Stove pipe thermometer

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54d18

Member
Mar 17, 2014
5
Northern Ontario, Canada
I have double wall pipe from the stove to the Selkirk at the ceiling, I understand that a magnetic thermometer would not be accurate, but what if I put a self tapping screw through the hole in the center so the heat could radiate out to give a more accurate reading?

Thanks for any comments...

T
 
Sooo? Your going make a screw hole?

Why not just install a probe style temp gauge?
 
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The thermometer has about a 1/4" hole in the center of the magnet already, I just figured that since a probe type requires a hole anyway, I could get a better measurement with a screw into the pipe, and not have to purchase a new thermometer.
 
You need a probe type that extends into the flue area. A surface thermometer reads about half the actual flue gas temperature on single wall pipe. Far lower on double wall. Trying to add a little heat from a screw extending into flue is a guess, compared to the probe giving actual flue gas temp. A good one will have a bushing you insert in the outer pipe to prevent false reading from contact with outer pipe wall. Far more accurate than a surface thermometer on single wall pipe guessing the internal temp as well.

[Hearth.com] Stove pipe thermometer
 
Spring for the probe thermometer. That is going to be what you "drive" your stove with - it's got to be an accurate temperature so that you can start to close the stove down at the right time to run it in the sweet spot - not too hot, not too cold.
 
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You need a probe type that extends into the flue area. A surface thermometer reads about half the actual flue gas temperature on single wall pipe. Far lower on double wall. Trying to add a little heat from a screw extending into flue is a guess, compared to the probe giving actual flue gas temp. A good one will have a bushing you insert in the outer pipe to prevent false reading from contact with outer pipe wall. Far more accurate than a surface thermometer on single wall pipe guessing the internal temp as well.

View attachment 240562
Would this probe type be a better choice?
Are probe thermometers with coils to the outside slow to react, inaccurate and unable to calibrate?
I do have the attached probe which is accurate and adjustable. I don't have one with an external coil, but am going by tests and conclusions here on hearth.
 

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Better for single wall so the pipe doesn't radiate heat affecting the bimetallic spring.
Without the magnet found on stove pipe thermometers, I would drill the hole angled downward slightly to avoid accidental calibration falling 4 or 5 feet to the ground.