Temp Probe Placement

Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:16 am

On brutus inspired systems it looks like most folks are placing their temp probes in stainless tees attached to the kettle valves.
So doesn't the valve have to be open anytime you want to monitor temp? It seems like it would make more sense to place the T between the kettle and valve, so that you could run a longer probe all the way int the kettle, then have the valve attached to the bottom of the tee. (oriented vertically instead of horizontally).

Any thoughts?
Thanks!
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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:44 pm

In this instance, the LOVE's only job is to monitor and control the recirculation temperature. Not monitor the mash temp itself actually. That's why I have a handy dial on the pot. :)

In general, once the mash temp is reached, it will maintain... In general.

So if one wanted to ensure that the step temp, or mash-out temp, or even simply maintaining the set mash temp in a recirculation system, you want the probe as CLOSE to the heat source as possible to ensure that the return never exceeds your actual set temp. This way the mash itself has to play catch-up to your set point, but never be able to exceed the set point.
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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:35 pm

Its funny how different people work this in different ways.

I think exactly the opposite to Lonnie on this one, I want my temperature probe a close as possible to the point where the returning wort hits the mash tun wort. Which ipso facto, is as far as possible from the heat source. I want to know the temp of what is hitting my mash tun and could care less what the temp is when it exits the heat-exchanger (rims unit in my case) I have my probe attached to the outside of the copper return manifold, a few inches above the wort level in the mash tun.

For me the main reason for this is to remove the effect of ambient temperature and heat loss from hoses/lines between the heat exchanger and the tun.

Perhaps little different in a RIMS than a HERMS - and different in different types of HERMS systems too I imagine.
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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:17 pm

Actually, at least on Brutus, I don't think there is more than a one degree difference between my exit wort and return wort...

But I like to look at things in an extreme example. That helps to better understand my madness...

So you have a direct fired heat source under your mash kettle blasting away at your return wort in which you pump directly back to the top of your mash via some plumbing. Let's say as an extreme example your return plumbing back to the top of the kettle is 50' long, causing you in theory massive heat loss, causing you to have to heat your lower heat source wort to dang near boiling (or whatever) degrees above your desired mash temp just to maintain your exit temp for the top of the mash. You have to super heat the wort under the mash, (including the lower portion of the mash) well beyond your set point to accomplish this.

The reason I designed it this way is first, the friggin tee is VERY cool and used in other applications such as cooling on the kettle! And the fact that there is no utter way my lower mash can overheat my set point of the system while I worry about the top of the mash. The mash will play catch-up until the whole mash is at exactly where I want it to be...

Your system may have different reasoning, but in a direct fired mash, I think it is more important to pay attention to the lower mash. The upper part of the mash will get there just fine by itself... Cus once I reach my set point of say 152, and nothing in my system got above 152, and 152 degree wort is constantly being recirculated through the whole mash from top to bottom, and the ASCO is dead silent because I set it to 152 because the whole system reached it, then I am simply at 152. :)

Furthermore, I do not understand why my post have to go through a moderator! I was colplink, member #30 on this board in 05' and I plan to post here more often you bastages!
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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:25 pm

Probably cause you only have 3 posts under your new name! (My guess anyway)......


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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:45 pm

Whitebeard_Brewer wrote:Probably cause you only have 3 posts under your new name! (My guess anyway)......


Ah! I believe you may be correct! But in any case, it looks like this has been rectified...

Let's put this incident behind us.
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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:06 pm

"Furthermore, I do not understand why my post have to go through a moderator! I was colplink, member #30 on this board in 05' and I plan to post here more often you bastages!"

Well that is codes way of keeping this forum spam free. By making new members go through the mod for the first few posts.
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Re: Temp Probe Placement

Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:17 pm

Henning1966 wrote:"Furthermore, I do not understand why my post have to go through a moderator! I was colplink, member #30 on this board in 05' and I plan to post here more often you bastages!"

Well that is codes way of keeping this forum spam free. By making new members go through the mod for the first few posts.


Um dude, Code knows me. We will be having a talk! :)
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