[majorvices]

...you open a brewery (FTW) 

But then you're not a homebrewer, serious or otherwise

I still homebrew. I just have a wet area and a cold room.

[punatic]

I was more thinking kettle on hot rocks..... Guess that's not practical....kettle may melt....

shoes may melt!

I have melted many pairs of hiking boots on hot lava.  They last about 3 months.  More than once I have left smoking bootprints across newly emplaced lava.  That's what the IR thermometer is for.  Been trying to calculate the ROI on my thermometer vs buying new boots...

Guess I ought to figure out how to post some of my lava photographs here...

[punatic]

Here is the thermometer that I use.  

I use them for brewing, and absolutely depend on them for another hobby where monitoring temperatures is very inportant.  I have three of them and have been using them for over two years now. Their performance is flawless.  Haven't even had to change batteries.

Accurate and precise, with a 0.1° F resolution.  I've checked them side by side with lab grade mercury thermometers and they are dead nuts.

Can be switched to centigade readout.  Has high and low memory and a programable temperature alarm.

An excellent value.  

[tygo]

How do those do if the probe is submerged?  I've been thinking about picking up something like that to monitor mash temperature without opening the tun but most of the food thermometers like that don't do well (at least they say they don't) with being under water.

[euge]

My experience is the probe cannot be submerged past where the wire begins. Otherwise the liquid gets inside and then kaput.

[tschmidlin]

Here is the thermometer that I use. 

Is that the exact model you use?  The price seemed high to me, especially for ebay.  They are $15.48 on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Tru-Temp-Digital-Thermometer-3518/dp/B000VK98UM

I have one of these in the kitchen, should be the same accuracy right?
http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-1470-Digital-Cooking-Thermometer/dp/B00004XSC5/

I think I'll order one for the garage, keep my wife happy.

[punatic]

I have had no problems with water or any other harsh environments damaging the probes or the cables on my thermometers. - submerged in boiling water, submerged in mashing grains, frozen into a block of ice, used to monitor the temp in a 350 degree oven...

I use that exact model, bought in July of 2008.  It was recommended to me by a fellow member of a forum for that other hobby.  Several of us on that forum use that model of thermometer and are very happy with them.  The forum member who recommended it lives in Canada and left his thermometer out in his unheated shed all winter where it was exposed to subzero (F) temps for several months with no ill effects.

Price-wise they are 1/3 the cost of a Thermapen and seem to be of comparible value.  I have no experience with the models you linked to above Tom, but I am guessing that they are probably not as robust as the Taylor model I am recommending.

[tschmidlin]

The 3518 model I linked to on amazon is the same model as the one for sale on ebay.  It doesn't appear to match the picture shown on ebay, but the text there states it is a 3518 that is for sale.  Can you verify the model number of the one you recommend?  I can't find anything that matches the ebay picture on the Taylor website.

http://www.taylorusa.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=digital+Thermometer&limit=all

[bluesman]

...you utter profanities at the mention of the word BMC. 

[glastctbrew]

Amazon does have that exact model for a comparable price to ebay.  You can get it on e-bay for 15.98 with free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Tru-Temp-Digital-Thermometer-3518/dp/B000VK98UM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1297444260&sr=1-1

http://compare.ebay.com/like/380226206544?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&rvr_id=209381594656&crlp=1_263602_304662&UA=%3F

I'm of the same mindset as Tygo, would love to monitor mash temps without having to lift the cooler lid.  $16 isn't a lot to spend for that luxury

[tschmidlin]

I'm not surprised ebay has a good price, I thought it was strange the other link was so high.  I think I can get it at the store for $30 today.  I'll save the $.50 though, and order from amazon, plus returns are no problem with amazon as opposed to a 7 day limit (or no returns allowed like the first ebay link).

But my question is, is the one punatic recommends based on the picture or the model number?  Has Taylor changed the way the 3518 looks, or is the picture from the first ebay listing wrong?

[dano14041]

I think there are two versions with the same model number. I found the following links

3518 TruTemp
http://www.partshelf.com/taylor3518.html

3518N TruTemp
http://www.partshelf.com/taylor-3518n.html

[tschmidlin]

I think there are two versions with the same model number. I found the following links

3518 TruTemp
http://www.partshelf.com/taylor3518.html

3518N TruTemp
http://www.partshelf.com/taylor-3518n.html

Ahhhhh, that explains it.  From the specs it looks like they have different probes.  Thanks dano.

[dano14041]

No problem! The tax returns on my desk are boring today. 

[tschmidlin]

No problem! The tax returns on my desk are boring today. 

Just today?