[BP79]

I finally want to start measuring fermentation temperature more accurately.  I currently use a swamp cooler as my fermentation chamber, measure the water temp, and tack on 5-8 degrees as my assumed internal carboy temperature for the first 4-5 days.  My blow-off valve gets a lot of use.  Has anyone here built a thermowell - blow-off valve combo?  I was thinking of just drilling a hole through the rubber stopper, putting a 12"-15" SS rod through it, and sealing the top and bottom of it with silicone.  Does that seem like it'll work?       

[kramerog]

My experience is that the bath water and the fermentation temp are within 0.5 F.  Consequently I generally only measure bath temp.

[metron-brewer]

I ferment in buckets, drilled an extra hole for a grommet and made a stainless tube for the thermo-well by pinching one end and fuse welding that end to make it water tight. If you are using carboys, they do sell blow-off/thermo-well combos.

[BP79]

I'm embarrassed at my Googling skills. It seems this will work with my Better Bottle just fine:

http://morebeer.com/products/hood-thermowell-3-5-6-65-gallon-smooth-neck-carboys-15.html

 

[Stevie]

I'm embarrassed at my Googling skills. It seems this will work with my Better Bottle just fine:

http://morebeer.com/products/hood-thermowell-3-5-6-65-gallon-smooth-neck-carboys-15.html

 

I use this sort of setup with a thermowell from brewers hardware. The end of the thermowell is plugged, welded, and polished. Looks great and is very smooth. I use a large worm clamp to tighten the hood to the fermenter.

The thinner tubing get clogged sometimes at the start of fermentation. Nothing to worry about really -- http://youtu.be/FdSORiSaRW8?t=50s

[dbarber]

I'm embarrassed at my Googling skills. It seems this will work with my Better Bottle just fine:

http://morebeer.com/products/hood-thermowell-3-5-6-65-gallon-smooth-neck-carboys-15.html

 

I use the same setup as well, although I usually only need a blowoff tube if I'm fermenting a wheat beer or belgian. 

[BP79]

Cool, so you replaced the SS rod that came with the hood and replaced it with this one?

http://www.brewershardware.com/12-Stainless-Steel-Thermowell-TWS12.html

[Stevie]

Cool, so you replaced the SS rod that came with the hood and replaced it with this one?

http://www.brewershardware.com/12-Stainless-Steel-Thermowell-TWS12.html

That is the thermowell. Not sure what length I have, I think 12". I bought the hood seperatly. I have a few. I use the for blowoff, transfers, and brining water back from the RO machine. End up costing about $10 less than the MoreBeer kit.

[dak0415]

Cool, so you replaced the SS rod that came with the hood and replaced it with this one?

http://www.brewershardware.com/12-Stainless-Steel-Thermowell-TWS12.html

That is the thermowell. Not sure what length I have, I think 12". I bought the hood seperatly. I have a few. I use the for blowoff, transfers, and brining water back from the RO machine. End up costing about $10 less than the MoreBeer kit.

+1 On all the above.
I use the Brewer's Hardware 16" thermowell.  I have 2 actually, one for 6 gallon glass and Betterbottles and one for 6.5 gallon (small cap).  The trick is to cut the small pigtail on the cap off to about 1/4", stick it in hot water to soften and spray some starsan or leak detector on the thermowell.  It will slide in the small hole quite easily then.  I also use a 000 rubber stopper to plug the thermowell open end when I clean and sanitize it.  Use 1/2" ID hose for the blowoff fits right over the larger hole on the cap.

[Stevie]

+1 On all the above.
I use the Brewer's Hardware 16" thermowell.  I have 2 actually, one for 6 gallon glass and Betterbottles and one for 6.5 gallon (small cap).  The trick is to cut the small pigtail on the cap off to about 1/4", stick it in hot water to soften and spray some starsan or leak detector on the thermowell.  It will slide in the small hole quite easily then.  I also use a 000 rubber stopper to plug the thermowell open end when I clean and sanitize it.  Use 1/2" ID hose for the blowoff fits right over the larger hole on the cap.

I will need to give that a try. I have been using the center hole for the the thermowell and disassembling after each brew.