Temp probe accuracy

jaybirdvol

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I just finished my first ever pellet smoke on my new Brunswick. Have any of you ever checked the interal temp with an additional temp probes to compare accuracy? I have been using stick burners for years and always like to put several probes in to measure temps in several places the first few times I use a new smoker. I've also done this in electric cabinets smokers. I didn't test the Brunswick during the burn off, but during my first cook today I noticed a ~30 degree difference in the "act" temp the smoker was reporting versus the my temp probes. (My probes were showing a colder temp) I didn't notice the ribs taking especially long to cook. Wondering if maybe this has something to do with the heat coming from a fan, similar to a convection oven. Again I am a pellet smoker newbie. Trying to understand if I have a problem or this is just how they work.

Also, just to clarify,. the probes I used were air temp probes, not meat probes, and I have confirmed they are accurate.
 
go get yourself 10 temp probes,,,,,,you will get 10 different temps....thermapen are the most accurate
 
Pit Boss will tell you 25-50 deg difference is normal, a controller needs to learn and the more use the better it gets. Mine after it's been awhile at a steady temp. the controller/smoker temp will closely register what my probe temps are.
 
I just finished my first ever pellet smoke on my new Brunswick. Have any of you ever checked the interal temp with an additional temp probes to compare accuracy? I have been using stick burners for years and always like to put several probes in to measure temps in several places the first few times I use a new smoker. I've also done this in electric cabinets smokers. I didn't test the Brunswick during the burn off, but during my first cook today I noticed a ~30 degree difference in the "act" temp the smoker was reporting versus the my temp probes. (My probes were showing a colder temp) I didn't notice the ribs taking especially long to cook. Wondering if maybe this has something to do with the heat coming from a fan, similar to a convection oven. Again I am a pellet smoker newbie. Trying to understand if I have a problem or this is just how they work.

Also, just to clarify,. the probes I used were air temp probes, not meat probes, and I have confirmed they are accurate.
Hey Jaybirdvol

This is my second smoker the burner on my first smoker a camp chef crapped out on me and it was far too difficult for me to insert a new burner. Therefore I junked it and bought the Brunswick because I had read that vertical smokers do a better job and I did not need the grill function since I have a perfectly good Weber grill. My Brunswick continues to read about 40 to 60 degrees lower than the actual temp. I have been on the phone many times with the pit boss people and none of their solutions has helped. I finally just gave up and now I Set the smoker at about 280° so I cook at an actual temperature of between 220-230 I think I need a new controller but so far they have not provided me with one. Needless to say I am not very impressed with pit boss!
 
Pit Boss will tell you 25-50 deg difference is normal, a controller needs to learn and the more use the better it gets. Mine after it's been awhile at a steady temp. the controller/smoker temp will closely register what my probe temps are.

I called Pitt Boss and they told me it shouldn't be that big of a consistent difference. They want me to replace the temp probe in the unit and see if that is the culprit. (They are mailing me one) Hoping it's not an issue with the controller itself. Customer service rep was super nice, said just to call back if I am still having problems.
 
I probably have been a bit lazy and need to call pit boss one more time to see if they will send me a new controller. Once again you get what you pay for! My son-in-law just bought a big Yoder and maybe I should’ve splurgedand done the same.
 
Just did a temp check on my PS850. Temp set for 250 and I had a huge variance. On my side smoker, I did a baffle and made trays with progressively larger holes is it got further from the fire box. I held 5° across the grill. I know this PS850 is new, and everyone says it will learn, but 30° difference between those probes has me wondering. Thinking about getting a second heatshield that I can do the vent hole trick, but not sure if it would work with a pellet grill. Any suggestions?
 

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I just finished my first ever pellet smoke on my new Brunswick. Have any of you ever checked the interal temp with an additional temp probes to compare accuracy? I have been using stick burners for years and always like to put several probes in to measure temps in several places the first few times I use a new smoker. I've also done this in electric cabinets smokers. I didn't test the Brunswick during the burn off, but during my first cook today I noticed a ~30 degree difference in the "act" temp the smoker was reporting versus the my temp probes. (My probes were showing a colder temp) I didn't notice the ribs taking especially long to cook. Wondering if maybe this has something to do with the heat coming from a fan, similar to a convection oven. Again I am a pellet smoker newbie. Trying to understand if I have a problem or this is just how they work.

Also, just to clarify,. the probes I used were air temp probes, not meat probes, and I have confirmed they are accurate.
**********. Update- Issue Resolved. *************

I called pit boss and they agreed this did not seem correct. They sent me a free temp probe replacement. It was super easy to swap out and has resolved my problem. There are of course larger variances when starting up or opening the doors. Those ambient probes are always going to recognize change faster than the internal smoker probe. However,. They always settle down within 5-10 degrees of the smoker temp. I'll also note that I'm impressed with the consistency of the temp throughout the cabinet regardless of which shelf the probes are placed.

This is my first Pitt boss experience and their customer service is off to an fantastic start!
 
Just recently changed controllers to the updated firmware on my 850. Have only done one cook with that but found I had to set the controller at 270 to get an actual 250. Temps ran low with the original controller too. Sure is nice to be able to adjust with the new 10 degree temperature increments.
 
Just recently changed controllers to the updated firmware on my 850. Have only done one cook with that but found I had to set the controller at 270 to get an actual 250. Temps ran low with the original controller too. Sure is nice to be able to adjust with the new 10 degree temperature increments.
We're you using a Brunswick?
 
Same issue as OP....during the burn off the PB was only off by a few degrees; I ran a Thermapro probe next to the RTD. But the next day for the cook; WOW, the RTD was +100 degrees higher than my Thermapro AND Probe 1 reading. ***ETA: I ended up adjusting and running the Brunswick set to 350 degrees in order to achieve 225 degrees in the smoker. But man, it held steady all day at 225 and the ribs were great. Coming from a Traeger Pellet Grill; the steady temp is awesome.

Pit Boss customer service was great and the new RTD just arrived so I am going to swap it out and see what happens. I actually found this Forum looking for instruction videos on swapping out the RTD.
 
Same issue as OP....during the burn off the PB was only off by a few degrees; I ran a Thermapro probe next to the RTD. But the next day for the cook; WOW, the RTD was +100 degrees higher than my Thermapro AND Probe 1 reading. ***ETA: I ended up adjusting and running the Brunswick set to 350 degrees in order to achieve 225 degrees in the smoker. But man, it held steady all day at 225 and the ribs were great. Coming from a Traeger Pellet Grill; the steady temp is awesome.

Pit Boss customer service was great and the new RTD just arrived so I am going to swap it out and see what happens. I actually found this Forum looking for instruction videos on swapping out the RTD.
The temp probe change is incredibly easy. 4 screws. I still have a variance, but it's more in the 10-20 degree range after replacing the original probe that was bad. I also feel like it's gotten better the more I have cooked on it. Probably just from some of the residual smoke build up around it now that I'm 10-15 cooks in.
 
The temp probe change is incredibly easy. 4 screws. I still have a variance, but it's more in the 10-20 degree range after replacing the original probe that was bad. I also feel like it's gotten better the more I have cooked on it. Probably just from some of the residual smoke build up around it now that I'm 10-15 cooks in.
Thanks jaybird. Yes, the phone support person stated I would have to invert the smoker, but I saw the side access panel on the Brunswick. They really designed the product well. Unfortunately the replacement probe they sent was the wrong one and the correct (2 connectors) probe is out of stock. Will look on amazon as others have suggested here..

When I called in today, the support person was very cool and when I asked for an oversized spatula as compensation they agreed and sent one in its way. Very awesome and I like the fact you can get someone on the phone at Pit Boss.
 
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