I generally measure my stove top temps at the right-rear corner of the stove. I use an inexpensive "Home-Saver" magnetic, and simply let it rest there. I am more interested in relative temps than absolute accuracy. Just for fun, I put on some heavy stove gloves and compared top-center temps to the rear-corner temps: 'Quite a difference! Not unexpectedly, it's hotter in the center:
R.R. 350 yielded about 480 at the middle
R.R. 400 yielded about 540 at the middle
R.R. 450 yielded about 580 at the middle
R.R. 500 yielded about 625 at the middle
It's hard to get it much hotter than that, but I guess it's prudent not to try too hard.
Regards! It's nice to finally really need the fire!
R.R. 350 yielded about 480 at the middle
R.R. 400 yielded about 540 at the middle
R.R. 450 yielded about 580 at the middle
R.R. 500 yielded about 625 at the middle
It's hard to get it much hotter than that, but I guess it's prudent not to try too hard.
Regards! It's nice to finally really need the fire!