Stovetop thermometer - where do I put it?

[Deadcalm]

Hello, all you seasoned burners.

I've just managed to get myself a couple of stove thermometers - one for the flue pipe, and one for the stove top.
This was no mean feat, as I live in the wilds of France, and had to source them in the UK (the US supplier of the thermometers that I really wanted wouldn't accept a credit card). Both gauges register temps in a range between 50 and 750 degrees.

Having got them, I've attached one to the flue using the spring that came with it, but where do I plonk the stove top one?

Initially, I put it in the middle of the lid of my Jotul F600. A short while after lighting, it went off the scale at 750, so I moved it towards the back of the stove top where it settled at around 400. The flue gauge registered about 300.

So, what I really need to know is, what exactly am I measuring, and where is the optimum place to site the thermometer to do it?

Thanks.

Chris

 

[begreen]

Jotul recommends placing it in one of the four top corners of the stove top. The average reading for good secondary burn should be between 400-600 at this location.

 

[RonB]

Found a manual on line and it showed to put the stove top thermometer in any one of the 4 top corners. Here is a link, perhaps the manual will give you max temp range.


(broken link removed to http://www.jotul.us/FileArchive/Technical) Documentation/Wood Stoves/Jøtul F 600 Firelight CB/Manual_F_600_USA_P06_100209.pdf

 

[Nonprophet]

It would seem that thermometer placement is manufacturer specific--for example my VC Encore model specifies that a thermometer should be placed in the middle of the stoptop/griddle for accurate temp readings........

NP

 

[Deadcalm]

Thanks for your replies - the sketch and the link were really useful. I suppose I should have dug out the manual...
Where I eventually located the thermometer just happened to tie in with one of the recommended placement positions!

Thanks, all

Chris