Installing a Thermometer in a Column

[Heart-attack]

I'm just finishing up the build on a new reflux still with the takeoff just below a vented condenser coil. The takeoff is a tee with a valve next in the line. I'd like to install a digital thermometer into the tee, out of the condensate reflux and as close as possible to the column. What's a good way to install the thermometer to avoid getting impact on the readings from the heat of the copper? Any good recommendations on a good front reading digital thermometer with a short stem?

[BokaBakla]

Hmm why would you want to do that? You'd be reading the cooled condensed end of things there.. It wouldn't mean much to put one there other than looks

[Heart-attack]

Well, anywhere in the column will result in the temperature of the refluxing distillate, so I would think it would be more important to know what the temperature of the vapors that are allowed to move past the reflux portion of the still to control VM based on temperature. Doesn't that make sense?

[Prairiepiss]

There are a few ways to do it.

Drill a hole and wrap PTFE tape around the thermo and shove it in.

Install a 1/4 compression fitting where you want to mount it. And do the same as above.

Drill a hole insert a short piece of 1/4" tubing and solder in place. The tubing should be sealed off on the inside end. And you can just stick the thermo into the tube. Maybe a little heatsink grease to help transfer heat from the tube to the thermo. Otherwords make a thermowel from 1/4" tubing.

As long as the tip of the thermometer is where you want it. The surrounding copper won't mess with the reading that much. Every still and every thermo readings in those stills will be a little different. So once you have it mounted. You will need to figure out what yours runs at. Temperatures posted around here are for general specs. Yours may be a little different. But once you figure out the difference. You will be running good.

[Prairiepiss]

Oh and that would be a good placement for a VM still.