My Dome Thermometers and Reading Checks

dbCooper

What I was checking, left to right as clipped to the pan:

- tel-tru 700' long stem

- smokeware 700' short stem

- tel-tru 1000' long stem

- tel-tru 700' short stem

- LBGE 700' short stem, circa 2010

* Good ol' Polder for reference point.

I'm at about 1100' above sea level, Polder showed boiling water at 211'.

Both 700' tel-tru and BGE read about 210.  1000' tel-tru was about 220.  Smokeware was about 190', that concerns me as it's my everyday user.  I can read it from back porch, not so the others.

I think my Smokeware is non-adjustable but need to verify and correct if possible.

Anyone know if black face Smokeware can be adjusted?  Also, anyone have custom jigs for testing multiple thermometers?  My method seems cumbersome.

lousubcap

All I will offer is good on you for the cal check.  No input on the Smokeware but your thread info mirrors my experiences with the tel-tru thermos.  Rock stable and I check them around every 4-6 weeks, usually before any L&S cook.  
No jig or rig but I'm only checking six including the two digitals- one thermopen and one javelin.  
Gotta trust and believe your indications!

smbishop

I have two Smokeware, non-adjustable thermometers, they are consistently off.  My old Tel-Tru are still spot on.  I use slotted spatulas and a pot for my tests... 

JohnnyTarheel

Yeah the blackface is not adjustable... did not realize it when I ordered. I just know how much to fudge with it.... in my opinion all should be adjustable...

SemolinaPilchard

I drilled some holes in a paint stirrer stick and lay it across the top of the pot. 

dbCooper

Thanks all for the responses, much appreciated.

I will give the paint stirrer a try next time.  Spatula will be back up plan.

Thanks again!

blind99

@lousubcap cap, i haven't checked my thermometer in 4-6 years!  can i send it to you?

caliking

Honestly, don’t worry about it. 

If it does bother you that the smokeware thermo is off by 12 deg, contact them and they’ll make it right. 

Griffin

I had a black faced smokeware. It was non-adjustable. When I got it, it was spot on, 6 months later it was 25 off and into the trash it went when I realized it was non-adjustable.

speed51133

was that distilled water?? were the probes touching the pot bottom?

fishlessman

my old 2.5 inch stems read 13 percent lower than my 5 inch stemmed ones, its the way the sensor is too close to the dome. make it easy on your self and use 15 percent as a guide for low temp cooks below 250, it doesnt seem to matter much at higher temps

dbCooper

speed51133 said:

was that distilled water?? were the probes touching the pot bottom?

Tap water, with a "high" mineral content.  The relevancy of that in my test is likely dubious.

The stems were not touching the bottom of the pot.  Also, I made sure the minimum insertion mark on the stems were below the water line.

kl8ton

I had a non adjustable smokeware thermo.  It was reading 110F in boiling water.  I sent a pic to smokeware and they sent a new adjustable thermo to me.

speed51133

is the BGE OEM thermometer adjustable?

dbCooper

@speed51133, my original BGE thermo is adjustable.  It is about 10 years old and has always read accurately, so I've never put a wrench to it.

Update: I contacted Smokeware, they are treating me more than fairly.  I'll make a separate post about that as it's a somewhat different topic and I feel they deserve a shout-out.

cookingdude555

Black Smokewares are non adjustable?  Crap, just replaced my back yard eggs with them.  I was going for a consistent look, didnt realize I was downgrading.  

dbCooper

@cookingdude555: My understanding is "old" black ones (and probably white too) are non-adjustable.  From talking with customer service this morning I think if they say "Made In The USA" at bottom you can adjust.  You may want to contact them to be certain of yours.  I have a replacement "Black" on the way that is adjustable.

littlerascal56

I only trust Tel-tru, as it stays calibrated.  I don’t calibrate with boiling water, as most of my cooks (without Flameboss) are 325-400, or higher. I use either of these meters, and put lead thru hole in dome.  Then get egg to 350, pull probe and put in thermometer.  Adjust to read 350.  Double check, and done.

lkapigian

My dome thermometer, I don't fret to much about it.........

brentm

littlerascal56 said:

I only trust Tel-tru, as it stays calibrated.  I don’t calibrate with boiling water, as most of my cooks (without Flameboss) are 325-400, or higher. I use either of these meters, and put lead thru hole in dome.  Then get egg to 350, pull probe and put in thermometer.  Adjust to read 350.  Double check, and done.

It's interesting that the Fluke is that far off from your older meter.  Is that older unit the one to have?  Or is yours just well-calibrated???  

littlerascal56

@brentm...I took the pictures about 30 minutes apart, and it had warmed up quite a bit.  Both instruments are within 1-2 degrees of each other.

cookingdude555

dbCooper said:

@cookingdude555: My understanding is "old" black ones (and probably white too) are non-adjustable.  From talking with customer service this morning I think if they say "Made In The USA" at bottom you can adjust.  You may want to contact them to be certain of yours.  I have a replacement "Black" on the way that is adjustable.

Thats good news, thanks.  Excited to get home from work to pull one out to check it.