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#1
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Thermometer repair?
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with
this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#2
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 20, 2:06*pm, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. Vibration? What vibration? If the microwave was active, I would think THAT would screw things up big time. Mercury is a metal you know.... I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon No, but the drill idea sounds like a very bad one. Unless you want broken glass and mercury contamination all over the place |
#3
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Thermometer repair?
" wrote in
: On Apr 20, 2:06 pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. Vibration? What vibration? From the round rotating surface inside the MW oven. If the microwave was active, It isn't when the convection oven is in use. I would think THAT would screw things up big time. Mercury is a metal you know.... I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill a nd spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon No, but the drill idea sounds like a very bad one. Unless you want broken glass and mercury contamination all over the place That's why I said 'securely'. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#4
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 20, 2:23*pm, KenK wrote:
" wrote : On Apr 20, 2:06 pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. Vibration? *What vibration? From the round rotating surface inside the MW oven. Does your oven vibrate like a paint mixer? I've never seen any vibration on a rotating base inside a microwave that had any significant vibration. They turn at like 3 RPM. I don't see how that could account for mercury seperation in a thermometer. If the microwave was active, It isn't when the convection oven is in use. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought these ovens allowed you to use both at the same time. Some I though just used MW for heating combined with a fan for convection, Others I thought added other conventional heating elements together with the convection. I would think THAT would screw things up big time. *Mercury is a metal you know.... I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill a nd spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon No, but the drill idea sounds like a very bad one. *Unless you want broken glass and mercury contamination all over the place That's why I said 'securely'. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#5
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Thermometer repair?
KenK wrote in :
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? Get someone who's over 40 years of age to show you how to shake down a fever thermometer, or find a video online somewhere. Here's one: http://www.ehow.com/video_4984299_us...ermometer.html You will probably have to do this repeatedly, shaking first toward one end, then the other, but eventually you'll get all of those different blobs of mercury back together. |
#6
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Thermometer repair?
On 04/20/2013 11:37 AM, Doug Miller wrote:
KenK wrote in : I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? Get someone who's over 40 years of age to show you how to shake down a fever thermometer, or find a video online somewhere. Here's one: http://www.ehow.com/video_4984299_us...ermometer.html You will probably have to do this repeatedly, shaking first toward one end, then the other, but eventually you'll get all of those different blobs of mercury back together. ^^ What he said; shake it down. Another trick you can use is to heat it up (within it's limit) so that the Hg rises up in the column, reforming the lost globules, then (slowly) allow it to cool back into the bulb. Jon |
#7
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Thermometer repair?
On 4/20/2013 11:06 AM, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA There's supposed to be a vacuum in the tube. If you heat it gently, you should be able to make the blobs run together. If that happens before the end of the glass, you're good to go. But the difference between FIXED and BUSTED GLASS can be very small...depending on how far the last blob is from the top. Did I mention GENTLY. |
#8
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Thermometer repair?
On 20 Apr 2013 18:06:08 GMT, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. I can't imagine that an electric drill is a good idea. What Doug said. You can put the thermometer in a sock and swing it around to increase the force. Or instead of tapping on your hand, you could tap it on the desk. It's been decades since I had a thermometer with separated mercury, but I think that' what I did, and I was able to do it without breaking the therm. Of course my desk might be softer than your desk, or my arm weaker. Any better ideas? TIA |
#9
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Thermometer repair?
On 04/20/2013 02:06 PM, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA Any good home repair job involves duct tape so duct tape it to the wheel cover on your car then go for a spin on the express way. |
#10
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Thermometer repair?
KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? Tie a small strong cord around the top end of the thermometer using a prussic knot after winding a rubberband around the glass to add friction. Then go outside on a big area of grass, pull the knot tight, and spin it as fast as you can. |
#11
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Thermometer repair?
Ken,
All of the centrifugal force techniques are good to try. If they don't work put the thermometer in the freezer to cool. Keep it upright (mostly). Now make a cold bath with rubbing alcohol and dry ice. Put the thermometer bulb half way into the bath. The mercury should shrink down into the bulb. If any mercury is left in the column use the centrifugal method again. Wear gloves. After the mercury is in the bulb remove the thermometer from the bath and hold it upright until it warms up. Dave M. |
#12
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Thermometer repair?
On 4/20/2013 2:18 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:
On 04/20/2013 11:37 AM, Doug Miller wrote: KenK wrote in : I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? Get someone who's over 40 years of age to show you how to shake down a fever thermometer, or find a video online somewhere. Here's one: http://www.ehow.com/video_4984299_us...ermometer.html You will probably have to do this repeatedly, shaking first toward one end, then the other, but eventually you'll get all of those different blobs of mercury back together. ^^ What he said; shake it down. Another trick you can use is to heat it up (within it's limit) so that the Hg rises up in the column, reforming the lost globules, then (slowly) allow it to cool back into the bulb. Jon I once owned a beautiful mercury lab thermometer that was some 18" long. I opened my desk drawer one day and slipped the long thermometer out of its cardboard tube only to find the bulb broken. There was some soot on the remnants of the bulb that looked as though someone had held a lit match to it. No one in the shop would admit to touching it since they didn't wish to acquire any fatal injuries. o_O TDD |
#13
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Thermometer repair?
I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the
low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. .. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. "KenK" wrote in message ... I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#14
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Thermometer repair?
On 4/20/2013 1:06 PM, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA You might try attaching a very strong cord to the end opposite the bulb and going outdoors, find a large open space and spin it around like you were spinning one of those noisemakers. A 24" cord should be long enough and the centrifugal force from spinning should move the mercury back into the bulb. ^_^ TDD |
#15
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 20, 1:06*pm, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon You were tempting the gods of fate if you put a mercury thermometer into an operational microwave oven., The mercury would heat up almost instantaneously and shatter the glass into smithereens, contaminationg the oven probably beyond repair. I have never heard of anyone using a mercury thermometer to cook, That would be like using a stopwatch to bake a cake, etc. |
#16
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Thermometer repair?
On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . "KenK" wrote in message ... I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? |
#17
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Thermometer repair?
Where, in this post, does anyone suggest that?
.. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. wrote in message ... On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? |
#19
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Thermometer repair?
On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:27:25 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: Where, in this post, does anyone suggest that? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface - in MOST the rotating table only works in MW mode. - al teast the ones I've seen. Or are you asking where anyone suggests it was in non-microwave mode? Because nowhere does it suggest that he did THAT either. wrote in message .. . On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? |
#20
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Thermometer repair?
On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:13:40 -0400, wrote:
On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:27:25 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: Where, in this post, does anyone suggest that? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface - in MOST the rotating table only works in MW mode. - al teast the ones I've seen. My GE OTR rotates in Microwave, Fast Bake, or just Bake mode. There is a rack you can put in if you want to use a pan to beg to rotate. |
#21
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 20, 7:06*pm, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon To reinstate the column, you need to heat it so it reads maximum/ mercury goes to the top of the tube. If you examine the tube, at the end opposite the bulb there is usually another void to prevent the bulb from bursting when this state is reached. Do NOT overheat. If there is no void, do not let the column expand to the end of the tube while you are doing this. And wear eye protection. The reason the mercury column has broken is that it is unsuitable for a microwave, the metal has boiled so making the gaps. |
#22
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Thermometer repair?
You didn't know? I put up an outdoor mercury
thermometer. Microwave ovens stopped working for about a six block radius. It just sucked the microwaves right up. It was fun, watching all the repair companies coming to my neighborhood in panel vans. Aren't you embarassed that I'm not replying to your posts? .. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. wrote in message ... NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? "Attracts microwaves", now there's a concept! A new physics is invented every day, on the Usenet. |
#23
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Thermometer repair?
On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:15:14 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: You didn't know? I put up an outdoor mercury thermometer. Microwave ovens stopped working for about a six block radius. It just sucked the microwaves right up. It was fun, watching all the repair companies coming to my neighborhood in panel vans. Aren't you embarassed that I'm not replying to your posts? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . Wow, interesting story. I did read an article in Popular Mechanics on "How to Improve TV Reception With A Rectal Thermometer". |
#24
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Thermometer repair?
I may have read that article. Was that back in the
days of black and white TV? .. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. "Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message ... Wow, interesting story. I did read an article in Popular Mechanics on "How to Improve TV Reception With A Rectal Thermometer". |
#25
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Thermometer repair?
" wrote in
: On Apr 20, 2:23*pm, KenK wrote: " wrote innews:d9b9e831-567 : On Apr 20, 2:06 pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. Vibration? *What vibration? From the round rotating surface inside the MW oven. Does your oven vibrate like a paint mixer? I've never seen any vibration on a rotating base inside a microwave that had any significant vibration. They turn at like 3 RPM. I don't see how that could account for mercury seperation in a thermometer. The turntable rides on little plastic wheels. It runs on a surface. It has a motor. Evidently one or more of these is a little bit rough and causes a slight vibration. Normally not noticable, but it possibly affected the thermometer if it is very sensitive to such movement. If the microwave was active, It isn't when the convection oven is in use. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought these ovens allowed you to use both at the same time. Some I though just used MW for heating combined with a fan for convection, Others I thought added other conventional heating elements together with the convection. Mine has three modes - mw, oven and both. I am discussing the oven-only mode which uses a heating element. I would think THAT would screw things up big time. *Mercury is a metal you know.... I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill a nd spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon No, but the drill idea sounds like a very bad one. *Unless you want broken glass and mercury contamination all over the place That's why I said 'securely'. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#26
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 21, 12:04*am, harry wrote:
On Apr 20, 7:06*pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon To reinstate the column, you need to heat it so it reads maximum/ mercury goes to the top of the tube. *If you examine the tube, at the end opposite the bulb there is usually another void to prevent the bulb from bursting when this state is reached. Do NOT overheat. If there is no void, do not let the column expand to the end of the tube while you are doing this. And wear eye protection. The reason the mercury column has broken is that it is unsuitable for a microwave, the metal has boiled so making the gaps. Bingo! Harry gets the prize! BTDT cheers Bob |
#27
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 21, 7:14*am, KenK wrote:
" wrote : On Apr 20, 2:23*pm, KenK wrote: " wrote innews:d9b9e831-567 : On Apr 20, 2:06 pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. Vibration? *What vibration? From the round rotating surface inside the MW oven. Does your oven vibrate like a paint mixer? *I've never seen any vibration on a rotating base inside a microwave that had any significant vibration. *They turn at like 3 RPM. *I don't see how that could account for mercury seperation in a thermometer. The turntable rides on little plastic wheels. It runs on a surface. It has a motor. Evidently one or more of these is a little bit rough and causes a slight vibration. Normally not noticable, but it possibly affected the thermometer if it is very sensitive to such movement. If the microwave was active, It isn't when the convection oven is in use. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought these ovens allowed you to use both at the same time. *Some I though just used MW for heating combined with a fan for convection, *Others I thought added other conventional heating elements together with the convection. Mine has three modes - mw, oven and both. I am discussing the oven-only mode which uses a heating element. I would think THAT would screw things up big time. *Mercury is a metal you know.... I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill a nd spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon No, but the drill idea sounds like a very bad one. *Unless you want broken glass and mercury contamination all over the place That's why I said 'securely'. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#28
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Thermometer repair?
On Apr 20, 11:06*am, KenK wrote:
I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon BTDT but only twice and it was for a relatively low temp thermometer so I think I used boiling water? Simple solution.. BTDT but only twice. Mercury thermometers typically have tiny expanded volume at the very upper reaches of the mercury column. Slowly heat the thermometer until the mercury expands into that space. Be careful.... as the thermometer heats the little segments will move towards the top volume. Wear safety goggles and check the thermometer often. As long as the column is segmented, the risk breakage is small. When the column "goes solid", that's when breakage occurs. If you heat very slowly & check often...you'll be fine. cheers Bob |
#29
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Thermometer repair?
wrote in
: On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . "KenK" wrote in message .. . I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? Yes. It has three modes - mw only, oven only and both. I was in oven only mode. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#30
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Thermometer repair?
wrote in
: On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:27:25 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: Where, in this post, does anyone suggest that? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface - in MOST the rotating table only works in MW mode. - al teast the ones I've seen. In mine it turns in all modes. Or are you asking where anyone suggests it was in non-microwave mode? Because nowhere does it suggest that he did THAT either. It was in oven-only mode using a heating element, not the magnatron. wrote in message . .. On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#31
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Thermometer repair?
On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 07:47:03 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: I may have read that article. Was that back in the days of black and white TV? Couldn't have been that far back. The cover had a shot of a 3D-TV. |
#32
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Thermometer repair?
" wrote in
: On Apr 20, 1:06*pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill a nd spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon You were tempting the gods of fate if you put a mercury thermometer into an operational microwave oven., It was in oven-only mode, using a heating elenent instead of the magnetron. The mercury would heat up almost instantaneously and shatter the glass into smithereens, contaminationg the oven probably beyond repair. I have never heard of anyone using a mercury thermometer to cook, I was using it to test the temperature; the oven is currently not heating correctly - says it has preheated to say 400 but is actually only at 300 and goes no higher - while the repairman was present. That would be like using a stopwatch to bake a cake, etc. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#33
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Thermometer repair?
harry wrote in
: On Apr 20, 7:06*pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill a nd spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon To reinstate the column, you need to heat it so it reads maximum/ mercury goes to the top of the tube. If you examine the tube, at the end opposite the bulb there is usually another void to prevent the bulb from bursting when this state is reached. Do NOT overheat. If there is no void, do not let the column expand to the end of the tube while you are doing this. And wear eye protection. The reason the mercury column has broken is that it is unsuitable for a microwave, the metal has boiled so making the gaps. The magnatron was not in use - the oven-only mode uses a heating element only. -- "Where there's smoke there's toast!" Anon |
#34
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Thermometer repair?
On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:15:14 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: You didn't know? I put up an outdoor mercury thermometer. Microwave ovens stopped working for about a six block radius. It just sucked the microwaves right up. It was fun, watching all the repair companies coming to my neighborhood in panel vans. Aren't you embarassed that I'm not replying to your posts? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . wrote in message .. . NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? "Attracts microwaves", now there's a concept! A new physics is invented every day, on the Usenet. OK -maybee the description is not totally accurate, but the result is the same. Mercury behaves differently from most other metals - it is diamagnetic (or antimagnetic) - and magnets DO attract microwave energy, while most metals reflect it. This is an answer to the question "should you use a mercury thermometer in a microwave oven?" On the other hand, putting a mercury thermometer in a microwave oven isn't a good idea. While mercury is a metal and will reflect most of the microwaves that strike it, the microwaves will push a great many electric charges up and down the narrow column of mercury. This current flow will cause heating of the mercury because the column is too thin to tolerate the substantial current without becoming warm. The mercury can easily overheat, turn to gas, and explode the thermometer. (A reader of this web site reported having blown up a mercury thermometer just this way as a child.) Moreover, as charges slosh up and down the mercury column, they will periodically accumulate at the upper end. Since there is only a thin vapor of mercury gas above this upper surface, the accumulated charges will probably ionize this vapor and create a luminous mercury discharge. The thermometer would then turn into a mercury lamp, emitting ultraviolet light. I used microwave-powered mercury lamps similar to this in my thesis research fifteen years ago and they work very nicely. Louis A. Bloomfield |
#35
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Thermometer repair?
On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:40:05 -0500, pilgrim wrote:
On 21 Apr 2013 15:23:12 GMT, KenK wrote: harry wrote in : On Apr 20, 7:06*pm, KenK wrote: I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem Snip! I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the Snip! The magnatron was not in use Well, there you are. If you don't use the magnetron it will take forever for your slow-cooker to make toast. Also, it is obvious that your mercury thermometer needs lubrication. Can you give it a little shot of WD-40? And then stick it up...? |
#36
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Thermometer repair?
"Stormin Mormon" wrote:
Where, in this post, does anyone suggest that? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . wrote in message ... On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? I would agree. I'm never going to use mercury, and I don't think I have one. I do remember lab oven/incubators with mercury thermometer sticking out the top. I used to compare readings with various thermometers, but once I verified, I put the mercury away. I forgot my combo had a combo button. The heating element will preheat the oven, and then cycle between microwave and heat, but never both at the same time. My platter rotates in either mode. The tray is usually inserted over the platter, and platter not really used, but I would have to reread instructions for turbo oven mode and microwave. I never turbo cooked anything in that oven, because it's slow compared to my little turbo oven which includes radiant heat. I use a grilling meat thermometer I bought at kmart for $12 on sale. Digital with probe and stainless cable. I just have to subtract about 10 degree error. Greg |
#37
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Thermometer repair?
wrote:
On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:35:33 -0400, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: I've heard of super cooling, so all the mercury ends up in the bubble at the low temp end. Not sure I've tried this, but sounds good. . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . "KenK" wrote in message ... I've gotten good advice here in the past. Maybe someone can help me with this problem I have a rather expensive oven mercury thermometer. When using it in a combination MW/convection oven with a rotating surface to test the oven temperature, evidently the vibration caused the mercury to be widely scattered thoughout the glass column. I read a site info on this problem but none of their suggestions helped. Tapping it into my hand to move the mecury, heating it, etc. The only other idea I have is to somehow fasten it to an electric drill and spin it so the centrifugal force forces the mercury to the bulb but can't figure out how to securely mount it. Any better ideas? TIA NEVER put a mercury thermometer in a microwave. The mercury attracts the microwaves and super-heats. Or did you have your "combination" oven in non-microwave mode??? How metals react depends on length. If about 4 inches long will resonate and maximum current will occur in center. Other lengths will still develop nodes of current. No mercury please. Greg |
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