Thermowell / probe grease?

[nosnhojm20]

Do people just stick the probe in the thermowell or do they grease it? What's the best method? Looking for opinions. Thanks!

Context: I'm building a herms and want to semi-automate with temp controllers (pump for herms in particular). Same goes for fermentation.


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[hunter_le five]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/thermowell-probes-grease-not-478819/#post6187204

 

[nosnhojm20]

You're the man. Or woman. I searched and found nothing. Wasn't sure if this sub forum was right or not.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

As in: You need to slip it through a rubber grommet, that's giving some resistance?

Try and experiment with some alcohol, which makes rubber pretty slippery, and it evaporates quickly.

This from experience assembling rubber parts, albeit using Isopropanol, but I imagine Vodka might have the same effect.

 

[Temptd2]

StarSan will slick it up enough to slide into the stopper easily.

 

[hunter_le five]

StarSan will slick it up enough to slide into the stopper easily.

I believe the issue is whether or not to stick the probe into the thermowell dry or greased, not the thermowell though the stopper.

 

[nosnhojm20]

I believe the issue is whether or not to stick the probe into the thermowell dry or greased, not the thermowell though the stopper.

What hunter said


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[Temptd2]

OH! My bad then.

The probe we have just slides right in there. If it didn't I'd probably use some food-grade lubricant.

 

[nosnhojm20]

The reason I ask is from the little I've found on the subject is that the grease helps the transfer of heat, thus giving a more accurate reading. What's your experience?


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[mswebb]

I use thermal paste ordered of amazon. It's typically used on computer chips and isn't food grade but it sits inside a sealed environment isolated from the tank interior by the thermowell. I have a couple of small tubes which will do a couple of thermowells each.