So I've been trying to make a kitchen thermometer, with a probe, which should eventually measure temperatures for a wide range of cuisines, and the vessels too. Ideally, I'd love for it to measure up to 250 degree Celsius (482 F). But to start with, I'm using a TMP36 sensor (here).
Problem: When I start looking for higher range sensors, I can't find any on the hobbyist websites. So I found some of the ones used by LG and such companies in their ovens. But, it boils my blood to see thermometers like these, which measure up to 300 C temperature, and available for less than $5.
So I ordered one of these and opened it up. The attachment has the front and back side photos of the circuit.
How do they make it so cheap? And how can I make a thermometer in the same range?
cost is easy.
most parts cost pennies when you buy in 100,000 parts lots.
the thousands of dollars for the mold for the enclosure is amortized over the million units so it too is only pennies.
you need free labor to assemble. or nearly free.
lastly, you should not expect to make any profit. too many businesses have the idea that there is an 'owner' and that the 'owner' has some right to make a profit that is more than the workers income.
if you can overcome these barriers, the cost will come way down.
interestingly, the profit that the importer makes if often higher than the cost of all manufacturing.
so, if the entire manufacturing, printing, boxing, etc is $1, the importer might sell it for $2.10
if you advertise, the cost of advertising can be half of the cost of manufacturing. but again, if you spend a couple million in advertising, it comes to pennies over the tens of million of units sold.
leozhi:
So I've been trying to make a kitchen thermometer, with a probe, which should eventually measure temperatures for a wide range of cuisines, and the vessels too. Ideally, I'd love for it to measure up to 250 degree Celsius (482 F). But to start with, I'm using a TMP36 sensor (here).
Problem: When I start looking for higher range sensors, I can't find any on the hobbyist websites. So I found some of the ones used by LG and such companies in their ovens. But, it boils my blood to see thermometers like these, which measure up to 300 C temperature, and available for less than $5.
So I ordered one of these and opened it up. The attachment has the front and back side photos of the circuit.
How do they make it so cheap? And how can I make a thermometer in the same range?
Thanks in advance!
I am not sure what food is ever heated to over 100C.
most food, maybe all food is cooked to much less.
since water boils at 100C, and any heat over that will drive off all water over time, the presence of water is an indication of being edible.
the exterior is often heated to more, but one does not use a meat thermometer for testing oven temperatures.
