The ThermoPro TP-826B Wireless Thermometer joins a long list of the company’s food thermometers with useful features at a very affordable price. This model is a two-channel, wireless remote thermometer that boasts a 500′ (150 m) range.
Features of the ThermoPro TP-826B
The package has a transmitter that displays the temperature of the probes only. The receiver displays the temperatures of both channels, as well as the alarm limits and the timer’s status. Each unit has a backlight for easy reading in the dark.
Temperature alarms can be chosen from a list of meat types and doneness levels, or you can set your own parameters. The programmed values are very conservative and will likely produce overcooked food. If you select BBQ mode instead of a food type, you can set both a lower and an upper temperature limit. When an alarm limit is breached, there is an audible tone, and the backlight flashes. The alarm annunciator can be switched off if desired.
There is a timer function as well. You can either start at zero and count up or you can set a time and count down. In the latter mode, reaching zero will sound an alarm.
Construction
The transmitter has a seal around the battery compartment to keep moisture out, but the unit itself is not waterproof. The receiver, which would normally be indoors, does not have any seal around the battery box. The units are IP rated at X4, so be careful around water. The probes are also susceptible to moisture and cannot be submerged while cleaning.
Both the transmitter and receiver have legs that allow them to stand upright. The receiver has a magnet on the back to allow it to be affixed to a cool ferromagnetic surface. The transmitter has an extendable tab to allow hanging it from a peg or a nail.
The receiver will turn off automatically if it fails to get a transmission for more than 30 minutes. This is not really an acceptable approach as food could be cooking for half an hour with lost reception before the cook is notified. A one-minute beep will sound before it shuts down, but by then the damage would be done. The transmitter will shut down if both probes stay below 40°C (104°F) for two hours.
Our Review
All in all, this low-priced unit is made to fairly low standards. It performs well for the most part, but it is likely too susceptible to moisture and its response to a lost signal is problematic. Given care, it would perform well for its price, though. The extended range feature could also be a big plus for some users. Overall, we’ll give the ThermoPro TP-826B Wireless Thermometer a Silver Medal for good performance but only moderate quality.
