Routing temp sensor wires


 

Kit_R

TVWBB Member
How/where are you routing your temp sensor wires? Through the side door? The top vent? Laying on the top of the barrel and putting the lid on top of them? As a side note, I bought a set of the sensor grommets from Rock's. Problem is, the picture online looks nothing like what I received, and I stripped the wiring out of a meat temp sensor trying to thread it through the brass grommet. Anyone have the grommets and did you have trouble getting the temp sensors through them, let alone figuring out how they actually mount? No instructions were provided, which made me pretty unhappy.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Robert Clark:
Try these. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>. Thanks I just ordered a set. Hope they'll be a little better than what I got from Rock's.
 
I have the Rock's grommets too and they are a little tight. The silicone sleeves on the probes just fit through, a little lube or moisture can help.

The other brand referenced above might be easier to install, but unless it is significantly thinner brass tube material, it may not change the problem by too much. Also, to change it back you have to drill it out vs Rock's which you just unscrew.

Rob, does the guru grommet have a bigger ID than Rock's?

FWIW, for Rock's grommets you pop a screw out where you need the sensor to pass. Slip the brass tube into the hole, slide the collar over the tube and hold it together. Tighten the set screw in the collar to hold the pieces together. Don't overtighten or you will crush the sleeve making things harder to pass through.

The limit seems to really be that the hole in the WSM is only so big. If you want the grommet to still hold the inside parts together, you have to have a tube of some kind. Thus the dilemma.

I have one pit probe and two meat probes. It didn't occur to me when ordering that the two grommets I bought were one less than I really needed.

However, I'm not ordering any more of them since that would mean that the three sensor wires would all come out of separate holes. This can get rather tangled up due to short sensor cables.

I'm considering drilling a separate new hole and putting in some sort of gasketed bulkhead fitting to accept multiple wires. My first thought is a bulkhead pipe fitting with a silicone plug in it with a few holes. This would handle the temps and neaten things up a bit.

Hope that helps, I've been thinking about this topic for a while and your question just triggered a brain dump.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pete N (doodad):
I have the Rock's grommets too and they are a little tight. The silicone sleeves on the probes just fit through, a little lube or moisture can help.

The other brand referenced above might be easier to install, but unless it is significantly thinner brass tube material, it may not change the problem by too much. Also, to change it back you have to drill it out vs Rock's which you just unscrew.

Rob, does the guru grommet have a bigger ID than Rock's?

FWIW, for Rock's grommets you pop a screw out where you need the sensor to pass. Slip the brass tube into the hole, slide the collar over the tube and hold it together. Tighten the set screw in the collar to hold the pieces together. Don't overtighten or you will crush the sleeve making things harder to pass through.

The limit seems to really be that the hole in the WSM is only so big. If you want the grommet to still hold the inside parts together, you have to have a tube of some kind. Thus the dilemma.

I have one pit probe and two meat probes. It didn't occur to me when ordering that the two grommets I bought were one less than I really needed.

However, I'm not ordering any more of them since that would mean that the three sensor wires would all come out of separate holes. This can get rather tangled up due to short sensor cables.

I'm considering drilling a separate new hole and putting in some sort of gasketed bulkhead fitting to accept multiple wires. My first thought is a bulkhead pipe fitting with a silicone plug in it with a few holes. This would handle the temps and neaten things up a bit.

Hope that helps, I've been thinking about this topic for a while and your question just triggered a brain dump. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Pete. I think I understand how the Rock's grommet works now. Just to recap, though, the collar goes on the INSIDE of the barrel, right? And does the washer go on the inside or outside of the barrel? I ordered those Guru grommets last night, so we'll see how they work. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a 22.5" WSM, so I suspect I'll have a use for all of my grommets.
 
Hi All,

Just bought a WSM but have been using a Stoker for a couple of years now on a Ranch Kettle. Regarding the grommets from Rocks, how many probes fit through each grommet? Does anyone use more than two grommets? Finally, is the regular wire length acceptable or are longer lengths needed?

Thanks, Benny
 
Hey Benny,

one probe per grommet normally... BUT, if you take your second probe & carefully slip the silicone sleeve back on the wire & then stuff it through the grommet & back on your probe, you can get two in there....
I'm not real happy with the grommets from John, so I'm going to try me some Guru's... But now I LOVE my Stoker.......!

I'd also like to say John has been very helpful & very prompt on his shipments on all my stuff, & I've only missed talking to someone only one time & that was my fault...... I think they are really making a difference form the earlier post I've read....
 
Thanks Dwight,

I'll try Rock's first because he personally helped me with Stoker issues at a contest last year. I have also been able to get product in a timely fashion. If needed, he sends things to contests with a team from his area.
I will keep an open mind and switch grommets if I'm not happy. Or maybe I'll order from both.
Benny
 

 

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