How to measure chip (or other component) temperature?

Yeah it involves some 25 100000uF 3V electrolytics and a 100 foot or 33 meter extension cord... and the police too. I was 14 and found these parts in a surplus electronics store scrap-bin. Most made a hell of a noise... almost had a dud but my mother called me to lunch.. It explodes disconnected from 110Vac 15 minutes later...
Thats when the neighbor called the cops... Seems he tried to kick it off his sidewalk, dern near blew his shoe laces off...

Bob