Confused by the Weber thermometer


 
M

Mickey M

Closed Account
Been smoking stuff on a 2011 18.5 WSM that fas a factory thermometer.

I figured it would display somewhat higher temps than another thermometer I have inserted through a grommet. It is at grate level.

I'm confused because the Weber thermometer consistently displays a temperature between 15 and 20 degrees LOWER than than the grommet/grate thermometer.

How can this be? Does hot air no longer rise?

I guess the saving grace of using two thermometers like this is the Weber is consistently lower by 15 - 20 deg. than the upper grate thermometer so I know if the Weber reads 205-210 I know the upper grate temp. is right around 225 and so.

The only other negative I noticed about the Weber is it's painfully slow to register temps. When I have a consistent, stable temp., say 225 on the grate thermometer it takes 20 minutes or more for the Weber to reach a stable reading. It climbs so slowly.

Is this experience par for the course with these Weber thermometers?

Thanks
 
Yes. Mine is about 25 degrees lower than my therm just below the top grate. Am going to pull the dome therm and check it just out of curiosity. Doesn't matter since I only trust my controller pit therm that has been tested by me with boiling water.
 
I have never tried to verify the gauge accuracy, once the WSM is stable the lid thermometer reads ~20 degrees lower than the top grate does measured with a Maverick.
 
Like I wrote in my reply yesterday, the Weber factory therms have a poor reputation. They get you a ballpark reading, but are not industrial grade. There have also been complaints of the face fogging up under the glass.

Having said that, the dynamics of temperature inside the WSM can be mysterious. Also, a thermometer touching the grate can affect the reading. The very hot air passing around the edge of the water pan can affect temperature readings toward the edge of the bottom cooking grate. Whether a thermometer measures temp just at the tip of the probe vs. over the entire length of the stem can affect readings.

The main thing is to check the accuracy of each therm in boiling water or an ice water bath. Then you know that whatever readings you're getting are real. :)

Testing Thermometers For Accuracy
 
When I was an undergrad the first thing we did in Organic Chem Lab was to check the accuracy of our thermometers. Most folks do not have a lot of trust for Weber's in the lid Thermometers. See Chris's reply above :cool: :wsm:
 
My lid thermometer has a consistent offset compared to the Maverick probe on the top grate.
That's really about all that can be asked for.
The glass does fog on mine.
I would not want to pay more for a different lid thermometer.
 
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