I was shopping the other day, for some kitchen utensils. This shop is actually quite a large thing, not your average neighbourhood walk-in. Got a glimpse of this funny little thermometer, haven’t seen this type before. And a there is a very good reason for that: it’s a wine thermometer. Fancy that, buying a bottle of wine and instead popping it and pour in the glasses, you slip this bracelet type of gizmo just to take the temperature of the savoury liquid inside. Like if it has a fever or something 🙂 . Nah, too fancy stuff for me, I’m a classic sipper, just go for the cork.
But this thing intrigued me, and so I wanted to see how it works. See, I am always trying to find things which were created for one purpose, and attempt to well, re-purpose them. And you will be surprised on how much stuff is out there, which can be repurposed for an entire different use than they were intended.
The thermometer works by having a contact on the back of the dial, and a small pin. When you put it around the bottle, the pin is pushed inside the dial, and it activates the thermometer which makes contact with the bottle via a small metallic contact. Clever. However, I said to myself that this is not going home with me, because of aforementioned reasons, you know: drinking the damn thing, not taking its temperature.
But then, the shape of the “bracelet” made me imagine this thing around a Jobo developing tank. Would it fit? It is quite springy, so perhaps it can be coaxed to wrap gently around my Jobo. If so, I would gain a good tool for when developing my films, as it can tell me the temperature in the tank and so forth. I bought the thermometer and went home, actually I rushed home, to be more exact. I was so curious to validate my thinking about this.
Yes, it did work. The bracelet hugged the tank like it was meant for it, and it works like a charm. The arms of the thermometer are indeed springy enough to be put onto the tank. It stays put, and immediately it starts showing the temperature of the liquid inside, and of the tank itself, of course.
Caveats? Well, you have to make sure there is no serious liquid amount escaping the tank lid, because the thermometer is not waterproof 100%. It can be splashed or/and water sprayed, but I guess it will not be protected against a deluge of solutions being poured onto the thing. Once you finished processing the film, just slip it off the tank and store until next time. Remember, as long as the thermometer stays clipped onto the tank, this thing is on. Turning it off means you have to take it down from the tank.
It works with 1 x LR 1130 cell battery, can be easily found, and cheap. The thermometer itself is not expensive, something like 7 euros. It reacts very fast to the temp of the tank, and it is very accurate, according. to my measurements. I usually develop at 20*C my bw films, but if I was to develop colour films, this would be a very good tool to check my tank and solutions inside stay at 38*C.
SO, corks off, pour a glass, and check this thermometer with your Jobo tank 🙂 .