Question regarding temperature probes

[starbug]

Hey there,

I'm still a newbie here so please forgive me is this a really dumb question.  And yes, I know the whole line about there not being any dumb questions... just dumb people who ask questions (if I didn't say it, someone else would 

)

Anyway, after blowing through 3 no name, off the shelf BBQ thermometers that would work for about 3-4 months and then go belly up (usually just starting to read HHH as soon as the probe was plugged in), I finally relented and picked up a Maverick ET-7.  I'm really hoping to get a little more use out of this one.  My question is.... I have seen quite a few Q-Views in which the probe cables are wrapped in foil.  Is this something that I need to be doing in order to prolong the life of these?  I don't generally use these on the grill... just in the smoker and occasionally in the oven, but I've been wrapping them in anything.  Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks all!

Ray

 

[lennyluminum]

the foil I think is just to keep the cables clean! i dont wrap mine in foil ever and they work just fine.

 

[meateater]

I wrap my cables with foil to keep them clean. I have a ET-7 myself along with a Weber Wireless that I like. I dont wash the probe cables, I just wipe down the solid metal probe itself. One thing I built on my UDS is a swing out therm holder to keep the sending unit away from the heat.

 

[deannc]

One of biggest lessons I just learned is to not allow the connections (where the cable goes into the probe and cable into the connector) to get soaked when cleaning them.  As meateater said, just wipe them off and may even try some white vinegar on a rag or paper towel for stubborn staining or gunk.

In a similar discussion on this topic some folks stated they wrapped their probes to prevent moisture issues in the connector points while smoking and to prolong the cable serviceability from the long exposures to heat.  Most of us route the cable through the smoke vent which after long term use, exposed to those temps may damage the cable over the long haul.  Makes sense I suppose.  I had commented I primarily did it to keep them clean and figured they were designed for exposure to heat.

 

[jirodriguez]

I don't wrap mine, and I have switched to using the kitchen cleaner wipes to "wash" them followed by a damp paper towel to "rinse" them. I did killl my first one submerging the probe in water for 1/2 an hour to soak in soapy water.

Did you try new probes to see if it was the probe vs. thermometer itself that was having the problem?

 

[pit 4 brains]

My wireless took a dirt nap after I dropped it and i had to settle for two "below 20 dollar" thermos and I have had good luck with them for quite some time. The only time I get the HHH is if I inadvertantly pinch or crush the cable under the lid.

I don't wrap mine and I don't go through great lengths to clean them either. If they get a little goopy, I'll just wipe them off with a towell. The probes seem to stay fairly clean and just need an occasional wiping as well.

I'm not sure why submersing the probes would ruin them. If anything, they should just need to be dried out at a temp above 212 for a bit.

 

[deannc]

If anything, they should just need to be dried out at a temp above 212 for a bit.

I was thinking of getting some white rice...I read a post somewhere on here that someone said they put things like cell phones etc in a zip lock with white rice for 24 hours and it withdraws all the moisture.  In fact I've got a phone or two around here that I might try it on as well! lol

 

[nwdave]

Well, I guess it's time to get really technical in the construction of the probe to the wire connection.  At the wire to probe connection, these are pressed connections.  If in the crimping process, they aren't crimped "good enough" they will allow moisture into the connection.  The application of foil serves two purposes.  One, to provide some moisture protection.  Two, to provide some strengthening at this flexible joint to keep the very fine wires from flexing to the point that they break.  As for the heat tolerance, it is a valid remark, yes, they will tolerate the high heat they're designed to measure.  However, I don't pass the probes thru the exhaust holes, I've drilled some holes in the side, just large enough to allow the probes to pass thru.  If you knew just how delicate this joint is, you'd be a tad more careful with it.  Temp probes in much larger applications (oil refineries) use to be part of my job description before I retired

 so take it for what it's worth.  Treat them with the same consideration you'd show for any other expensive device and they should last a long time.  They are after all an important tool in our "tool box".

OK, off the technical soapbox.  Now, lets go out there and smoke something....

 

[jirodriguez]

I wonder if you could use some high heat silicon to coat the area of the crimp? It would make it waterproof, and provide a flexible yet supported area around the joint for protection. Anybody ever tried this?

 

[nwdave]

I wonder if you could use some high heat silicon to coat the area of the crimp? It would make it waterproof, and provide a flexible yet supported area around the joint for protection. Anybody ever tried this?

That might work if the silicon is food safe certified (On second thought, it doesn't need to be because it won't touch the meat).  Basically, all I do is wipe the food probe with a sanitizer wipe,  wipe the probe with a water dampened paper towel, staying away from the connection point, insert through the little hole, wrap a small piece (2"x2") of foil and I know I'm good to go.  That fills the KISS principle for me.

 

[Bearcarver]

I don't foil mine. I clean the probe good before & after I use them with one of my wife's scrubby things she uses for pots & pans. Then I run the whole cable through the same thing a couple times, being careful not to kink the wire. I just got a box of alcohol wipes I want to try just before inserting into the meat.

I also think the only place you gotta worry about getting wet is where the probe meets the wire. 

I have an MES, so I run the probe & wire through the vent holes.

Dat's All folks.

Bearcarver

 

[jirodriguez]

That might work if the silicon is food safe certified (On second thought, it doesn't need to be because it won't touch the meat).  Basically, all I do is wipe the food probe with a sanitizer wipe,  wipe the probe with a water dampened paper towel, staying away from the connection point, insert through the little hole, wrap a small piece (2"x2") of foil and I know I'm good to go.  That fills the KISS principle for me.

I totally agree with the KISS.... it was just one of those ideas that wandered into my head while reading the posts... lol. Usually those wander in ideas happen when I'm talking with the wife and I say something that gets me slugged... lol.

 

[dick foster]

That's what I do and it seems to work well so far.

I also put a small coil spring around the area where the cable exits the probe and goop that on with the silicone too.

The spring provides some extra strain relief. It's repeated bending around sharp radius bends that fatigue and break the wiring within cables.  I don't bother with foiling the cable.

If the probe ever breaks, I'll try to repair it before I replace it as it's more likely the wire as long as the sensor hasn't been contaminated and ruined (shorted out) from exposure to liquid.

There really isn't much too them. The senor element, two wires in the cable and the plug. Most sensors are either the PN semiconductor junction type, you can make a thermometer using a regular transistor as a sensor. Then there are the thermocouple type that use two dissimilar metals that exploit he Seebeck effect and lastly the variable resistance type that use the resistance variance of different materials with temperature called a RTD sensor such as platinum like Pt RTD or just PTD. 

Of all the types of sensor types available, I prefer the platinum resistance type for smokers. The response is linear, the temp range it right while they are also rugged and temp tough.