Running Probes thru Vent?


 
D

David P.

TVWBB Member
I am curious why more people don't run probe wires thru the vents in the lid?

I've always been hesitant to drill any holes and find that doing this works just fine, especially with the longer replacement probes that Maverick sends for the 732.
 
I ran probes through the vents in my Weber Kettle and found that they got more of the crud from the smoke exiting the grill faster that way. It was really noticeable on smoking things using insert and the resulting black tar/creosote? and oils from the wood smoke and oils from the food. It was still present but in less degree with running it under lip of lid. I would also think the probe wire would get in the way more if you needed to check meat or the like during a smoke and having to remove lid..

With that said I was hesitant to drill too but within 2 hrs of my 22 WSM arriving last night I put a 1/2" hole in mine and ran the grommet through it for ease of use.

Where in RTP are you ? Wake/Durham boarder here..
 
I will drop the probe for my Auber through the top vent when I first load the cooker with a big load of meat. I feel it gives me more accurate temp than placing it on the grate right next to a big old cold piece of meat. I generally hang it down several inches so it is closer to grate temp. I took the lid thermometers out of all my cookers and put in a second top vent for high heat cooking of chicken, etc.

I do have grommets in all mine for the Maverick when I am probing for finish temp.
 
I did that the first few times I used my WSM , but found it a complete PITA because once you do that you can't take the lid off to check the meat or add or remove anything from the smoker....or baste , for instance.
I don't feel that drilling the hole for the grommet hurt the smoker at all. I used painters tape so that my pilot bit wouldn't dance and there was no chipping or cracking to the enamel whatsoever from the larger bit..... the finished hole came out clean as a whistle.
I have no fear that any rust will be a problem in my lifetime.......I would highly recommend the grommet mod to anyone who uses a remote meat thermometer when they smoke.on the WSM.
 
I never even tried running them through the top vent.
If you are just using the pit probe, it's not a problem because the probe comes up with the lid. If you are using both the pit probe and the meat probe, the meat probe is inserted in the meat, you have to feed the probe wire whenever you open the lid. As "Frank H" said, it's got to be a annoying.
I put probe grommets on both my WSMs and my OTG. It was no big deal and they work great.

Bob
 
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If you use painters tape, a small drill bit to begin with and then increase to the size needed you will not have a problem. It's easy to do and the grease and smoke with prevent any rust. Some of the members are moving away from the grommet idea and cutting a small slit in the top of the mid section so the wires just lift in and out. I have not done that but I may try it. I like the look of the grommet.
 
I put a nice port in my 18.5 that I CNC machined out of brass...but I'm so old schol I still haven't opend the 732 I've owned for 8 months....I use the dome therm for the ballpark, and the food's always good. Anyone want to buy an unused 732?
 
Dwain Pannell said:
I was one who cut the groove instead of going with the grommet idea.
Click to expand...

I did notice on both of the 22" models I got they both were not welded all the way to the top of the seam in the middle section and had a small v there.. It would be a good place to just add a bit more of a cut instead of cutting down through more in another spot??
 
Mike Leiter said:
I did notice on both of the 22" models I got they both were not welded all the way to the top of the seam in the middle section and had a small v there.. It would be a good place to just add a bit more of a cut instead of cutting down through more in another spot??
Click to expand...

Possibly. I did not have a noticable "V" so I cut a slot closest to where I set my Mav. For me, that ended up being left of the door as I looked at it. About the 8:00 position. If I were to place my Mav on the right side I'd cut the notch right of the door as I looked at it. About the 4:00 position. In fact, I am thinking of cutting another slot for options.
 
Dwayne, I saw your post on that. Did you use a dremmel? I forget what you said. I do remember seeing a picture as well.
 
David P. said:
I am curious why more people don't run probe wires thru the vents in the lid?

I've always been hesitant to drill any holes and find that doing this works just fine, especially with the longer replacement probes that Maverick sends for the 732.
Click to expand...

I always temp at the top vent, so smoker probe gets to hang in there, food probe snakes under the lid.
Works for me..:wsm:

Tim
 
I just run them under the lid. Those probe wires are pretty thin and there's enough crud under the lid that the seal's OK. It's not like these things are air tight anyway.
 
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