Print

[MiHawkeye]

What type of temperature probes/monitors are you guys using to monitor your in/out going water heat?  I have an IR temp gun, one of the cheap Harbor Frieght ones, and it seems way too inaccurate.  I have found some on ebay, but don't know if they will be ok for this or not.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Scott7m]

Forget about them and buy actual gauges

[MiHawkeye]

Any ones you would recommend?  Seems there are hundreds of them out there.

[slimjim]

I personally use PASCO guages, they are available at any plubing supply house.

[CountryBoyJohn]

I just asked this same question-ish in the plumbing room.  I need a cheaper alternative to this:

http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-24441-SharkBite-Temperature-Gauge-with-1-Tee-Lead-Free

[muffin]

Not sure what you are looking for, in coolness, but I use a dual probe meat thermometer (wireless).  Then you get in and out temps with alarms, anywhere in the house.

[f150bft]

Muffin, tell me how you are using this meat thermometer? How are you attaching the probes and where?

[Homerglide]

What type of temperature probes/monitors are you guys using to monitor your in/out going water heat?  I have an IR temp gun, one of the cheap Harbor Frieght ones, and it seems way too inaccurate.  I have found some on ebay, but don't know if they will be ok for this or not.  Any help would be appreciated.

Infrared Temp Guns can be your friend

I have two infrared temperature readers (point and shoot). In the beginning they were frustrating to use, due to my ignorance. I was unaware of what they require to be accurate. These devices are finicky about the surfaces they read accurately.

1) Shiney, smooth or light colored surfaces are a no-no

There are simple fixes that will result in very close readings. Flat black paint or a strip of black friction tape will do the job. The friction tape is more accurate by a small margin.

Try either on a section of pipe. Take a shot at your new target and then a shot three inches away on bare pipe, you will see the difference. Comparing with other reading devices (strap-on bi-metal and digital thermistors) I am now comfortable with the results of the infrared devices.

[muffin]

Muffin, tell me how you are using this meat thermometer? How are you attaching the probes and where?

I just use duct tape to attach the probe to the pex pipe.  then put two wraps of pipe insulation around it.  I would say it is within 1 degree of what the furnace says.  Been working great for 2 years now.  the units are battery powered, but seem to last for a long time, maybe 6 months.

[Guru]

I have also been using a dual probe wireless meat thermometer.  It works very well and I can set the alarms to low and high temp.  I like the low temp alarm incase I forgot to load the wood boiler or flip the blower switch back on.  I used aluminum tape to secure the temp probes to the supply and return lines with insulation.

[CountryBoyJohn]

Can one of you guys post a picture of your setup?  This I gotta see!

[hondaracer2oo4]

I too am running the Redi Chek Smoker wireless thermometer. One temp prob on the water to air hx in and one on the out zip tied. I have the remote receiver on my desk so I always know the boiler temp. Have the high alarm on 200 in case I have a run away and the low I run sometimes when only my wife is home so that she knows if she has to load it . Here is a link to it http://www.casa.com/p/maverick-industries-et-73-redichek-remote-wireless-smoker-thermometer-229496?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_C&utm_term=HYV-011&utm_campaign=GoogleAW&CAWELAID=1309088324&utm_content=pla&adtype=pla&cagpspn=pla

[beeman]

another cheap way would be buy the tep from napa like the after market that you would put in your car hook it to a plug in inverter and the light would work at night to

[WoodMOJoe]

I too am running the Redi Chek Smoker wireless thermometer.

Is this the model you are using:?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044FFUMK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATMMZ66HXOJEM

Looks like both units are battery powered...what kind of battery life are you seeing? Is the 100 foot range claim accurate you think?

[Wood Nutt]

I have several of these thermometers on my system and they seem to work well.  You can buy the brass dry well piece separately and move the thermometer to other locations too, but if you buy the thermometer, it comes with the brass drywell adapter.  it just threads into a tee or other 1/2-inch NPT opening.  http://www.outdoorfurnacesupply.com/gauges/bi21-2bmt.html

I also installed one of the Maverick smoker dual probe on each side of my house HX after reading the threads on this site.   It works really slick!  I taped the probes on the metal parts going in/out of my HX w/aluminum tape then wrapped it with pipe insulation.  It was mainly a convenience issue for me.  I can look at the receiver in my living room w/out either going outside and looking at the boiler or going downstairs.  When it is cold, I can move it to my nightstand and it reminds me I forgot or didn't load enough wood.  It also prompts the wife or kids to go throw some sticks in the stove if it goes off when I am gone.