Remote thermometer for my OWF

[runningmike]

I'm trying to rig a remote, preferably wireless, thermometer for monitoring the water jacket temp on my Woodmaster 4400 without haven't to go out into the yard. Others (this forum) have suggested remote BBQ thermomters and so I went ahead and got a recommended Oregon AWA-131. Nice little unit, seems temp accurate, good range (verified up to at least 300'). The problem though is getting the temp probe properly situated, if that's possible. When I drop it into the water vent either it sits too close to the interior wall of the water jacket and the temp reads high or drifts around elsewhere and doesn't read what the controller unit is reading. I tried solving the first by rigging a perforated PVC jacket around the probe to keep the jacket wall at a distance, but that didn't help with the latter problem.
Thoughts?
Perhaps there's an aftermarket mod out there???
Thanks!
Mike

 

[rowerwet]

I got a maverick to do the same thing, it worked in the water for one day and then started reading up in the 300* range, it turned out the probe is easily set off by water, I also had problems with the remote loosing contact with the sender (possibly loosing battery strength in the cold). I brought the sender into the house and taped the probe onto a copper pipe downstream from my HX, I like this better as I can watch the cycles as well as the boiler temp. I set the meat done temp 15-20* below the normal low in a cycle to warn when I had a fire out. (using pellets, wood would set it off every day) Doing this I see the temp within 5* of the OWB temp which I found to be close enough after my initial "gota check every 5 min." beginer phase wore off. It was cool to sit at the computer on cold nights and read the hearth while watching the remote temp follow the cycles. I also never lost signal with the sender in my basement.

 

[woodpelletman]

I like the Ranco

http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/store/ranco-etc111000000-digital-temperature-controller-p-86.html

or I can sell you one.

Use a well to insert the end into ... don't just put it in the water.

Hope this helps

Dale

 

[kjconnor]

There's a guy in Connecticut who sells the woodmaster line. I believe he has what your looking for. Just google woodmaster in Connecticut.

 

[flyingcow]

anyway to hook right into your wire that runs the display? Maybe manufacturer or owners manual would have info.