Folks. I want to replace my BK numberless cat probe meter with a new condar meter with numbers! http://www.condar.com/Catalytic_Thermometers.html Which exact meter choice fits the BK princess? My BK dial is 2" but due to a manufacturing error has to be upside down to fit so I might be willing to try the 1.5" dial version from condar but what about probe length? Also, can I cut the probe? So for those of you that ordered a condar replacement for the BK meter, which one did you pick? Thanks! Oh, the reason, I question the accuracy of my five year old meter that I've had to rezero a few times plus I love numbers.
Not a BK owner but I do remember while reading through the Ideal Steal posts that a few guys cut the 6" down to 4.5" with out any issues. Hope that helps!
Okay so I heard back from BK and the cat meter for the princess has a 2" dial and a 1-7/8" probe. For some reason cutting the probe is prohibited and you will ruin the meter if you do that. I went ahead and ordered the 1.75" long probe model for 30$ to my door. Yay!
The only thing I've heard is that there's a coating on the probe to keep it from corroding as fast, but I don't know how much difference that would make; Even one that hasn't been cut will still start to corrode in a couple of years.
I've got some experience with temp probes from a past employer. Yes, probes typically have an inconel sheath around them. If you cut the probe, they don't last long. Also, the inconel sheath can get damaged ( chemicals, nick's, etc) and the same imminent failure occurs then too.
I cut one to length 3 years ago. Still works and looks fine. No visible damage or corrosion. I remember reading conflicting info about cutting it (of course). I "think" Woodstock gave the final blessing on cutting it. Regardless, mine has been great.
Okay so I also got my new condar meter last night. Mine is the model 3-12 which is supposed to have a 1.750" probe and 2" dial. Well, the actual cut sheet says 1.625" probe and I can see that it is about 0.250" shorter than the BK OEM probe. I talked to BK and they say that this is fine, still accurate. For me, the condar probe is thicker than the BK probe. The hole in the stove top is oversized for the probe but a near perfect fit for the first nut which means it is held snugly in the stove. Bueno. What's not bueno is that I still have to rotate the meter upside down due to the manufacturing defect on my BK that puts the probe hole too far aft. This meter's needle is firmly set at room temp. I hope to never have to adjust it, the condar flue probe has been solid. I don't think the scale is the same. The low reading on the condar is lower than the BK meter and the active line is higher so perhaps the scale is more stretched out so I will use more of the dial. I don't know, it doesn't matter much. The meter ran nicely up to 1200 and sat there until I went to bed. I could smell the paint burning off. Boy that surface temperature meter I used to have on the stove sure scratched the paint. I love having numbers. 1200 is hot. Like melting aluminum hot. My diesel truck has an exhaust gas temperature probe and when screaming up a mountain pass towing 8000# and burning diesel like a crazy man my max exhaust gas temperature is only 1200.
That's the same one I had purchased for my Princess and also had to use it upside down, had a sore neck come March every year.
At least two-three times a year I bonk my head on the stone mantle, its a fireplace install. You'd think I'd learn since this is my 9th year burning but nope, had a big golf ball sized lump on my forehead a couple weeks ago,
It looks like it would be pretty easy to put a small radius on the convection deck fin to allow the condar to face the correct way
The fin is thin and would likely do weird things in the heat if I grind half of it out. Turns out that some bk stoves had the probe hole drilled too far aft.
