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Date: 18 Dec 2006 06:36:24
From:
Subject: It's a Fluke
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In my never-ending quest to relieve myself of all disposable income on
making espresso, I've decided to buy a device to measure water temp at
the coffee in the portafilter. I'll probably also want to use this
while roasting. While not ready to buy a Scace, I'm going to get a
Fluke meter.
Help!
1. Which model?
2. Do I get pre-made thermocouples? If so, which part#, source. etc?
3. If I just buy wire (as some here have suggested), which wire,
diameter, etc?
Which connector for the Fluke?
How is the wire connected to the connector which is connected to the
Fluke?
Thanks
Stan
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Date: 18 Dec 2006 08:54:34
From: daveb
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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Hi, Stan
if you already have a DMM, the economical fluke 80TK will work just
fine with most DMMs.
and it COMES WITH a TC that is very usable. there are at least 2 on
the 'bay right now.
and pre-made thermocouples are VERY cheap. simpler=better
dave
190
stan.shire@gmail.com wrote:
> In my never-ending quest to relieve myself of all disposable income on
> making espresso, I've decided to buy a device to measure water temp at
> the coffee in the portafilter. I'll probably also want to use this
> while roasting. While not ready to buy a Scace, I'm going to get a
> Fluke meter.
> Help!
> 1. Which model?
> 2. Do I get pre-made thermocouples? If so, which part#, source. etc?
> 3. If I just buy wire (as some here have suggested), which wire,
> diameter, etc?
> Which connector for the Fluke?
> How is the wire connected to the connector which is connected to the
> Fluke?
> Thanks
> Stan
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Date: 18 Dec 2006 07:13:25
From: jggall01
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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stan.shire@gmail.com wrote:
> In my never-ending quest to relieve myself of all disposable income on
> making espresso, I've decided to buy a device to measure water temp at
> the coffee in the portafilter. I'll probably also want to use this
> while roasting. While not ready to buy a Scace, I'm going to get a
> Fluke meter.
> Help!
> 1. Which model?
> 2. Do I get pre-made thermocouples? If so, which part#, source. etc?
> 3. If I just buy wire (as some here have suggested), which wire,
> diameter, etc?
> Which connector for the Fluke?
> How is the wire connected to the connector which is connected to the
> Fluke?
> Thanks
> Stan
Give consideration to installing one of these instead of the
"wire-in-the-basket" system:
http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1352
Although Eric's sensor does not provide direct measurement of brew
temperature (like a Thermofilter), there is good correlation. Plus, it
is durable and can be left in place, eventually becoming part of a
real-time brew temp display system (more help with that disposable
income problem).
T/C wires over the lip, or up the spout, etc. have a pretty short life
expectancy. Plus, they mess with your puck and create some interesting
spray patterns (kitchen art?).
But if you decide to go that route anyway, 30AWG Type T wire with
teflon/teflon insulation is probably your best choice:
http://tinyurl.com/vyk3d (I'd suggest TT-T-30)
A welded bead is ideal, but you might get by with twisting and folding
the tips together for a temporary sensor. Solder works well on
T-wires, but you must be very careful to avoid using a solder that
contains any lead or other toxic stuff.
Buy some T mini-plugs, male, from Omega, too: http://tinyurl.com/y7cqh5
Can't offer advice on the Fluke models - I have Omega.
If you are not in a big hurry, I can make you up a few fine wire T
sensors to try a little later in the month (no charge).
Jim
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Date: 18 Dec 2006 09:57:43
From: Dan Bollinger
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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> In my never-ending quest to relieve myself of all disposable income on
> making espresso, I've decided to buy a device to measure water temp at
> the coffee in the portafilter. I'll probably also want to use this
> while roasting. While not ready to buy a Scace, I'm going to get a
> Fluke meter.
> Help!
> 1. Which model?
> 2. Do I get pre-made thermocouples? If so, which part#, source. etc?
> 3. If I just buy wire (as some here have suggested), which wire,
> diameter, etc?
> Which connector for the Fluke?
> How is the wire connected to the connector which is connected to the
> Fluke?
> Thanks
> Stan
There are many probes available, just buy a premade one. A small wire gauge bead
type TC can be snaked into the PF between PF and gasket. If not from Fluke,
then McMaster-Carr or Grainger.
There are only two commonly used TC connectors, a regular size round pin
(banana) and the flat pin mini. All the DVMs I've seen use the mini. Dan
PS: for the pundits, there are some specialty connectors that RCA plugs, etc.
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 00:01:50
From: The Other Funk
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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Finding the keyboard operational
stan.shire@gmail.com entered:
> In my never-ending quest to relieve myself of all disposable income on
> making espresso, I've decided to buy a device to measure water temp at
> the coffee in the portafilter. I'll probably also want to use this
> while roasting. While not ready to buy a Scace, I'm going to get a
> Fluke meter.
> Help!
> 1. Which model?
> 2. Do I get pre-made thermocouples? If so, which part#, source. etc?
> 3. If I just buy wire (as some here have suggested), which wire,
> diameter, etc?
> Which connector for the Fluke?
> How is the wire connected to the connector which is connected to the
> Fluke?
> Thanks
> Stan
As an ex Fluke employee, here is my opinion.
1. What ever you can afford / want. You might want to look at Extech.
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/extech/thermometers/thermocouple.htm
2. Get a premade TC, making up your own just isn't worth the hassle.
McMaster-Carr, Grangier, or the link above.
3. Don't just buy wire. Unless you are making up a lot of T-couples, it's
more work then it looks like.
Get a probe with the correct connector that fits your meter. There are just
too many little things that can throw a TC off. Save the time for more
coffee.
Bob
--
--
Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
www.moondoggiecoffee.com
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 06:54:52
From: I->Ian
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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On Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:01:50 GMT, "The Other Funk"
<bobbie@moondoggie.com > wrote:
>Finding the keyboard operational
> stan.shire@gmail.com entered:
>
>> In my never-ending quest to relieve myself of all disposable income on
>> making espresso, I've decided to buy a device to measure water temp at
>> the coffee in the portafilter. I'll probably also want to use this
>> while roasting. While not ready to buy a Scace, I'm going to get a
>> Fluke meter.
>> Help!
>> 1. Which model?
>> 2. Do I get pre-made thermocouples? If so, which part#, source. etc?
>> 3. If I just buy wire (as some here have suggested), which wire,
>> diameter, etc?
>> Which connector for the Fluke?
>> How is the wire connected to the connector which is connected to the
>> Fluke?
>> Thanks
>> Stan
>As an ex Fluke employee, here is my opinion.
>1. What ever you can afford / want. You might want to look at Extech.
>http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/extech/thermometers/thermocouple.htm
>2. Get a premade TC, making up your own just isn't worth the hassle.
>McMaster-Carr, Grangier, or the link above.
>3. Don't just buy wire. Unless you are making up a lot of T-couples, it's
>more work then it looks like.
>Get a probe with the correct connector that fits your meter. There are just
>too many little things that can throw a TC off. Save the time for more
>coffee.
>Bob
>
>
>--?
>--?
>Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
>www.moondoggiecoffee.com
I have an Omega and I LOVE my Extech 421509. Comes with two teflon
premade K types and usable software is included, unlike Omega and
Fluke.
If you want to measure shot temps, I recommend using a [finally a use
for] bottomless PF, enlarging a hole in an extra basket and feeding
the probe into the basket. Make a snug fit for the probe wire to
minimize chafe, position the probe in the middle [in the show screen
shadow], side, wherever. Loop the wire once around the handle to make
a drip loop and sample away.
I've had a setup like this for many months and it shows no sign of
wear at all. Once it does wear through it is simple enough to 'weld' a
new tip. There are some suggested methods here
http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2460
The nice thing about actually recording the temp of an actual shot is
you can correlate taste and temperature changes with other variables
in 'real time'.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 07:20:44
From: jggall01
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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I- >Ian wrote:
> I have an Omega and I LOVE my Extech 421509.
Judging from the pictures and user guides, I'd guess that Extech 421509
and Omega HH506RA might be the same unit with different branding.
Bundled software looks identical, too.
Jim
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 10:30:09
From: Randy G.
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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"jggall01" <jggall01@yahoo.com > wrote:
>I->Ian wrote:
>
>> I have an Omega and I LOVE my Extech 421509.
>
>Judging from the pictures and user guides, I'd guess that Extech 421509
>and Omega HH506RA might be the same unit with different branding.
>Bundled software looks identical, too.
>
>Jim
I have the Omega HH506RA and I believe that you are correct. I got
mine with an additional stainless probe (6") that I use in my roasters
to document profiles for reviews. IIRC, I got it there because they
had a better offering in regards to probes available. I also got the
soft zipper case. For occasional use it is fine, responds fast, and is
more than accurate enough for home use.
Randy "98.62715" G.
http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 21:08:23
From:
Subject: Re: It's a Fluke
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Randy G. wrote:
> "jggall01" <jggall01@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >I->Ian wrote:
> >
> >> I have an Omega and I LOVE my Extech 421509.
> >
> >Judging from the pictures and user guides, I'd guess that Extech 421509
> >and Omega HH506RA might be the same unit with different branding.
> >Bundled software looks identical, too.
> >
> >Jim
>
>
> I have the Omega HH506RA and I believe that you are correct. I got
> mine with an additional stainless probe (6") that I use in my roasters
> to document profiles for reviews. IIRC, I got it there because they
> had a better offering in regards to probes available. I also got the
> soft zipper case. For occasional use it is fine, responds fast, and is
> more than accurate enough for home use.
>
>
> Randy "98.62715" G.
> http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
Thanks for the detailed explanations and opinions. I've ordered the
Extech 421509 and will try a few of the suggested locations in Silvia
(not those suggested locations) for the thermocouple.
This is probably overkill but:
A. A new device with LCD display and all manner of memory, datalogging,
etc. can't be a bad thing.
B. This may be the reason (couldn't think of one before; didn't want
one) to run Windows on my Mac.
C. I want to determine the temp of the water coming from the group
relative to the boiler PID
D. John Hornall keeps asking me what my group temp is (sure, why
not?..he's standing behind a 4 group LM PID'd to death..I suspect some
of his baristi are pid'd)
Thanks again..temp charts and datalogs to follow.
Stan
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