice water a couple of times and it's +/- 2 degrees.

One of these days I'm gonna spring for a nice maverick..

 

[venture]

I guess I am a thermo freak.

I always use two or three to check on the others.  I have found that some of the cheapos are as durable and accurate as the more expensive ones.

Having said that, they are all prone to probe failure.  Proper care and cleaning of the probe helps, but sometimes they will just fail.

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[oldschoolbbq]

I too am a Temp. watcher and like to have back-ups and double checks ;thus the therms. on my smoker and the Mavericks, plus I have an adjustable one (from my last Chef job) I check calibrations with...I cal. all my therms. before the cook (those on the Smoker too-I have a lot of spare time:)- and from time to time I insert the probe through the holes in my Smoker to check the grate level therms.( Mavericks), saving to have to open the Smoker and lose everything...

As I have said a lot of times, I guestimate the lenght of the cook by my Wt./Time calculation , then watch the Temps. This is just my Anal way of Smoking.

Have fun and...