[monomer77]

Can I put the temperature reader (bulb) part and cord in water? How much water? Fill up a 20 oz. bottle? thanks

[dak0415]

NO! do not get the sensor wet, unless you want to buy a new sensor!  There are ways you can waterproof it but don't immerse it!

[monomer77]

How do I waterproof it? Is it true the temp will read closer to the beer's temp if put in water? Regards.

[dak0415]

The only real reason to put the probe in liquid is to create a buffer so the freezer will not "short cycle" (try to turn on within 2-3 minutes of when it shut off) when you open the top of the freezer.  The johnson has an Anti-Short Cycle Delay parameter (see the instructions).  Set it to 5 minutes.  Set the diff to 1(really 2).  Additionally put a small muffin fan in the freezer to circulate the air.

[brewing_in_mke]

There is a thermowell you can get for the JCI controller to mount the sensor in liquids.  Typically they would be threaded in a pipe fitting.  The part number is JCI WEL11A-601C.  I found one at a random website.  It looks like this

http://www.pexsupply.com/Johnson-Controls-WEL11A-601R-1-2-Well-2-3-8-long

[narcout]

You could use a thermowell or insulate the probe with some plastic sheeting or bubble wrap and tape it to the side of the fermentor (or serving keg).

Here are some more thermowell options: http://www.brewershardware.com/Straight-Wall-Thermowells/