Anyone have a pic of a stove top temp thermometer with......

[herdbull]

a homemade "max temp" dial/arm on it? I've tried numerous times to make something out of foil but for this or that reason it won't function the way I want it to and I'm at my wits end with it .

I thought I had bent up a dial that stuck in the middle round hole and then the actual dial would catch it but it keeps getting snagged by the coil as it expands. It would be nice to see what happens after one goes to sleep or off to work for the day.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

If the temp gauge is laying flat, place a dried pea or stone on top of it, the temp pointer will move it forward until the temp levels out and starts to decline.


Matt

 

[ailanthus]

I've been using a bent paperclip - works perfectly.

 

[ozzy73]

+1 on the paper clip. Tinfoil works well also.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

*shrug* I've been thinking about the garden this spring. Peas are one of the first things to go in.

Matt

 

[charly]

I use this gauge without the high temp indicator, maybe this is what your looking for?

 

[DexterDay]

Tel-Tru makes a very accurate and dependable unit with the option of a High temp marker.

Its pricey, but well worth it in my opinion.

 

[herdbull]

Thanks, I'm all over the paper clip idea. I think that will be the answer. I have the thermo on the sloped part of the 30 so it has to have a little tension to it. I suupose I could move the gauge but at this point it's more about winning the war, not the battle . No matter what I did with foil it was either too loose or the spring would catch it.

If I can't get that to work I'll look into the Tel-Tru. I knew someone here has been there, done that.

 

[Cross Cut Saw]

I'm going to have to try this!

The Woodstock thermometer only has a small pointer that comes up from the bottom but I think it should be able to push a paperclip.


Some like it hot!


I already have two thermometers on the top of my stove, one my 3 year old got a hold of and I didn't trust it anymore, I wasn't sure what kind of damage he did to it messing around with it.
It is nearly identical to the reading from the new one except it doesn't go down below 250 degrees or so we burn 24/7 so it rarely drops that low anyway...

 

[herdbull]

Love the paper clip idea. Mine is currently installed and working great. Thanks guys!

 

[charly]

Just for your info on price,,,,
314FL PTC Instruments Dual Magnet Mount Surface Thermometers

• Dial Diameter (Inch): 2
• Type: Dual Magnet Mount
• Division Degree Graduation: 10
• Manufacturer Part Number: 314FL
• Maximum Temperature (°F): 750.000
• Minimum Temperature (°F): 50.000
• Brand: PTC Instruments
• Enco Part Number: 990-1333

Click for More Details $46.98 ea

In Stock

 

[corey21]

Tel-Tru makes a very accurate and dependable unit with the option of a High temp marker.

Its pricey, but well worth it in my opinion.
View attachment 89254

Would that hold to the side of a stove?

 

[DexterDay]

Would that hold to the side of a stove?

Absolutely. It has dual magnets on the back. But with the extra "Marker" needle, its approaching $60 IIRC?

But may be the last one you buy. The coil underneath is shrouded and the top is covered also, so even.in front of a blower, its still pretty close to actual temp. Compared to others that have no bottom shroud and no cover.

Compare the number of coils, the bottom shroud, and the clear cover. Click to enlarge

 

[corey21]

Absolutely. It has dual magnets on the back. But with the extra "Marker" needle, its approaching $60 IIRC?

But may be the last one you buy. The coil underneath is shrouded and the top is covered also, so even.in front of a blower, its still pretty close to actual temp. Compared to others that have no bottom shroud and no cover.

Compare the number of coils, the bottom shroud, and the clear cover. Click to enlarge

View attachment 89283 View attachment 89284

Thank you for the info. Sure looks like a good thermometer i like the idea of that max temp hand on it also.

 

[herdbull]

Thanks for the pricing.... gulp.... $60 buys a lot of paperclips. Plus I have 2 stoves I'd like to keep my eye on.

 

[rideau]

I'm going to have to try this!

The Woodstock thermometer only has a small pointer that comes up from the bottom but I think it should be able to push a paperclip.
View attachment 89272

Some like it hot!


I already have two thermometers on the top of my stove, one my 3 year old got a hold of and I didn't trust it anymore, I wasn't sure what kind of damage he did to it messing around with it.
It is nearly identical to the reading from the new one except it doesn't go down below 250 degrees or so we burn 24/7 so it rarely drops that low anyway...

600! I don't even know how you did that. I've never gotten over the low 500s, and that's when I'm feeling brave a building a big fire. Must be some fire in that box to be 600?

 

[Cross Cut Saw]

600! I don't even know how you did that. I've never gotten over the low 500s, and that's when I'm feeling brave a building a big fire. Must be some fire in that box to be 600?

Lots of air.

If I want a fire that hot I don't fill it all the way either or it can get out of control too. Anything over 650 I open the bypass and close down the air, within 10 minutes it's cooling down.

I'll get that bad boy between 550 and 600 degrees for several hours in one burn just by having the air open about 25%, it's not terribly efficient that hot, it takes a lot of wood to generate that much heat!

 

[ailanthus]

Love the paper clip idea. Mine is currently installed and working great. Thanks guys!

Glad to hear it! It took me a few tries to get the clip bent correctly so it didn't catch as the needle was going back down. Gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing what max temperature the stove usually hits, especially since I usually have to leave for work with wife & kids still sleeping.

 

[rideau]

What

Lots of air.

If I want a fire that hot I don't fill it all the way either or it can get out of control too. Anything over 650 I open the bypass and close down the air, within 10 minutes it's cooling down.

I'll get that bad boy between 550 and 600 degrees for several hours in one burn just by having the air open about 25%, it's not terribly efficient that hot, it takes a lot of wood to generate that much heat!

What flue temps do you run with those temperatures on your stove top?

 

[Cross Cut Saw]

I'm not sure what the flue temps are but since taking that picture I have moved the thermometer to the cast iron, just to the left and right of the flue opening. I have two thermometers, only because I didn't fully trust my first one after my son was found to be playing with it when the stove was cold.

I have found that reading (from having a thermometer in both places) to be just slightly higher (20-30 degrees) than the reading I would get on the stove top WITHOUT the cook top installed. When speaking to the kind folks at Woodstock, we talked about placement of the thermometer and really the only reason they like the spot next to the flue opening is because your thermometer will be more sensitive to the changing temperatures so that you can more quickly engage the catalyst.

If you're a person like me who rarely drops out of the catalyst range when burning (24/7 and very warm to heat 1800 sf of poorly insulated space) the stove top is just as good. However, personally I don't trust the reading on the stove top with the cook top on. I had a cook top without the heat shield that cracked, I think the stove was actually operating at a lower temperature overall but that the cook top was getting super heated and giving me a bloated stove top reading. I just installed a new cook top yesterday that has the heat shield but I haven't bothered to take the stove top temperature since I like where the thermometers are.

A 600 degree reading is well within the higher end of the operating limits of the stove.

There are a lot of people who never get close to that, but we all live in different homes with different levels of insulation, different square footage, different ceiling heights, in different climates etc, etc, etc...

These forums can drive you nuts if you're trying to come here to determine a good operating range for your stove, based on all of the information other people have posted for the same stove. The real question is "is this stove heating my space the way I want it to?" if the answer is yes, then great!

 

[charly]

I'm not sure what the flue temps are but since taking that picture I have moved the thermometer to the cast iron, just to the left and right of the flue opening. I have two thermometers, only because I didn't fully trust my first one after my son was found to be playing with it when the stove was cold.

I have found that reading (from having a thermometer in both places) to be just slightly higher (20-30 degrees) than the reading I would get on the stove top WITHOUT the cook top installed. When speaking to the kind folks at Woodstock, we talked about placement of the thermometer and really the only reason they like the spot next to the flue opening is because your thermometer will be more sensitive to the changing temperatures so that you can more quickly engage the catalyst.

If you're a person like me who rarely drops out of the catalyst range when burning (24/7 and very warm to heat 1800 sf of poorly insulated space) the stove top is just as good. However, personally I don't trust the reading on the stove top with the cook top on. I had a cook top without the heat shield that cracked, I think the stove was actually operating at a lower temperature overall but that the cook top was getting super heated and giving me a bloated stove top reading. I just installed a new cook top yesterday that has the heat shield but I haven't bothered to take the stove top temperature since I like where the thermometers are.

A 600 degree reading is well within the higher end of the operating limits of the stove.

There are a lot of people who never get close to that, but we all live in different homes with different levels of insulation, different square footage, different ceiling heights, in different climates etc, etc, etc...

These forums can drive you nuts if you're trying to come here to determine a good operating range for your stove, based on all of the information other people have posted for the same stove. The real question is "is this stove heating my space the way I want it to?" if the answer is yes, then great!

Cross Cut,
I agree with how hot to get your stove,,, I've never had to push my Fireview and I probably could have gotten away the PH instead, but like you said as long as your stove is doing it's job why max it out,,, being the first heating season with my Firview,, the highest reading on the stove top has been 550,, usually 400-450 gets me by in this old farmhouse. You made a good point...and yes I also burn 24/7 keeping the stove temps up as well...
Charlie

 

[Kaptain]

The paperclip idea is slick. First time I've seen these Tel-Tru thermometers and they look like a high quality piece - I'll be buying one of those.

 

[charly]

The paperclip idea is slick. First time I've seen these Tel-Tru thermometers and they look like a high quality piece - I'll be buying one of those.

Just for your info on price,,,,
314FL PTC Instruments Dual Magnet Mount Surface Thermometers

• Dial Diameter (Inch): 2
• Type: Dual Magnet Mount
• Division Degree Graduation: 10
• Manufacturer Part Number: 314FL
• Maximum Temperature (°F): 750.000
• Minimum Temperature (°F): 50.000
• Brand: PTC Instruments
• Enco Part Number: 990-1333

Click for More Details$46.98 ea

Why would you pay over 60 dollars when these are $46.98,, dual magnets as well...... I have two without the high temp indicator and they work great. I think I had mine in 2 days after I ordered on line...just trying to save you some money,, hey but do what you want!

 

[Kaptain]

Just for your info on price,,,,
314FL PTC Instruments Dual Magnet Mount Surface Thermometers

• Dial Diameter (Inch): 2
• Type: Dual Magnet Mount
• Division Degree Graduation: 10
• Manufacturer Part Number: 314FL
• Maximum Temperature (°F): 750.000
• Minimum Temperature (°F): 50.000
• Brand: PTC Instruments
• Enco Part Number: 990-1333

Click for More Details$46.98 ea


Why would you pay over 60 dollars when these are $46.98,, dual magnets as well...... I have two without the high temp indicator and they work great. I think I had mine in 2 days after I ordered on line...just trying to save you some money,, hey but do what you want!

Thanks... But when you are already paying over $45 then what is another $15?. Would you say that the PTC one is built similar to the Tel-Tru? (number of coils, shroud...)

 

[charly]

Thanks... But when you are already paying over $45 then what is another $15?. Would you say that the PTC one is built similar to the Tel-Tru? (number of coils, shroud...)

These can even be ordered as certified temp gauges for critical applications,,, why would you pay extra when you can get this gauge ready to go...enough said,,, sorry I even made the suggestion..........yes it's a piece of crap, that's why I bought two!