I'm looking for a thermometer that fulfils the following requirements:

1) Can be used inside a gas grill and inserted into a rotating
rotisserie-mounted roast.
2) Temperature display can be read remotely outside the grill.

All of the remote reading thermometers that I've seen consist of a
sensing probe attached to a remotely mounted dial by a long wire.
Clearly, such a device could not be left embedded in a rotating roast.
It would seem my objective could only be achieved with a wireless
electronic sensing probe that transmits temperature to an externally
mounted dial. Has anyone ever seen such a gizmo?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 30 Dec 2003 11:33 PST

This may be what you need:

http://www.smarthome.com/3218c.html#cart

but at $79.99 it seemed a bit pricey, so I'm posting it here for
clarification, to see if it meets your needs.

Let me know what you think.

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Clarification of Question by nautico-ga on 30 Dec 2003 13:07 PST

Pafalafa: that's it! Many thanks. Now please post as your answer.

Thanks, nautico-ga.  Glad I was able to find just the thing for you. 
Hope it makes for a nice start for the new year.  For the sake of
completeness, here's the link again:

http://www.smarthome.com/3218c.html#cart

I found it by searching on Google for:  wireless food thermometer.

Happy New Year!

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 30 Dec 2003 17:17 PST

Hello again,

Well, despite your generous rating and tip, it's beginning to look
like you're up the creek without the proverbial paddle as far as the
wireless thermometers go -- at least based on the feedback you've
gotten from the customer service folks so far.

Here's another option that may be worth considering -- a remote
infrared thermometer:

http://www.todaysmusic.com/products/101.htm

Why they're selling them at "Today's Music" is a bit of a mystery, but
it might be a useful gadget just the same, although it measures
surface temperature of what you're cooking, rather than internal
temps.

If it's not what you need, let me know.  If needs be, I can ask the
editors to remove my answer and refund your fee, so that the question
can be opened up anew for another researcher to tackle.

Let me know what you think.

pafalafa-ga

Thanks! Haven't decided yet whether to order either of the models
cited. I'm going to await a response from one of the site's help
desks. I have the sneaking feeling that a connecting wire would be
broken by the rotation of the spit.

nautico-ga:

I was not able to find a truly wireless solution either (ie. one where
the transmitter is integrated in the probe). A large part of the
problem, of course, is the ability to transmit through the cast iron
or metal BBQ grill.

Does your rotisserie by any chance extend outside of the BBQ? If so,
then using one of the wireless units, you can stick the probe into the
roast, run the probe wire along the spit to the outside of the grill,
then find a way to clamp the remote sender to the spit. Then, you can
carry around the wireless display. Something along the lines of this:

http://www.maverickhousewares.com/thermometers/remote_therm.htm

The tough part is getting that probe cable outside of the grill, it
will depend on your rotisserie's design. I'm not sure if the
transmitter can handle being inside the grill, even if it could
transmit through the grill walls.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

Aht: just checked my rotisserie brackets and, although I won't be able
to run the wire through the same hole, it'll fit nicely through
another aperture two inches away.

I'm still trying to visualize how the probe cable will keep from
wrapping itself around the spit, unless the transmitter is mounted to
the spit as well.

Oh well, that's where the experimentation comes in. :)

Here's the cheapest price I could find for you. Consider it a freebie,
from someone who appreciates a properly BBQ'ed roast. :)

http://www.overstock.com/se/Maverick_Remote_Check_Wireless_Grill_Thermometer.html

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

Aht: I hear you! I sent the following question to the site's help
desk: Can subject thermometer be used in a roast that is rotating on a
spit without entangling the wire that connects the probe to the
transmitter?

Nautico,

The device found by pafalafa appears to be the Maverick "Remote
Check," also mentioned by aht.

As you can see from the photo, the portion of the unit that goes in
the grill is rather large. It may not be easy to affix it to the meat
along with the probe. I suggest that you locate one of these at a
local barbecue-supply store and examine it in person before
purchasing.

http://buy.overstock.com/images/products/L930868.jpg

I also noticed that neither description made any mention of the use of
the two models with a rotisserie. Wouldn't you think they'd have
included mention of rotisserie use if, in fact, it were possible?

Pink: I concur with your suggestion to actually look at one of these
devices before buying it.

nautico-ga:

Yes, the reason I choose not to post the wireless units I'd found as
the Answer is specifically because of the lack of any intentional
rotisserie option. What I was hoping to find was a battery-powered
transmitter unit that was completely self-contained within the probe,
with an external receiver. I suspect that the reason such a unit does
not exist is a) the high cost of high-temp electronics; b) the radio
transmission problems I've mentioned.

With this Maverick one, if you have a rotisserie with a hollow spit,
and if (a big IF) you are able to feed the probe's cable through a
hole and down the length of the spit to the outside, then you could
mount the transmitter to the end of the spit and achieve your goal.
Any chance you can modify your rotisserie?

Good luck with this!

aht-ga

Aht: I suspect what you propose would be quite a challenge, though I
intend to give it a lot of thought!

Thanks a lot nautico-ga...I appreciate your generosity.

But I also see there's some doubt about whether this wireless thermo
will do the trick.  If you hear back that it won't work in rotisserie,
let me know.  I'll be happy to do some more searching if needs be.

paf

Aha!!

Dear Bob

Thank you for your inquiry.

No, the design of the remote transmitter involves plugging the cord
from the probe into a transmitter - you would wind up with the cord
and transmitter wrapped around the roast.

Thank you for your patience. We do appreciate your business.

Regards,

Jim Madigan
Smarthome Tech Support

More from the help desk of one of the thermometer vendors:

Dear Bob

I think that the hardest part would be to make a transmitter capable
of withstanding 500 degrees plus temperature without damage, otherwise
the transmitter and probe could be made as a single unit similar to a
dial type roast thermometer.

Jim Madigan
Smarthome Tech Support