Anyway to make temperature measurements from surface

[dlwalke]

I'd like to purchase something that would allow me to measure the water temperature at depth, and get a sense where or if there are thermoclines present. I would think that there would be some sort of digital thermometer with a really long cable for fisherman, or maybe a less expensive thermometer that could be lowered and would go down to a particular reading and then stay there until you reset it, but I have not been able to find such a thing based on a quick net search. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[jonnythan]

Dunno.. off the top of my head, you could drop a Sensus Pro (www.reefnet.on.ca) down on a line, let it sit for a minute, then slowly drag it back up. Back up on the surface you can download the data to a Palm or laptop and you'll have depth and temperature information for the whole ride. Dunno if that's too expensive for you, but it's a little over $100.

 

[dlwalke]

Dunno.. off the top of my head, you could drop a Sensus Pro (www.reefnet.on.ca) down on a line, let it sit for a minute, then slowly drag it back up. Back up on the surface you can download the data to a Palm or laptop and you'll have depth and temperature information for the whole ride. Dunno if that's too expensive for you, but it's a little over $100.

Good idea although I don't have a palm either and I would be taking readings from a kayak so wouldn't want to take a laptop. I did some more searching and finally found several options at Cabelas. Here is one. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...cs&cm_cat=Big Sky Fishing.com&cm_ite=DDI Link that looked quite nice for about $60.

 

[KrisB]

the only other thing I can think of would be to use one of those indoor/outdoor thermometers that measure max/min temp. You could extend the length of the wire, but that may affect readings -- you'd have to figure out the difference by setting two side by side, one with the long wire, one with the standard one and see if they read the same "outdoor" temperature.

These can be had for ~$20 at Radio Shack.

 

[Tom Winters]

There was an expendable bathythermograph (XBT) device available for commercial fishing boats - they might still be available, but I left that field a long time ago. It used an expendable slug with prespooled wire. The Navy uses them, but they have OPTAR to pay for their XBT's.
The Cabelas' device looks like it ought to do the trick and $60 isn't too bad.

 

[Land Locked]

I use data loggers at work, and I have been known to carry one while
scuba diving to log temperatures.
http://www.microdaq.com/occ/h8/index.php

 

[KrisB]

I use data loggers at work, and I have been known to carry one while
scuba diving to log temperatures.
http://www.microdaq.com/occ/h8/index.php

just make sure you get the one that does relative humidity, too... you should really check to see how wet it is!

 

[Land Locked]

just make sure you get the one that does relative humidity, too... you should really check to see how wet it is!

Just depends on how relative it is!

 

[TimTooleman]

How about a cheap Radio Shack thermometer (with max/min temp displays) inside a small Otter Box? Total cost would be about $35 or so.

Just add some weight to get it down, reel it back up, and open the box.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

I used these type devices over 15 years ago in bulk marine custody transfer & transport measurement - I see no reason they wouldn't work in water. They were very handy for determining whether stratification - vertical, horizontal, or a mixture of the two - were present. We only had the TP-5 type models available in the mid 1980's - the TP-7 design is an obvious improvement.

http://www.thermoprobe-inc.com/

It's pretty pricey just for measuring water temperatures and thermoclines though. Since they're rated for safe use with petroleum and petroleum products, that's a chunk of the price tag. Might see if someone has one that doesn't require intrinsically safe certification for use in Class 1, Div 1, Groups C/D locations.

http://www.emaa.com/pdf/pricelist-allcustomers.pdf