Condar Inferno vs. PTC 314F

[lumbering on]

About to by a thermometer.

Condar inferno $20 plus $5 shipping.

PTC 314F $38 plus $12 dollars shipping.

I read the condar is pretty good, but PTC is higher quality. I don't want to have to replace the condar after a season or two whenI could have bought higher quality to start.

I've seen both recommended on the site. Is the PTC worth the extra money?

 

[pen]

Hmm, the PTC that goes up to 750 that I've seen runs in the 45-50 dollar range. Got a link to the one for 38? (edit: think I found it. Were you shopping here? (broken link removed to http://www.ktagage.com/Product_Surface_Temperature_Thermometers.asp)) If you were looking at the one that reads up to 500, that isn't enough for a stove top. Depending on what happens / how that thing is built, if you even take the 750 over 750 by accident, you could ruin an expensive thermometer quickly.

After 2 seasons on 2 condars, I don't see either showing any signs of fatigue and it's been up to 850 for the one on the stove top a number of times.

pen

 

[Todd 2]

Hmm, the PTC that goes up to 750 that I've seen runs in the 45-50 dollar range. Got a link to the one for 38? (edit: think I found it. Were you shopping here? (broken link removed to http://www.ktagage.com/Product_Surface_Temperature_Thermometers.asp)) If you were looking at the one that reads up to 500, that isn't enough for a stove top. Depending on what happens if you even take the 750 over 750 by accident, you could ruin an expensive thermometer quickly.

After 2 seasons on 2 condars, I don't see either showing any signs of fatigue and it's been up to 850 for the one on the stove top a number of times.

pen

+1 on the condar, I had mine on the steel stove prior to the stone one they have seen 700-800 deg more than once in the past (on the steel stove top that is) 5th year and still works like new, magnet and temp. I IR gun them now and then to be sure. Money well spent in my book.

Todd2

 

[webby3650]

My Condar survived when my Leyden went Nuclear. It reads 900+, and it was pegged! If it can survive that, then it's a good one.

 

[pen]

I'm not sure what Woodstock charges for shipping to your location (ouch it's 13.75 for mine making the thermometer be about 25 bux), but this is a Condar thermometer with a scale that woodstock soapstone asked to have put on it for their stoves.

http://store.woodstove.com/product.php?productid=16283&cat=298&page=1

It's 12 bux from them and is the one that I run. Only visual difference is the Condar inferno has a "redline" marking of 650, where this one branded for woodstock has a redline of 675

Here is a pic posted by member Charly. Hope he sees this and chimes in.

This shows the woodstock branded condar thermometer that I mentioned next to what looks like a PTC

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-1-been-this-cold-before.101982/#post-1314036

pen

 

[Todd 2]

My Woodstock Condar cost $2950

came with the stove of corse, lol

 

[lumbering on]

Here's the link for the PTC, the manufacturer's site, I believe.

(broken link removed to http://www.ptc1.com/thermometers_surface_dm.htm)

 

[DianeB]

I have 2 Condars - place them both on top of stove on either side per the Castine recommendation. Often they read differently, but I can see why based on flames greater on one sider vs. the other. I usually will open the stove up, poke it around a bit to get more flame on the lower reading side so I get closer to an equal reading.

 

[webby3650]

I have 2 Condars - place them both on top of stove on either side per the Castine recommendation. Often they read differently, but I can see why based on flames greater on one sider vs. the other. I usually will open the stove up, poke it around a bit to get more flame on the lower reading side so I get closer to an equal reading.

That interesting that they read differently, do they even after the stove has been running for a while?
I'm also pretty sure Jotul wasn't meaning for the customer to actually use 2 thermometers. In the manual, they are just simply showing that the thermometer can go either side of the stove.
But it never hurts to be cautious!

 

[DianeB]

That interesting that they read differently, do they even after the stove has been running for a while?
I'm also pretty sure Jotul wasn't meaning for the customer to actually use 2 thermometers. In the manual, they are just simply showing that the thermometer can go either side of the stove.
But it never hurts to be cautious!

I bought 2 to check to see of any air leaks on one side vs. the other, not really a Jotul recommendation.

 

[pen]

Use an IR thermometer, and move that sucker across the stove top and you'll see there are variations all over, all of the time.

pen

 

[webby3650]

Use an IR thermometer, and move that sucker across the stove top and you'll see there are variations all over, all of the time.

pen

With the IR I see pretty big differences but the magnetic isn't as responsive, kinda hard too tell much of a difference.

 

[webby3650]

I bought 2 to check to see of any air leaks on one side vs. the other, not really a Jotul recommendation.

Oh I see.
It had come before at some point, the manual for the Oslo shows a thermometer in each of the corners. One person thought that Jotul wanted you to do this, they didn't realize that it was simply a demonstration.

 

[firefighterjake]

Happy with my Condars.

 

[Machria]

Charly doesn't like the quality of the PTC themo's

(there ya go, that aught to stir him up to post here!)






.
Just kidding of course, he said they are the same or better quality than some of the others....


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[begreen]

I'll take an accurate reading, glass covered thermometer with a simple black on white dial any day. A good one will last a long time. This one is 34 yrs old and still doing the job.