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Thermapen vs. Thermopop

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BigWings
BigWings Posts: 172
edited July 2015 in EggHead Forum
Hi guys, I did an AB comparison between the Thermapen and Thermopop and was surprised at the performance difference.   It seemed like the thermopop was faster.

My Thermapen has always seemed to take longer than the advertised 3 seconds.  Is my Thermapen defective or is it just marketing hype.  Do you see similar performance?  Perhaps my test is flawed, but I don't think so.

https://youtu.be/BuHiCTP667c


New Brunswick, Canada

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Comments

  • YYZegger
    YYZegger Posts: 231
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    I have a TPop and am quite happy with it, but I never tried a TPen though. Nice comparison video.
    Toronto, Canada  LBGE
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  • Mantoothian
    Mantoothian Posts: 85
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    My Thermapen takes 3 seconds, MAX for a temp read out. I have never used a TP but I wouldn't trade the Thermapen for anything!
    Denver, CO
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,733
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    I've occasionally seen that the thermapen reads faster if the tip is already warm. I have a thermopop too, and would have bought only it if it had been available when I pulled the trigger on the thermapen. I can live with the pop taking 3 seconds longer to read. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • SoCalTim
    SoCalTim Posts: 2,158
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    TPop - no, the Thermapen is #1. Professional cooks all over the world use it. I could never imagine a Pitmaster who's on the Bbq circuit use it as their 'Go To' Probe. 
    I've slow smoked and eaten so much pork, I'm legally recognized as being part swine - Chatsworth Ca.
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  • BigWings
    BigWings Posts: 172
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    So it would appear that my Thermapen is a lemon?

    New Brunswick, Canada

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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
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    The pen definitely seems slower than the pop in this test.  Perhaps try again in boiling water just to see the test is the same?  FWIW I always thought the T-pen was slower in an ice bath vs boiling water.  

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    Sounds like it.  Tpen hits within several degrees in 3" normally.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • pasoegg
    pasoegg Posts: 447
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    Stick the thermapen in and get a swallow of adult refreshment and then read the temp....how fast does it really have to be.....

    "it is never too early to drink, but it may be too early to be seen drinking"

    Winston-Salem, NC

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  • BigWings
    BigWings Posts: 172
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    pasoegg said:
    Stick the thermapen in and get a swallow of adult refreshment and then read the temp....how fast does it really have to be.....
    At least as fast as it's far cheaper counterpart!  

    Totally on board with the adult beverage though.

    New Brunswick, Canada

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  • JohnnyTarheel
    JohnnyTarheel Posts: 6,543
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    Have your Thermopen checked....  Hands down the one to have
    Charlotte, NC - Large BGE 2014, Maverick ET 733, Thermopen, Nest, Platesetter, Woo2 and Extender w/Grid, Kick Ash Basket, Pizza Stone, SS Smokeware Cap, Blackstone 36"
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
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    I've used both, I like the way the pen fits in my hand better than the pop.
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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  • MeTed
    MeTed Posts: 800
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    I don`t think your ice bath was at 32 degrees. It was probably at 36 and if that is the case I think the pen worked great.
    Look in your Theramapen booklet on how to make a ice bath you may have a different result. Good luck!
    Belleville, Michigan

    Just burnin lump in Sumpter
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  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 19,187
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    My thermopen is noticeably faster than my thermopop.
    They don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. That's against their interests. - George Carlin
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  • Raymont
    Raymont Posts: 710
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    My experience: I don't have a TPop, but I don't think the thermopen is as fast going to low temps (e.g. near freezing). I would like to see same test with hot or boiling water.

    Small & Large BGE

    Nashville, TN

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  • BigWings
    BigWings Posts: 172
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    MeTed said:
    I don`t think your ice bath was at 32 degrees. It was probably at 36 and if that is the case I think the pen worked great.
    Look in your Theramapen booklet on how to make a ice bath you may have a different result. Good luck!
    Regardless of the temperature of the ice bath, the thermopop jumped into the neighbourhood quite quickly, where as the Thermapen took 8 seconds.   

    I think a proper ice bath is necessary for calibrating your thermometers so you are sure you are set on 32.

    New Brunswick, Canada

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  • BigWings
    BigWings Posts: 172
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    JohnnyTarheel said:
    Have your Thermopen checked....  Hands down the one to have
    Thanks, I just sent the video link to Thermoworks tech support.   Hope to hear back from them.

    New Brunswick, Canada

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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    You could try replacing the batteries.  There's something wrong with it. 
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • BigWings
    BigWings Posts: 172
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    nolaegghead said:
    You could try replacing the batteries.  There's something wrong with it. 
    Thanks NOLA, just wanted confirmation that I wasn't crazy!   It's been that slow since day 1 but I will change out the batteries to see.

    New Brunswick, Canada

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  • MeTed
    MeTed Posts: 800
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    @BigWings point well taken.
    Belleville, Michigan

    Just burnin lump in Sumpter
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