UDS thermostat question

[AUradar]

okay, just put together my first UDS. Thanks for all the info from this site. I'm burning it in right now, seasoning, and have a question.

I have two thermostats, one on the lid and one on the side of the drum about 1" above the grate. The one at the grate level reads about 50 degrees cooler than the one on the lid. Is this normal? Which should I trust? Note, its frick'en hot here in florida and the drum is to hot to touch due to the sun on the bare metal even before I put coals in it. Could that be messing up hte lid reading?


hold on and I'll post pics

 

[Southern Home Boy]

I just did my first cook on my UDS today. I don't have a thermo in the lid, but from everything I've read, 50* different is about average.

 

[AUradar]

pics as promised

 

[AUradar]

I just did my first cook on my UDS today. I don't have a thermo in the lid, but from everything I've read, 50* different is about average.

what temp did you use for your cooking temp?

 

[Southern Home Boy]

250*

 

[AUradar]

no, which thermostat did you use? The one at grate level or in the lid

I would think the grate level but I wasn't sure if it being on the side made it measure wrong.

actual, know what? I maybe able to drop my dig meat middle downt he vent hole and read.

 

[thirdeye]

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I've been playing with a 12" thermometer in my BDS. It reaches to almost center of the cooker. I see a 50° difference (higher) than the reading from my other thermometer (which has a 4" stem and is mounted just below my top grate).

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I also like using a cable thermometer that I can position just above the food. It has confirmed the 50° difference as well.

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