Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

cloudkick.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 21 posts

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#2

Post by mey »

Is there a cooking probe thermometer that supports USB? This Go!Temp probe only claims 130C/266F as it's max operating range, and isn't clear if that temp also applies to the electronics housing package just behind the probe.

I'd be great to have something that is wrapped in silicone, safe for oven use up to around 550F that has a detachable daughter board that connects to USB.

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#4

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

mey wrote: post #2

Is there a cooking probe thermometer that supports USB? This Go!Temp probe only claims 130C/266F as it's max operating range, and isn't clear if that temp also applies to the electronics housing package just behind the probe. I'd be great to have something that is wrapped in silicone, safe for oven use up to around 550F that has a detachable daughter board that connects to USB.

It's the probe rating. It'll be interesting to see how long the USB electronics survive if they get up to that temperature. Industrial temperature range is typically only up to 70C and I don't think I've ever seen even Automotive/Military IC's that can operate at 130C

What you're looking for is pretty easy to build at lower temperatures: just put a temperature probe in a stainless steel housing and route the sensor leads out to USB data collection that's at a safe temperature. The off the shelf units tend to be expensive because they're aimed at food-grade applications, not at hobbyists.

At temperatures of 550F, then you need to use thermocouples which are a bit harder to interface to, so hobbyists tend to shy away. Again, plenty of commercial products at this range, but expensive.

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#5

Post by mey »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #4
mey wrote: post #2

Is there a cooking probe thermometer that supports USB? This Go!Temp probe only claims 130C/266F as it's max operating range, and isn't clear if that temp also applies to the electronics housing package just behind the probe. I'd be great to have something that is wrapped in silicone, safe for oven use up to around 550F that has a detachable daughter board that connects to USB.

It's the probe rating. It'll be interesting to see how long the USB electronics survive if they get up to that temperature. Industrial temperature range is typically only up to 70C and I don't think I've ever seen even Automotive/Military IC's that can operate at 130C What you're looking for is pretty easy to build at lower temperatures: just put a temperature probe in a stainless steel housing and route the sensor l…

I do already have an oxo probe ( http://www.oxo.com/p-558-digital-leave-in-meat-thermometer.a... ) that works well, will have to see if the wife would be willing to let me hack it up a bit.

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#6

Post by polvi »

mey wrote: post #2

Is there a cooking probe thermometer that supports USB? This Go!Temp probe only claims 130C/266F as it's max operating range, and isn't clear if that temp also applies to the electronics housing package just behind the probe. I'd be great to have something that is wrapped in silicone, safe for oven use up to around 550F that has a detachable daughter board that connects to USB.

Yes, we were afraid that we would push the thing over its limits... thus smoking the turkey at 200-250F. For a little while (and you'll see it in the graph in the post) the thermometer registered 32F because we pushed it too far. Once we got the temp below 300F, it seemed to work just fine.

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#7

Post by weaksauce »

mey wrote: post #5
HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the probe rating. It'll be interesting to see how long the USB electronics survive if they get up to that temperature. Industrial temperature range is typically only up to 70C and I don't think I've ever seen even Automotive/Military IC's that can operate at 130C What you're looking for is pretty easy to build at lower temperatures: just put a temperature probe in a stainless steel housing and route the sensor l…

I do already have an oxo probe ( http://www.oxo.com/p-558-digital-leave-in-meat-thermometer.a... ) that works well, will have to see if the wife would be willing to let me hack it up a bit.

What is it rated to? I am looking for one that will work for the oven and not just the meat.

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#9

Post by pquerna »

dedward wrote: post #8

Cool from the hacker perspective - but I can't help thinking it could equally have ended up a "How I caused an electrical/grease/plastic fire in my back yard, causing a toxic lithium-ion battery explosion, and definitely ruined the bird."

Sure, all possible, but actually the Backwoods smoker we use is very nice -- its insulated, it can be 300 degrees on the inside, and cool to the touch on the top of it -- you can see in the photo that we sat a plastic tub on top of it, without any worries.

Re: Turkey + USB Thermometer + Cloudkick = SMS Delicious

#10

Post by TobiasCassell »

These guys in Portland, Oregon have similar fun every year. If I recall correctly, the site used to be more descriptive but maybe it becomes more robust on the holiday.

http://turkeytracker.com/#&panel1-1

Edit Haa!!! This is what I was looking for, here is a wealth of information regarding live-streaming your bird's journey- http://www.turkeytracker.com/blog/

Post reply on HN