If you're thinking about adding a thermocouple (or two) to your wood stove, there are several decent units to consider. I ordered both the Condar Digital Catalytic Thermometer and the AGPtek Dual Channel Digital Thermometer.
Here are both units side by side
The AGPtek system is MUCH cheaper and features two thermocouple channels (CAT temp plus stove top temp for example).
Here it is on Amazon:
The two "test" thermocouples that ship with this unit will not work for a wood stove, because they're good for only up to 250C (482F). But there are many alternate K-type thermocouples available for cheap. Here's the one I ordered for use in my VC Encore.
UXcell 1250C thermocouple
This probe is great. Well built (much better than the Condar probe) but it does have a metric tapered thread boss. I'm going to make a threaded mount plate for it to securely mate it to my stove.
Both systems run on a 9v battery and use similar K-Type thermocouples. But that's where the similarities stop. So, here's a list of the differences:
Cost
Condar $119.00 plus shipping; probe is included
AGPtek $17.97 which includes two probes only rated for 250C (482F) Free shipping from Amazon!
UXCell thermocouple (shown above) $11.39 rated for up to 1250C (2282F) for catalytic temp reading
Additional probes are available
Display Unit
Condar: Single display reads out in 50F increments. Red illuminated digits.
AGPtek: Single display with two channels reads out in 0.1F increments. LCD cannot be read in low light (no backlight)
Features
Condar: Heat range 450 - 2000F +/- 50F increments / Auto shutoff / Optional wall power adapter available ($16.95) / Fold out stand on back of unit
AGPtek: Heat range -58 - 2372F +/- .1F increments / Two channels / Min-Max-Avg temp memory / Temp hold function / Low battery indicator / auto shutoff approx 15 min / included rubber case (removable) / fold out stand / Can display degrees C, K or F. / user calibration capability
Strengths & Weaknesses (subjective analysis)
CONDAR - I thought the Condar display unit was nicer looking. Its smaller and I like the illuminated digits more. I also like how the thermocouple plugs into the side of the unit, rather than into the front. . As for weaknesses, the biggest problem with the Condar thermometer system is COST - its expensive at $119 bucks plus shipping. The Condar unit unfortunately comes with a very cheap thermocouple. It has no thread boss and actually has a crimped end. It also displays temperature in 50F increments, and although I really don't need .1F increments, 50F is a bit coarse in my opinion even for a CAT probe.
AGPTEK - The biggest downside to the AGPtek unit is that the thermocouple leads plug into the front of the box. I just think, for a sort of permanent accessory to a wood stove, it would be nicer to have the leads plug into the side of the unit. But I get it- the AGPtek unit is being promoted as a low cost scientific instrument, not a stove accessory. Also, every time you turn on this unit, it comes up in degrees C not F - so you have to switch it over to F every time. Although this unit does have two channels, you will have to adapt the additional high temp probe to use it with the AGPtek unit. This requires taking one of the two little plastic thermocouple plug ends apart and using it with the UXCell probe. You'll have to cut and strip the wires from the UXCell probe and fit those wires into one of the AGPtek yellow plastic plug bodies. Those plug bodies are cheaply made and can be broken easily. Be careful of polarity!
Things I like about the AGPtek unit: Of course the PRICE!! Eighteen bucks with free shipping - can't beat that. The dual channels are nice too - even though it will only display one channel at a time its nice to be able to instrument two heat sources (I have another probe on order that will read my stove body temp) I like the accuracy of this unit: both test probes and both channels read spot-on with other calibrated heat sources. I do like having single degree sensitivity. Makes it really easy to see when the CAT lights off. Finally, I like the fact that you can use any k-type thermocouple you want with this unit. Can't do that easily with the Condar unit. Although the little plastic plugs are cheap, they can be taken apart and adapted to other thermocouples. Since the plugs are standardized for the AGPtek unit, I think the cold junction compensation should remain accurate for different probes.
VERDICT: The Condar unit is back on a UPS truck for return. I've been using the AGPtek unit for 2 days now and its perfect.
Here are both units side by side
The AGPtek system is MUCH cheaper and features two thermocouple channels (CAT temp plus stove top temp for example).
Here it is on Amazon:
The two "test" thermocouples that ship with this unit will not work for a wood stove, because they're good for only up to 250C (482F). But there are many alternate K-type thermocouples available for cheap. Here's the one I ordered for use in my VC Encore.
UXcell 1250C thermocouple
This probe is great. Well built (much better than the Condar probe) but it does have a metric tapered thread boss. I'm going to make a threaded mount plate for it to securely mate it to my stove.
Both systems run on a 9v battery and use similar K-Type thermocouples. But that's where the similarities stop. So, here's a list of the differences:
Cost
Condar $119.00 plus shipping; probe is included
AGPtek $17.97 which includes two probes only rated for 250C (482F) Free shipping from Amazon!
UXCell thermocouple (shown above) $11.39 rated for up to 1250C (2282F) for catalytic temp reading
Additional probes are available
Display Unit
Condar: Single display reads out in 50F increments. Red illuminated digits.
AGPtek: Single display with two channels reads out in 0.1F increments. LCD cannot be read in low light (no backlight)
Features
Condar: Heat range 450 - 2000F +/- 50F increments / Auto shutoff / Optional wall power adapter available ($16.95) / Fold out stand on back of unit
AGPtek: Heat range -58 - 2372F +/- .1F increments / Two channels / Min-Max-Avg temp memory / Temp hold function / Low battery indicator / auto shutoff approx 15 min / included rubber case (removable) / fold out stand / Can display degrees C, K or F. / user calibration capability
Strengths & Weaknesses (subjective analysis)
CONDAR - I thought the Condar display unit was nicer looking. Its smaller and I like the illuminated digits more. I also like how the thermocouple plugs into the side of the unit, rather than into the front. . As for weaknesses, the biggest problem with the Condar thermometer system is COST - its expensive at $119 bucks plus shipping. The Condar unit unfortunately comes with a very cheap thermocouple. It has no thread boss and actually has a crimped end. It also displays temperature in 50F increments, and although I really don't need .1F increments, 50F is a bit coarse in my opinion even for a CAT probe.
AGPTEK - The biggest downside to the AGPtek unit is that the thermocouple leads plug into the front of the box. I just think, for a sort of permanent accessory to a wood stove, it would be nicer to have the leads plug into the side of the unit. But I get it- the AGPtek unit is being promoted as a low cost scientific instrument, not a stove accessory. Also, every time you turn on this unit, it comes up in degrees C not F - so you have to switch it over to F every time. Although this unit does have two channels, you will have to adapt the additional high temp probe to use it with the AGPtek unit. This requires taking one of the two little plastic thermocouple plug ends apart and using it with the UXCell probe. You'll have to cut and strip the wires from the UXCell probe and fit those wires into one of the AGPtek yellow plastic plug bodies. Those plug bodies are cheaply made and can be broken easily. Be careful of polarity!
Things I like about the AGPtek unit: Of course the PRICE!! Eighteen bucks with free shipping - can't beat that. The dual channels are nice too - even though it will only display one channel at a time its nice to be able to instrument two heat sources (I have another probe on order that will read my stove body temp) I like the accuracy of this unit: both test probes and both channels read spot-on with other calibrated heat sources. I do like having single degree sensitivity. Makes it really easy to see when the CAT lights off. Finally, I like the fact that you can use any k-type thermocouple you want with this unit. Can't do that easily with the Condar unit. Although the little plastic plugs are cheap, they can be taken apart and adapted to other thermocouples. Since the plugs are standardized for the AGPtek unit, I think the cold junction compensation should remain accurate for different probes.
VERDICT: The Condar unit is back on a UPS truck for return. I've been using the AGPtek unit for 2 days now and its perfect.
