Pro850 and Pro1150??

[Powercat]

Hi all - New to the forum, so excuse me if I ask dumb questions.

Have looked for some more recent updates on the Pro850, but didn't see any. I am strongly considering the Pro850, after cooking on an Austin XL recently, but I had a few questions. So here goes:

- Supposedly the 850 has the new PID controller. Has it solved the temp issues or at least narrowed the variance?

- I like the P-set feature on the XL, for added smoke, but the Pro series has eliminated that feature. Support tells me the PID has solved that. Is that everyone's opinion?

- Are folks still using the deflector mod on the left of the drip tray. Or is this necessary now?

- I like the 850 for it's footprint, but I like the ash clean out feature on the 1150. However I read one post where the user had issues with heat up times, until he discovered that there was an air leak where the burner attached to the bottom of the barrel. Is that a persistent issue for 1150 owners?

- I prefer the hood thermometer on the XL, but the Pro has eliminated. I see some have added thermometers to this model, but that voids the warranty. Can you just one of the meat probes in the grill for temp comparison?

Thanks for your help!

 

[GAnewbie]

I have an 850 pro bought a few months ago. Used heavily since purchase. No problems. There is a variance but nothing that matters to me. I do sometimes use a smoke tube for added smoke, but it has plenty of smoke for my taste without it. I believe the deflector mod is for the 1150. I don't think it is needed with mine. With the way I maintain the smoker I would be opening up and vacuuming ash dust out anyway so I don't miss the clean-out feature. With regards to the thermometer. I use a wireless thermometer to give an independent reading in the smoker.

 

[Powercat]

Thank you for your response and input. Another dumb question: Can I use one of the meat probes to measure ambient temp inside the grill barrel, or do I need a specific type of probe/thermometer that can take higher heat?

 

[Stilly1155]

Thank you for your response and input. Another dumb question: Can I use one of the meat probes to measure ambient temp inside the grill barrel, or do I need a specific type of probe/thermometer that can take higher heat?

Some of us the ThermoWorks smoke x2 or x4. I've had the x4 and love it! ThermoWorks

 

[Mike From R.I.]

I use mine on my PBV4PS2, but I rarely go over 350 deg with them. I have the Thermo Pro 20 and love it, WIFI.

 

[Jimsmokes]

I have the 1150 stock just like they sold it to me from lowes. Only upgrades I've done is delete/unstall app on all devices. I use a inkbird with 4 probes to monitor if I'm away.
Sad part is the four PB probes I have are within 3° of my inkbirds. The app just made my grill temps go stupid any time I checked temps.

 

[GAnewbie]

Can I use one of the meat probes to measure ambient temp inside the grill

I use a meat probe, but ball up a piece of aluminum foil under it to raise an inch give or take above grate.

 

[Steelheader1974]

I have the 1150 I don’t see any large amounts of smoke coming out of the ash clean out. It does seem like it could be sealed better but assuming everything is clean and controller and temp probe is working correctly I haven’t had any issues with start up temps. It starts up to whatever temp I want in about 20-30 mins depending how high I’m going to set it at.

 

[Guineabear]

I have an 850 and am quite happy with it. I had the controller replaced with the updated firmware which gives me more options when setting temp. I use a Smoke2 to measure grill temp and meat temp. Very accurate and easy to use. Don't Bother with the Pitboss probes any more. I vacuum before every cook. Yes the cleanout would be nice but I can deal with it because I still clean the enire dust nt just the burn pot. The 850 is adequate for everything I do.

 

[MKinHB]

No one has to know if you put thermometers in the lid of your grill.
that's not a mod. that would void a warranty in my opinion.

 

[Powercat]

No one has to know if you put thermometers in the lid of your grill.
that's not a mod. that would void a warranty in my opinion.

Thanks for responding, and I agree. Who would know? But I was told twice by PB support that if you put a hole in the barrel of the grill, then the warranty is voided.

 

[Ts2002]

I got my 1600 pro a couple weeks ago and have used it several times since then, no regrets here. Ash cleanout is handy but probably not needed. I have been just putting a spare probe in the barrel to check actual temp vs what the screen reads for the set temp. So far they have been within 7* of each other. It does take a bit longer to get to temp then i was hoping for but its a really large coking area, that said mine will hit 500* in about 20-25 minutes and hold there no problem. I mostly wanted the 1600 due to the double wall design throughout the barrel.

 

[dagodago1]

I have the 850 and it has worked great for almost a year now and once a week I use it to smoke chicken. I did see a post here somewhere about the temp degree settings and someone posted that app downloads has several choices from Play Store. I deleted my app and downloaded from the IT one and works great sense.

 

[dagodago1]

I have an 850 and am quite happy with it. I had the controller replaced with the updated firmware which gives me more options when setting temp. I use a Smoke2 to measure grill temp and meat temp. Very accurate and easy to use. Don't Bother with the Pitboss probes any more. I vacuum before every cook. Yes the cleanout would be nice but I can deal with it because I still clean the enire dust nt just the burn pot. The 850 is adequate for everything I do.

What is a smoke 2, I tried to look it up and came up blank? Does it replace meat probes?

 

[ANT0407]

What is a smoke 2, I tried to look it up and came up blank? Does it replace meat probes?

A smoke 2 is an external probe set that is made by thermoworks. If you go to their website you will find it. And yes you would use it in place of the pit boss probes. Thermoworks products are a bit pricey but very accurate.