ET 73 Grate Probe...what the!?!?

[Lowbrass]

Well I am on the first run with my not so new WSM and have 2 butts on the top grate. The problem is my Tel Tru therm installed in the lid reads 250 exactly while the grate probe on my ET 73 is now reading 281. This is my first time with the grate probe. What could the problem be? Anybody?

 

[keale]

I thought grate temp. is always higher than the top? Yes, hot air rises, but the fire is closer to the grate... Is that even what you asked? Its almost my bedtime! What are you cooking?

 

[smokedog]

I've had my ET-73 for a couple of months now. I noticed that when the batteries start to run down I've had some wonky temp readings from it. Might be worth a try with some fresh batteries. I'm not sure how to adjust it if its just plain off.

 

[itschris]

Quickly double check your probe: Set your oven to 300 and put your probes in to see what they say. I've got 3 probes, an instant read, and a regular oven thermometer... they're all off by about 10 degrees to each other.

 

[itschris]

I forgot to add... once you know which ones are off, if any, just mark those. For instance I marked my dual maverick with a sharpie that says +8.

 

[ZBQ]

I have always calibrated my probes and therms in boiling water.

212* is an absolute.

Our oven is off by +25*

I would calibrate the probes AND the Tel-Tru.

That way you have an accurate starting point.

You will also get different reading depending on where the probe is.

If the probe of the ET-73 is near the outer edge you can get a higher reading because of the heat rising around the outside of the water pan. The probe should be at least 2, preferable 3 inches away from the shell of the smoker. You should also not have it touching the metal grate as these will be hotter than the internal temp. Some people use a potato cut in half and run the probe through it so at least 1 1/2 inches of the end sticks out and set the potato on the grate.

Hope this helps.

 

[Larry Wolfe]

As stated before, test both probes in boiling water. If they are more than 5* off, e-mail Maverick and request a replacement probe. Their customer service is very good. If you have any problems e-mail me at [email protected] and I will refer you to a specific person.

 

[Lowbrass]

Alls well that ends well. Thanks for the input everyone! I am glad I was just smoking butts and not the brisket I wanted to try. Still don't have the thermometer problem figured out but I haven't had time to put them all including the Tel-Tru in boiling water yet. (Did it weeks ago with the ET 73 but didn't have the Tel-Tru at the time). Even with the different temp readings (which did adjust and get closer together as the smoke went on) both butts turned out better than any of the ones I did on my old ECB. I was actually able to get sleep last night (and that is with a 6 week old baby as well)! I'll post pics as soon as I figure out how and get some kind of shutterfly account, might take a couple of days, but pics will be up.