thermometer question

May 04, 2013 11 Replies

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Fred 13 years ago

Hi,

Whilst having a sort out, I have found a thermometer; the type with the red liquid that expands against a scale to show the temperature. I think I bought it for wine making many years ago but it looks as though at some point it has been abused and the red liquid has overflowed beyond the scale and into the "reservoir" at the end of the scale. Or could trauma have shaken broken the liquid into separate pieces; I know this could happen with mercury thermometers?

Now the thermometer is under reading by a degree or two because some of the liquid is at the "wrong end" of the scale. Is there a clever way to get it back together or shall I just bin it?

TIA

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The Natural Philosopher 13 years ago

try shaking it like a mercury one.

But they are not expensive to replace.

if its got a short scale try hot water to join the bits up.

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Andrew Mawson 13 years ago

The red liquid will probably be alcohol with a dye in it. Can you cool it sufficiently that it all shrinks back into the lower larger reservoir? Freezer will possibly do it.

AWEM

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F Murtz 13 years ago

Centrifical force, Get an old nurse to show you how to flick it

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Java Jive 13 years ago

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therustyone 13 years ago

heat upright in a kettle or with a hot air gun until the red liquid reaches the reservoir at the top, but no hotter. It will all join up into one.

rusty

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harry 13 years ago

The liquid is alcohol. It has likely been dipped in boiling water and the alcohol has boiled. You can dip it in hot water until the column joins up and keeping the tube vertical & let cool. Wear eye protection & gloves.

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meow2222 13 years ago

Shake it down

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Roger Mills 13 years ago

If it always reads out by the same amount, why not just re-calibrate it?

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Harry Bloomfield 13 years ago

Fred was thinking very hard :

Heat is the only way to get it to rejoin, but runs the risk of bursting it if it expands too much. it is alcohol BTW. Put it in a pan of water and very gradually raise the water temperature until it just joins then straight under cold water to stop it continuing to expand.

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Sam Plusnet 13 years ago

That's a cracking idea.

Perhaps literally.

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whisky-dave 13 years ago

And while she's there get her to show you how to fix the thermometer too ;-)

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