In-line thermometer

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holmburgers

holmburgers

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Could you link to a suitable compression fitting? I don't have any experience with these and from what I can read about them with regards to plumbing and electrical connections I can't quite see how it would work... not that I don't believe you, I just don't fully understand.

This sounds like the easiest method by far, I'm sold.
 

greybeard

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I couldn't easily find a good illustration link, but if you go to grainger.com and look up their item # 2P236 it will be a representation of what you would use. Now 1) the Grainger item is a national brand (Parker) which is overkill for what you are doing, 2) the price is for a package of 5, approximately four more than you would want, probably, and 3) for one item like that, the handling charges will probably be more than the $3--$4 that you will pay at a local hardware or plumbing outlet. Tradiitional automotive parts stores also have these. Don't worry too much about the pipe thread size; you can use regular fittings to accommodate whatever you want to plumb the thermometer into.

Under that hex nut at the left side of the illustration would be a ring-shaped ferrule that slips over the shaft of the tube (or, in this case, thermometer) and is compressed when the nut is tightened, making a seal between the fitting body and tube. Most of these fittings have a stop surface to keep the tube from going all the way through; if you don't find one that is bored through, you can easily do this yourself. In the absence of proper tools, run the fitting into a pipe tee, and use a C-clamp to hold the tee at the edge of a bench or table while you drill. Obviously, you don't want to mess up the conical sealing surface, so it might be best to use a slightly oversize drill, entering from the far side and continuing until the stop edge is just gone and the thermometer stem will slip all the way through.

The ferrules are not reusable, but they are sold separately, so if the thermometer dies you just cut the stem, take off the nut, and use a new ferrule to install a replacement.

I can probably find one of these fittings in my artifact collection and take some d*****l snapshots if the foregoing doesn't make it clear enough.
 

Neil Poulsen

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I was in the same situation when I built my darkroom. I spent some time looking around in Ace Hardware and came up with the approach shown in the photos.

I use this to monitor the temperature to my print washer. Note that it has to be installed on the low pressure side of the valve. Otherwise on first use, the thermometer will be propelled across room.

I made my own washers for this thermometer. My first thermometer had a stem with a larger diameter, and I was able to use store-bought washers. I use two washers together to get a better seal.
 

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holmburgers

holmburgers

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Neil, that's a nice solution. I've seen that gray hub at my Ace as well, and it's cheap to boot. Using it on the low pressure side doesn't seem like it'd really be a hindrance; that's something to consider.

Thanks for posting the pics!
 
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