I bought a water proof temp probe (about $8) and ran it into a gallon water jug full of water. I keep the setting on my temp controller a degree or two lower than the wort should be since the wort will be a little higher. This keeps my temp controller from going on/off as frequently since it’s not measuring air temp alone.
This way I don’t have to mess w/ thermowells.
haven’t been using it a long time but it seems to be working well for now.
Good idea! I too find it easier just to put the temp probe into the thermowell and call it a day.
I ferment two buckets at a time. I equalize the amount of wort in each, and use a thermowell in a tight fitting hole in one of the bucket lids + a Ranco temp controller. 5.5 gal wort in a 6.5 gal bucket, with anti-foam drops and a blowoff tube. Works fine.
Thank-you. I’ve been looking for a problem to fix and have been considering experimenting with a thermowell in the freezer that doesn’t have a fan to circulate the air. The holes with grommets in the lids of my fermenters ought to work. Thermowell is dirt cheap too.
I used the grommet hole as the starter hole but drilled a 1" wide hole which provides a snug fit for the rubber stopper utilized in the thermowell I purchased. Depending on your stopper, just remember to drill a hole for the narrow end of the tapered stopper since you want a good seal and don’t want the thermowell to ever push through the lid into the wort when you are inserting it into your bucket lid hole. But don’t drill to small width hole either, or the lid will crack at the edge of the hole due to too much forcing the stopper into it.
This has worked really well for me. I have a new backup thermowell but I’m still using the one I’ve had for maybe 8 years. I give the stem a good soak in PBW after using, so as to be able to wipe off the beer stone that collects on it otherwise. 
I was wondering about the cleaning aspect. It’s all good to know!
Yeah, FWIW I always immediately wash and sanitize my two fermenter buckets (10 gal batches) after beer transfer to kegs, so after hitting the buckets with some PBW and a good sponge job I drop the thermowell in the left over warm PBW in a Home Depot bucket for at least 20 minutes, wipe the stem hard with a sponge to remove any bits of remaining krauesen and beer stone (smooth sponge usually works), rinse really well under hot tap water, dip in Star San, and then store the thermowell upside down/inverted so all water drains from the inside of the stem. I don’t like to put anything with hard edges, thermowell included, into my fermenter buckets - that’s why the extra HD bucket.