Maverick ET-73 whacky?


 
Morrey,
The Guru fan and/ or the probes will not work with the Stoker unless you can get John (Stoker guy) to replace the plugs on them. All of the Stoker plugs have a micro chip in them that has a unique address for the processor to read.

Also as to you Maverick issue, if you wad up aluminum foil and then (sort of) flatten it out, then loosely wrap around the wire where it would lay on the surface of the cooker it might help. I used to compete with WSMs and had the same problem you were discribing with the bare wire lying on the WSM lid (probe down through the top vent). Lossely wrapping with crinkled foil solved the issue.
 
There was an unknown number on my caller ID the other day, but no message was left. I have no idea if it was Maverick or not. But on your good luck Morrey, I just sent an email to them. I am keeping my fingers crossed!
 
I will call Rocks and see which components I currently use be useable with Stoker. I know the Stoker probes have a logic chip embedded so I kinda doubt the Guru probes are workable. Will keep you posted.
 
Thanks Chris......It stands to reason that the smaller thinner Maverick leads may be picking up heat along the lead wire surface which effects the reading. The way I configured my probes into the WSM is thru a Guru grommet, so this is the only place I am getting metal to probe lead contact. I then go straight into a silicon probe tree to isolate any other metal to metal contact. I feel as I am doing eveyting right, so maybe that one spot it touches the grommet is causing problems. I have two leads running into each grommet so that may be a factor as well. Maverick has a new unit on the way so that will be be my first test. If I still get out of reason readings as before, I will address the problem as you described. Maverick feels as if my problem is with a bad circuit board in the ET-73 transmitter.
New ET-73 on the way so a test is in order. I may hold tight and not jump ship on the Guru til I get this Maverick issue settled down. If the ET-73 does its job for me, then remote monitoring is all I actually need anyway.
Sheldon, let me know if that was Maverick calling. It took them three days to reply to my email, but when they did, the results were favorable. Email may work better with a company that big.
Have a good weekend!
 
Morrey, I got a reply to my email already. They want me to ship my unit to them. I am going to do so, but timing is bad as we leave for vacation and I was planning on taking my WSM with us... I may just order a second unit.

I am also using the guru gromets on my WSM. But I do not have the silicone tree.
 
Sheldon,

All these posts (from various sources) indicate to me that the probe lead may be picking up ambient heat from metal to metal contact at some point in the setup. Chris Finney is a well respected professional bbq cooker and equipment specialist, and he had similar problems from the Maverick probe lead laying against his WSM. Theres got to be something to this since so many people are saying the same thing.
Maverick is telling me is sounds like I got a bad transmitter. I am willing to try my same setup and see if the new Maverick agress with the Guru. If not, I will try to isolate the metal to metal contact as Chris suggests. Chris went thru the top vent hole instead of thru a grommet as we do. I tried wrapping one wrap of electrical tape around the probe lead as they went into the grommet, but the heat melted the tape since it was so thin. I couldnt get but one wrap on the leads since I have two leads going thru the same grommet hole.
Amazon had a good deal on the ET-73 and included free shipping.
Have a good vacation.
 
Morrey,

Now that you mention it, my spike problems only started after I installed the grommets. Before that I was running them through the vent holes on the lid.

Anyway, I just wrapped it up and will drop it off at the post office on my way to work. Sent Priority Mail Flat rate, they should get it Tuesday or Wednesday.

I see your sig says you are a Master BBQ Judge. I am planning on Taking Konrad's class in November and then taking a judging class in the Spring when the PNWBA offers it next. I hope to be able to try my first comp next summer!

Thanks so much for your input (and everyone else' too).
 
Sheldon;

I should have my new Maverick in this week. However, before it gets here, I am going to cook chickens on the WSM this afternoon so I am going to try and isloate the metal to probe lead contact going thru the grommet. Will post you back tonight to see if that helps with the old ET-73's wide temp swings. I guess if that works, I will have a spare Maverick.
Been judging competition BBQ for several years here in SC. Achieved the rank of Master Judge this spring. I really enjoy judging and that has helped my own personal cooking efforts tremendously. Requirements to make Master include cooking in competitions with three various competition teams as a team member. I was able to learn first hand what makes good BBQ even better.
Good luck with your judging class. I am of the opinion that becoming a judge will enhance your personal cooking skills.
Take care...post soon.
 
Well....I do believe my Maverick may not be very stable...at least my old one that is being replaced under warranty.
This was kinda my final test to make sure I wasn't doing anything to cause readings to be off. The new repacement ET-73 has not arrived yet, but I wanted to cook chickens on the WSM Sunday afternoon. I ran both pit probes (Guru and Maverick) thru the same grommet eyelet. I put a piece of duct tape around the leads where they go thru the grommet to isolate any direct metal contact.
Keep in mind that food probes from both the Guru and the Maverick also go thru a grommet together. These two probes agreed identically with each other.
The pit probes are isolated in the center on the cooking grate on a silicon probe tree. The probes are about 1/2 inch apart but not touching.
The Maverick pit probe read thruout the entire cook over 40 degrees below the Guru. Backing up the Guru was an oven dial therm setup close to the pit probes. The dial agreed with the Guru.
Whats interesting to me is that the previous cook to this, the Maverick read about 50 degrees over the Guru. Now it is behind the Guru.
Maybe Maverick Corporation is correct in thinking there is a bad transmitter involved. However, we have now dispelled any thoughts that metal to metal contact may have been a factor.
Next cook will hopefully include the replacement ET-73. We will go from there!
 
Thanks for the update Morrey!

I got a reply again and Maverick said they will rush mine back to me and try and get them to me before our trip. They have been very helpful so far.
 
Well, Maverick emailed me back that they shipped me a new one out, so I guess something was wrong with my old one. I should have it by next week, in plenty of time to do a smoke before our trip.

I am having withdrawals, so I picked up some ribs on sale at Albertson's... I am going to try the 2 day marinade, rub, smoke I saw on this board somewhere.
 
Sheldon;

Got my new repalcement Maverick in the mail this week. Going to some a couple of pork butts over the weekend and test out the new unit. Will post you back after the test.
 
Morrey,

Mine cam the other day but I have not had time to test it out. Been busy working and packing the RV. I may do a butt Saturday night for an overnight smoke as I work swing shaft over the weekend.
 
Sheldon;

Did a good test this Saturday with the new Maverick. Cooked two butts weighing 10 lbs each. Used 20 lb bag of Kingsford briquettes, three baseball sized hickory chunks.
Lit off 15-18 briquettes in chimney and let glow red. Put them evenly over top of mound. Set Guru at 225, used a probe tree in middle of grate with both pit probes on it, then used a food probe in each of the butts.
Temp took its time ramping up as normal, then I watched the Maverick shoot up to 260 before it slowed down. The Guru showed 230 but no higher. My first thought was oh heck, here we go again.
After 2 hours the Maverick slowly dropped. After 2.5 hours, the Maverick and Guru agreed within a degree or two. The cook was 13 hours and all went well.
With the exception of the first startup temp swing, it went well. Still dont know why it went so far apart at first, but it did eventually read together with the Guru.
 
Morrey,

Thanks for the update. I was planning on doing a butt or two on Sunday but packing got in the way. My next chance will be the 16th for my sons 14th birthday down in So Cal. I will try and update then. I need a Guru...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top