Making my own BBQ Meat Thermometer

[mejobloggs]

Hi guys,

Please be easy on me 😅 I've wanted to make one for years but the hardware/electronics side really stresses me out and I can't get started. Can you guys help me progress to the software stage? Once I'm in software I'm fine.

First of all, I can't find info about the actual probes. I want to find the technical/electronics name so I can learn more about them  All the BBQ meat thermometers have probes like this https://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-High-Temperature-Smokers-Compatible-Waterproof/dp/B07N5C5FDB

I've seen some mentions of "thermocouple" but when I search, it doesn't seem the same thing.

The reason I want to know is there's a huge price difference. I can find some that look identical for $1 but what's the difference? Will they measure temperature correctly? Will they melt in a bbq?

I have an ESP32 (with wifi) and I found a few tutorials that say I need to connect the probes to a resistor instead of straight to the ESP32. But why the resistor and what size? I couldn't find any explanation on the resistor.

Will my power source affect how it works? While I'm at my PC running code on the ESP32 I'm connected and powered by USB... But eventually I'll want to switch to battery.

What kind of rechargeable battery is suitable? Probably 12 hours is the longest cook I'll ever do

[hubi]

The product description on amazon mentions that it is a PT1000 sensor. If you google "arduino PT1000" you will find plenty of results showing different ways to read the temperature from such probes. There are ready made breakout board, e.g., based on the MAX31865, that make interfacing to a microcontroller pretty easy.

[jpanhalt]

I just use a type K  thermocouple with Teflon wrap.  The original came with my Fluke meter,  Now I make my own from a roll of the wire I got cheaply off eBay,  For a meter, I use the Fluke or graphing version I developed myself.

Pictures of TC attached.
#1: Tools used + TIG welder
#2) Balled ends

I have never has a problem with the Teflon covering.  They have been used when searing a roast in the oven as well as when smoking and searing a large pork rump roast on a wood smoker/grill.

[xrunner]

Hi guys,

Please be easy on me 😅 I've wanted to make one for years but the hardware/electronics side really stresses me out and I can't get started. Can you guys help me progress to the software stage? Once I'm in software I'm fine.

First of all, I can't find info about the actual probes. I want to find the technical/electronics name so I can learn more about them  All the BBQ meat thermometers have probes like this https://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-High-Temperature-Smokers-Compatible-Waterproof/dp/B07N5C5FDB

I've seen some mentions of "thermocouple" but when I search, it doesn't seem the same thing.

I just recently made a little system to check the input and output air temp of my AC/Heating system. It uses type K thermocouples, MAX6675 thermocouple amps, an Arduino Uno, and an LCD display. It's easy to make this sort of system for what you want to do.

Just use a max6675 library

#include "max6675.h"

Then create an object, in this case thermocouple_in -

MAX6675 thermocouple_in(thermo_in_CLK, thermo_in_CS, thermo_in_DO);

then just read the temperature values like this -

temp = thermocouple_in.readFahrenheit();

(or celcius if you want)

All the rest is just display stuff.

Easy!

[Gyro]

I know it takes all the fun out of the H/W-S/W side, but you could buy a TM-902C of ebay and DIY your own K-type thermocouple probe. They have very long battery life. If nothing else, you could use it to check your calibration.