Hey all, just curious on what everyone uses to monitor their temps. I’ve got a stove top gauge but noticed when not in use it still reads a little over 100F, so got me questioning its accuracy.
If it's one of these, consider it more of a "rough guide" than a precise thermometer. Mine was off by about 150 degrees when the stove was up to temp (compared it to my IR gun). I just held the shaft at the back and just forced the needle to move on the shaft to where the actual temperature was. Of course, as soon as you take it off the stove, it starts to drop quickly. A few more tweaks and I had it where I wanted it. It's accurate to within 100 degree all the time within the full sweep of the needle. It's bang on at 550F. As long as my needle is close to that when I'm burning, I know I'm up to temp. I've had that needle wound right around to the D in the word INDICATOR. By rights, the top of the stove should have been glowing, but it wasn't. Again...treat them as a rough guide, because a precise measuring instrument they ain't. I can get a better idea of what the stove is doing by listening to the intensity of the creaking and groaning of the pail of water I have sitting on top of the stove at all times, than I get from these "thermometers"
I have a Condar stovetop magnetic and a Condar probe in the pipe. Both close enough for burning wood.
I use a Bacharach Tempoint probe as well as a Thermoworks Smoke wireless BBQ thermometer system to be able to wirelessly monitor my flue and plenum temps. BACHARACH Thermometer,Tempoint - 6T162|12-7014 - Grainger Smoke 2-Channel Alarm Thermometer | ThermoWorks
I still have my condar magnet mount , stove and pipe thermometers and these In Pipe probe and magnet mount stove top probe https://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/bookmarks/6604/view High Temperature Alarm?
We have 2 condar magnetic thermometers that are 11 years old now. Still no problem with them and are really accurate. We bought these through Woodstock Soapstone Co so they have their names on them. We also have one of these: We do check the magnetic thermometers from time to time using one of these and so far, so good.
Wood... On that page you will find both the magnetic gauges and their cat probes amongst other things.
It might come down to the brand but magnetic ones can be wonky. If you have one that is consistent, and can coincide what it's telling you with what you're seeing in how your stove is burning and how clean it's working, that is good. Just keep in mind that it's a lot hotter inside the pipe than it is saying. I have a magnetic right beside an accurate probe and the magnetic reads 100c less than the probe when burning.
I have an infrared gun, and a magnetic one. The magnetic is mostly just to gage how the fire is going
Magnetic drolet brand stove top and an IR gun. I trust the IR gun, the magnetic one tends to be a bit inaccurate at low and high temperature
I have an Imperial magnetic somewhat like in post #2, an SBI flue probe thermometer, and if I'm really curious, I use the infrared gun. The magnetic on the side is fairly accurate until 500 F or so, then it reads higher than it really is. The probe is off by a bit as well, showing 100 when cold.
