Accurate thermometer

[rodster_67]

Does anyone make a truly accurate thermometer these days? I mean they are all labeled 'accurate' on the packaging but if there is more than one on the shelf at the store, none of them read the same.

Makes it tough to know what is right if you don't have a true and accurate reference point to work off of.

I'd like to know what my freezer temperature really is since one thermometer reads 0°F and the other 10°F??? 5°F?

I'm thinking I need a scientific or K type thermocouple.

Suggestions?

Thanks

 

[jallyn]

I would ask around if any electrician has a digital multi-meter with thermocouple/temperature readout. Like you said K-type thermocouple is common and accurate.

 

[Stooge]

I just happen to build and calibrate type K thermocouples in the laboratory I work in for our field engineers to test, calibrate and accredit customers. for use with the Type K thermocouples we use a fluke 714 and a Fluke 52-2. For ambient lab temps when we are doing force testing or other testing for use as accredited reference standards we have fluke 971 thermometers for temp and humidity along a network temperature logger. We provide Extech 445580 humidity and temp pens to all of our field service engineers for use at customer sites when they need an accredited/ calibrated temperature reference for their certificates. they work well and are cheap so it doesn't matter if they are damaged out in the field. all internal, lab use temperature devices are calibrated annually and the field temp pens are generally bi-annually. for home use, I think the extech would be more than sufficient.

 

[happymachinist]

K type thermo couples are more accurate then your standard thermometers that use thermistors.

For a standard thermometer, though I really like my therma pen.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[rodster_67]

Thanks guys, for my wide application (freezer to oven) I'm thinking a k type thermocouple might be the way to go. It would be ideal if I could put it in the oven, close the door, in order to prove the temperature is correct and maybe the baker is the problem.

I have an old Fluke 77 DVM but it doesn't have a temp setting. Might have to see what current products are available.

 

[larry_g]

I have an old Fluke 77 DVM but it doesn't have a temp setting. Might have to see what current products are available.

Thermocouples generate a voltage. If you can measure in the millivolt range then you can convert the voltage to a temperature. You do have to have the correct couplers or you will have errors.



http://www.omega.com/temperature/Z/pdf/z204-206.pdf

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Milton Shaw]

Oven temp should be read after the oven has been on at least 20 minutes. The bottom of the oven and the top would be at temp in about 10 minutes or when the control beeps if electronic. But the glass door and back of the oven have not heated to the temp set and this effects the cooking of anything like cookies that cook in 10 minutes. I convinced a lot of customer to try this and on return visits remarked how much better the oven worked. Almost all recipes have the first instruction to turn on oven and set to temp. This is so that by the time you have mixed everything and got it ready most of the time the 20 minutes would be up and the recipe would cook properly.
Refigs and freezers have a complete air change every time the door is opened. So the temp takes a long time to get back to set temp. Don't condemn the refig tstat on temps within a hour of door opening. The difference between commercial and residential refigs is the size of compressor and the amount of time to return to set point. Most commercial refigs will be back to temp in 5 minutes after door opening. Most residential refigs take at least an hour to recover from door openings. This is also the time for the refig to get the moisture out of the air just introduced into the refig.

 

[rodster_67]

Great info. I'm amazed how better baking goes when I'm called in to 'fix the stupid oven'. I simply set the temperature and let it settle before allowing any baking to start.

I know there is some sort of issue with the thermostat since sometimes the oven will go into runaway mode and head for 450°.

Since I don't have faith in the thermostat I'd like check the temp with an accurate thermometer.

May fix the problem soon by replacing the oven but even then it would be nice to be able to check the temperature.

Slightly off topic ... but someone I know modified their oven with a k type thermocouple and a relay to avoid the large swings with the factory settings. Sounds like a clever idea.

 

[no704]

Not sure if it's worth a s$:t, but I just picked up a $23 meter at HF that came with a thermocouple.

 

[rodster_67]

Interesting, have you tried the thermocouple yet? I bought a non contact thermometer from HF and am pleased with it.

 

[unslow1]

Have you tried a foodservice thermometer from a restaurant supply house? We use the meters with thermocouples to set the temps on the fryers,ovens and coolers. Then we use the better thermometers to monitor them.

 

[no704]

Interesting, have you tried the thermocouple yet? I bought a non contact thermometer from HF and am pleased with it.

No I have not tried it I'll have to take it to work and check it out against some of our AL2A certified stuff.