Fancy Temp Gauges? Are they better than an 8$ one?

[pandemonium]

I have been looking at these brand name ones that have the different colors and all that but for like 38$ are they worth it? i do like the one with the blue and other colors, cant think of the name?

 

[forluvofsmoke]

Accuracy is all I look for with a close incrementation of 10-20* on the dial.

I don't buy thermos on-line. I look for my thermos in the store and check the current readings of my perspective purchase with others hanging on the rack...I stay away from any that don't read the same as the rest. I have 4 Grill Care brand chamber therms from wally-world...seem to be a decent buy and have been reasonably accurate.

Whatever I buy and bring home gets the water boil test to verify it prior to use, and periodically thereafter. I never use a therm if its been dropped or jarred until re-verified.

Eric

 

[blackened]

Received my et-73 from Amazon today.. People talk about the range deficiency with these, but I'll just say that from 50-60 feet, which is all I need, It doesn't seem to be an issue out of the box.. Love the dual probe feature! My Weber is my back-up now..

 

[ddave]

Well, if you're comfortable trusting $40 of meat to an $8 thermometer, it's up to you.

Dave

 

[bbq engineer]

Hey pandemonium,

Mrs. Engineer bought me a thermoworks thermapen for a gift, and I will tell you that it is now one of the most used tools in my tool bag. The probe is very thin and it doesn't leave a gaping hole for juice and flavor to pour out of. I had a cheap POS instant read thermo, and it was like driving a railroad spike into my brisket. The thermapen is really fast too, and incredibly accurate. Like I said, It is indespensible now that I have used it. If it broke tomorrow, I would go and buy a new one, it is that good.

Now the bad part...it cost a few bucks. To me it is worth it to have consistent smokes, and ensure that I am reaching safe temperatures that won't make my family or friends sick. I think that is worth the few extra bucks that the wife (and ultimately I...since I am the sole source of income) paid.
http://www.thermoworks.com/

 

[bigsteve]

When I got my Brinkman, I put an $8.00 thermo on it from Home depot. It works wonderfully. I have a Maverick, but don't need it with the thermo in the lid.

I later bought a Weber kettle, and bought another of those thermos at Home depot. It works poorly. It sticks and can be almost 100* off at times.

That's 1 for 2. I couldn't possibly recommend it.

 

[meat hunter]

Those cheapo therms that you get from Home Depot and Wal-Mart are not designed for the serious smoker, mainly for the person who has a smoker, but does not really understand the art of smoking, (low and slow). They are a "For the masses", thermometer. Spend you money wisely on a good accurate therm, you will be glad you did later on.

 

[scubadoo97]

If you mean a Thermapen, I wish they were only $38. I bought mine with some hesitation on sale for $69. Not a moments of buyers remorse. It's easy to use, accurate and fast. I've used other digital probe thermometers and still use the wired ones in the smoker. The instant read Thermapen is used most often at the grill, stove or oven and has allowed me to serve meats and fish exactly at the temperature I or my guest want. Even when I know someone wants well done, someone wants medium and someone whats rare it's a cinch to pull it off with perfection if you have a good idea what the correct temp is.

 

[mballi3011]

I have several thermo-meters a Pyrex model $40.00 and my 16.00 wally world madel now I have tested both and they were within a couple of degrees of right and each other so I like them both. The best thing to do is test it before you mess up a hunk of meat.

 

[pandemonium]

i am not talking about a meat thermometer i mean a temp gauge that mounts on the grill for grill temps.
and does anyone have any suggested brands?

 

[bbq engineer]

I suggest an american made Tel-Tru or Ashcroft thermo.

I will post some pics of my Tel-tru, it is Awesome, and then compare and contrast that with an el-cheapo china made one that I didn't have a choice on.

Explanation: During my smoker build (http://smokingmeatforums.com/forums/...ad.php?t=76817), I was up against a wall to make a 4th of July deadline, and couldn't get a Tel-Tru in time, but I wanted to have something. I spent some money on a chineese knockoff, and It is the biggest POS I have ever seen. I will post some pics and you will see what I'm saying. Spend a decent amount and get a decent thermo...it will prevent you throwing good money after bad like I did.

 

[ddave]

Tel-tru
http://www.teltru.com/s-140-pit-smoker-and-cooker.aspx

Spicewine
http://www.spicewineironworks.com/Me...egory_Code=acc

The Spicewine one has the 3 colored zones you mention. The Tel-tru has several different back colors but is also divided into zones.

The Spicewine is $20 and the Tel-tru is around $40 but it is stainless steel and can be calibrated.

I have this one on my UDS.

Dave

 

[bbq engineer]

Pandemonium,

Here is my temp gauge...


it is a 5" Tel-Tru and when you get your gauge, keep this in mind.

1. Get one that has a calibration feature. That way you know you are always on target.
2. Get a range that you are going to use. That way, there is a larger degree of resolution on the face of the gauge.
3. Get a size that you are comfortable with. This one is large...I can see it from my kitchen window, and can tell at a glance where I'm at temp wise in the smoker even if I don't have the wireless hooked up. Obviously the larger you get, the more you pay, but don't under do it on this purchase. These should be considered precision instruments.

Here is what happens if you buy a POS china made thermo...



This is from the first use. There was a brief shower...game over! My Tel-Tru has been in blizzards, thunderstorms, hail storms, and blistering summer temps (anything that Kansas can throw at it), and it hasn't missed a beat. That should say it all.

 

[ddave]

Yep, Tel-trus ROCK!

They are a little more expensive but you buy one and your done. You won't have to replace it.

Plus the black face ones look cool on yellow drums.

And green drums, too. Check out Bilbo's avatar sometime. That's a sweet looking drum with a nice black Tel-tru on it.

Dave

 

[pandemonium]

you nailed it my eight dollar one from home depot did that after a little rain

 

[ddave]

Looks like you answered your own question.

I know it can be frustrating especially if you are trying to justify the expense to "your significant other" at times. When I first started smoking meat there were several boxes from Amazon arriving at different times. At one point my wife asked, "How many damn thermometers to you need?"

Now I've been married almost 20 years so I was smart enough not to say what I was thinking. But I have 2 smokers, 5 dial thermos, 3 digitals, a small instant read AND a Thermapen which was a birthday present.

Once the meat started tasting really good, she wasn't too worried about the thermometers anymore. In fact now SHE grabs the Thermapen when she is doing a turkey.

Good thermometers are a good investment.

Dave

 

[alx]

I do not wanna get to weird here,but my compost thermometer is a 5 year old tel-tru(for compost application) and it has been thru hell and back......

I take my compost as serious as my meat-although i do have a 500 dollar digital weather station/ rain gauge for my garden log...

Spend the cash and enjoy....I have a therma-pen and taylor profesional for probing meat-not cheap, but they last and i need to know within .05 where my meat is....

 

[pandemonium]

OK i will look into a better one for sure, mine didn't break after the rain just fogged up a little and now its clear again