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looking for K-type probes thermocouples

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#2 ·
IMO right now the best Bang for the Buck is the Craftsman Type K Pipe Clamp (Model 82380) for $29.95. (And the Craftsman has a One Year Warranty.) Let me see if I can get educated on pictures and I'll try and post a picture.
 
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#7 ·
Can't find specs on the craftsman tool. Did find a pic from an old E-bay auction.

Looks a lot like the Fieldpiece clamp. Not a bad tool for a fraction of the price of the Fluke.
 
#10 ·
jpsmith1cm said:
That was (is?) an option on Fluke instruments. Both of my old style 52-2s are NIST traceable.

I am not sure about the various probes and accessories. Should they be NIST traceable as well?
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Dunno'. A meter with a probe is only as good as the weakest link.

The instruments I used in labs were all traceable but it was probably specified in the contracts that we were working under.

I guess if some instrument being inaccurate is likely to cost a life then being able to say it was in calibration at the time is a good defense.

What do Fluke and others say about the necessity of traceability in HVAC work?

How many techs actually do this?

There are so many safety features on HVAC stuff that the chance of the inaccuracy of meters compromising HO safety may be negligible. HVAC performance is probably another issue.
 
#11 ·
I looked at the Craftsman clamps a couple weeks ago and it appears to be a good value for $29.95. I did not purchase because I don't need one, but I thought it was a little better made than the Fieldpieces I have had which costs a good bit more.
 
#12 ·
Uncle Sears say...

+/- 5% of full scale (-4 to 200 F)

I checked mine against a standard K-TC and it was dead on at 78 degrees.

jpsmith, I see you found the broke one on fleebay. In my opinion the spring in the clamp is tooooo strong.


(Le'me play some ZZ Top on that SB Telecaster Bob... I saw Bonnie Raitt last night. Bad to the Bone!)
 
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#13 ·
Home&Marine said:
Uncle Sears say...

+/- 5% of full scale (-4 to 200 F)

I checked mine against a standard K-TC and it was dead on at 78 degrees.

jpsmith, I see you found the broke one on fleebay. In my opinion the spring in the clamp is tooooo strong.


(Le'me play some ZZ Top on that SB Telecaster Bob... I saw Bonnie Raitt last night. Bad to the Bone!)
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You caught me.

It was the only pic I could find.
 
#14 ·
i own two of those craftsman clamps, on 7/8 and 1 1/8 copper they are always dead on, but on smaller sizes than that they dont make really good contact and sometimes its close and sometimes its not, but the durability of them are great. and the spring is really strong on them, dont clamp your finger, it will hurt like a mofo. also they take a couple minutes to get to the right tempuature. not liike the type with just the wire and little metal bulb on the end u just tape to the line. those take no time at all.
 
#15 ·
Home&Marine said:
Uncle Sears say...

+/- 5% of full scale (-4 to 200 F)

I checked mine against a standard K-TC and it was dead on at 78 degrees.
Click to expand...
So Fluke gives you +/- 2.7 F of the reading and Sears gives you +/- .05 x 204 = +/- ~10 F. At 78F it will read between 68F and 88F, with 5% of the units that Sears ships reading outside this range.

Seems like it costs a lot of bucks to go from +/-10F to +/- 2.7F.

To check your K-TC I'd average the readings of several thermometers. Hopefully the readings cluster around the true value.
BTW, a mixture of melting crushed ice and water in an insulated container is pretty close to 0 C, maybe even within 1/2 of one degree C. To get closer than this probably requires extraordinary care. That's a good Internet search: a "poor man's temperature calibration method".
http://www.hartscientific.com/publications/why-tpw.htm
The 100C point with boiling water is probably less reliable and depends on your altitude.
 
#16 ·
I bought the craftsman probe also. It works great. I use it with a UEI multimeter. Just have to make sure you have the adapter piece to fit the meter. The craftsman fits into the cloth covered wire thermostat for the UEI meter. I found it at Sears.
 
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