The Maverick Dynamo Temp DYNT-02 instant-read thermometer uses an internal dynamo (generator) to charge a capacitor that powers the unit while in use, obviating a battery. Opening up the probe operates the dynamo, producing enough energy to operate and take a measurement of the food temperature.
Opening the probe once will provide about 15 seconds of use. You can open and close the probe several times to increase the on time to about two minutes and twenty seconds, easily long enough to take a reading. To keep energy use to a minimum, there is no provision for a backlight, making it difficult to read in a dark space. There is a “Hold” button that will let the user freeze the temp reading if needed, but if the capacitor discharges and the unit shuts off, the held reading is lost. The display does not rotate as the orientation of the thermometer changes, so it might be a little awkward for lefties.
There is a button on the back side of the unit to change temperature scales between Fahrenheit and Celsius. There are also magnets that allow you to store the thermometer on a ferrous surface that is not hot.
The thermometer has nooks and crannies that would make it difficult to clean, and it is water resistant only to splashes – no immersion allowed. The user must take care to keep the unit from accumulating food debris that would be difficult to remove.
Maverick Dynamo Testing
Unfortunately, this thermometer failed during testing. It appears to be just a random failure. We didn’t subject it to any stress, but things do fail. This prevented me from performing the temperature accuracy and response speed tests.
The product warranty is for one year and applies only to non-commercial use. The manufacturer’s contact information, including a telephone number, website, and mailing address, can be found on the instruction sheet.
How to rate this product? Eliminating the battery has some appeal, but modern circuitry uses so little power that batteries last a long time. The housing isn’t waterproof, and it has a lot of places where food can hide and support bacterial growth. The response times are so-so but the accuracy is good. The price is low. My response to this product is tepid: a Bronze Medal.
Note that we also reviewed the Maverick Dynamo Temp DYNT-01 here which differs slightly from this model. The Maverick Dynamo Temp DYNT-01 uses a thermistor and has a +/- 1.8° accuracy, and stays on longer. The Maverick Dynamo Temp DYNT-02 uses a thermocouple which should be faster to respond and has a +/- 0.9° accuracy. The temperature range is wider on the thermocouple, but both cover the useful temperature range for food.
