Web Control Temp Sensors

potts.mike

Active Member
Does anyone know of a temp sensor that could withstand the temps of a bbq grill. It would probably need to go as high as 500 deg. F but being that I want to use it in a smoker something more like 300 F might work.

I am hoping to build something like this: https://www.rocksbarbque.com/Systems.html for a lot less than $400.
 
You can use an oven temperature sensor with a resistor in series. Connect an analog input from WebControl to the joint to measure the voltage. Oven temperature sensor is heat sensitive resistor, see description here:
http://www.applianceaid.com/oven_temp_sensors_help.html

Decide what is the temperature you want to be most accurate, matching a resistor with value similar to the sensor at that temprature. If you want really high accuracy, you can build a resistor bridge.
 
This is a cool idea. I was thinking about a similar thing but moving the bottom BBQ vent and top stack open or closed. You will need to make some sort of voltage divider if using those resistors. That might be the way to go. Alternatively you could figure out how to hook up a Type-J thermocouple. http://en.wikipedia....ki/Thermocouple
 
The thermocouple seems like a better idea. I see that the thermocouple changes in mV for a change in temp is the webcontrol sensitive enough to read these? I'll need to do some more research but would the thermocouple need some circuit or could they be wired directly to the board.
 
Thermocouple will need to have an amplifier to be able to work with WebControl's analog input. It is more for lab testing what you can have one joint at the controlled temprature comparing with the measurement joint. That may be hard to achieve in home setup.
 
I just wanted to bump this. I am trying to find a temp sensor for the webcontrol board that's good up to about 400 F. Analog or 1 wire.
 
Thermocouple is a good way to go. There are lots of articles on the web about bbq using this. But unless you need better than about 5 degrees acuracy you can skip the special amps and linearization. I once worked for a company that built a commercial product that had no cold junction compensation or linearization but it was a product with 10 degree resolution output. Or do both in software with a low temp sensor for measuring the cold junction - microchip has an ap note on that. Just use a good, low offset op amp to get to a range where the micro can read it unless you need great accuracy. I have been meaning to do something like this for a wood stove temp sensor.
 
I wasn't familiar with these oven temp sensors. The more common (apparently) higher resistance versions (around 1k) would be pretty easy to interface. Thanks. I learned something new.
 
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