New digital thermometer

[JeffinNZ]

Team.

Got my thermometer today. Liquid range up 750C/1382F. Probe type and only USD45.00!!!!!!!

Couldn't believe my luck really.



Need to fire up the pot now and try it out. Thought I might put some thermo protection on the leads etc.

[Texasflyboy]

Congrats. If it were mine I would change out the Thermocouple to the one pictured below.

The armored stainless steel types are easily adaptable to your style of plug. You can either fabricate leads that plug in directly where your yellow plug is, or if allowed, open up your yellow connector and see if you can change the wiring.

The stainless steel armored types are much more heat resistant over time and more durable. Sooner or later that plastic on yours is going to get scorched.

My .02...

Tom in NC.

Photo:



Link to Site HERE

[Texasflyboy]

Here are photos of my original mod to the Harbor Freight Thermometer. It came with a cheap K type thermocouple that I discarded and adapted the connector to take an armored K style that I got off of eBay.

Photos:

[JeffinNZ]

GOOD THINKING! Yes, I have concerns about the original lead. Food for thought.

[uncle joe]

While your on the subject
has any one used a non contact IR thermometer to check the temp of their melt. The ones I use at work go up to 888 degrees I think.
JE

[Ron]

Jeff, did you receive my email?

[686]

TEXASFLYBOY i have the same harbor freight themometer. i bought a small brass tube just big enugh for the thermocoupling to fit in . before puting it in to the tube i flating and bent over 1/2 in at the bottom to seal it. the tube is about 10 in . long. i never knew my lead temp changed so much untill i bought thid thomometer. i used a rcbs 22lb pot and fed it 5 lb ingets and thought as long as i did not freez the nozel i was doing good. i found out my lead was having a 125 de. variation. i now have a magma botom pour 90 lb pot. i do not get it any closer than 1in. from the top, and add at about 2-3 in. from the top. it does not change any more than 10 de. i did buy mine 6 mo before there price went up. thanks to all

[WineMan]

I use the McMaster-Carr #39095K54 which is a K type and has a SS probe, flat mini connector and a fiberglass sheathed cable good to 900 degrees F. The probe is good to read 32-1600 degrees F. At 12" plus the cable it does need a wire/clip to keep it in place, but it works great. It should be less than $30.

Wineman

[eli]

TEXASFLYBOY, where did you find your probe and how much does it run?

Cheers

[Texasflyboy]

TEXASFLYBOY, where did you find your probe and how much does it run?

Auber Instruments. For the Stainless Steel Armored "K" type.

Click the link


Model: WRNK-171

Link to K Thermocouple

[montana_charlie]

Auber Instruments. For the Stainless Steel Armored "K" type.

Click the link


Auber Instruments

This link takes you to a 'high temperature' probe (2000 F vs. 750 F).
http://auberins.com/index.php?main_p...products_id=22
CM

[Texasflyboy]

This link takes you to a 'high temperature' probe (2000 F vs. 750 F).
http://auberins.com/index.php?main_p...products_id=22
CM

I edited the link but the model number is Model: WRNK-171. This is the K thermocouple with Stainless Steel sheath.

Auber is not the only vendor, you can also find numerous vendors on eBay from time to time.

The difference between these K's and all the others is that the probe is encased in a stainless steel sheath which is impervious to the lead bath and easy to clean.

[alamogunr]

I edited the link but the model number is Model: WRNK-171. This is the K thermocouple with Stainless Steel sheath.

Auber is not the only vendor, you can also find numerous vendors on eBay from time to time.

The difference between these K's and all the others is that the probe is encased in a stainless steel sheath which is impervious to the lead bath and easy to clean.

I missed this thread when it first appeared but noticed it yesterday. I just acquired a digital meter that included a temperature probe that looks to be almost useless in that the probe is just a inch long wire sticking out of the insulation with a blob on the end less than 1/16" dia.

The plug that attaches to the meter looks similar to those pictured. Will one of those work with my meter and is there a disadvantage to getting the higher temp probe?

John
W.TN

[Texasflyboy]

...inch long wire sticking out of the insulation with a blob on the end less than 1/16" dia.

That is what is in the Stainless armored styles. The reason I like the stainless steel armored type probes is that its simply a standard K thermocouple inserted into a stainless steel tube. This extends the life of the probe and protects it without affecting the temperature readings. Win win.

The plug that attaches to the meter looks similar to those pictured. Will one of those work with my meter and is there a disadvantage to getting the higher temp probe?

Almost all plugs can be changed out as long as you can take apart the connector plug end and swap out the leads as pictured above. One end of the lead is negative, the other is positive. The connectors on the Harbor Freight model are sized differently, as pictured. My replacement probe came with instructions that indicated which lead was negative and which was positive.

There is no disadvantage to using wider temp range probe. As long as you swap out a K probe for a K you should be OK.

[montana_charlie]

The plug that attaches to the meter looks similar to those pictured.

The color of the connector indicates the type of probe (if it hasn't been fiddled with). The K-type probes use the yellow connectors...because the metal parts in those are compatible with the metal in the K-type wires.

There are two sizes. One is larger, and has round pins. The smaller one has flat pins.
You can use either size with the K-type probe, but be sure it has pins which correspond to your meter.
CM

[JeffinNZ]

Team.

Finally got around to doing my first run of casting since we moved house. Have been using the digital thermometer and it works GREAT.

Invaluable especially since I had to put a new, non Lyman element in my 20lb Mag furnace. It runs WAY hotter than it used to for the same dial setting.

Real happy.

[Just Duke]

Hmmmm....

[boogerloo]

So would it be a good deal to get the Harbor Freight Thermometer and purchase the Auber Instruments probe to it? Is it hard to figure out how to attach it? Is there a Thermometer that already has a good probe attached for a reasonable price?
Kevin

[Just Duke]

That's what I was thinking

[Texasflyboy]

Guys,

Modding the Harbor Freight Thermometer is fairly easy. If anyone has problems doing the conversion I will convert it for free if you contact me and send me the parts.

I can post an online tutorial on how to convert the Harbor Freight digital thermometer, or answer questions via email or phone call.

Just PM me if you need help.