Temps all over the place

[Russ Hazzon]

Been having a real hard time with temps the past few cooks. Thought it might be bad charcoal (moisture). I just bought an analog thermometer and put it in the top vent hole. Maverick shows 201 at the top grate and analog shows 250 at the vent. I just can't seem to get the temps up according to the Maverick. Both thermos check out in boiling water. For some reason I think the Maverick is crying to be replaced, but I got a pretty big cook going right now. The last few cooks didn't fare much better than this one and I can't figure out why! Five years without a problem and now I can't get temps up for the life of me.

 

[K Kruger]

First things first. How have your cooks been? Are things coming out correctly or not? Are meats are coming out fine despite temps? Are you only able to judge doneness by feel? If the meats are coming out fine are they coming out fine in the usual amount of time or are your cooks inordinately fast or slow?

Have you cleaned the Maverick probe? (Build-up can cause low readings.)

 

[Ken Keating]

Russ: Can you put both probes/thermometers at the same location within the WSM and let us know what the readings are. If they're accurate, they should have the same reading. If there's a 49-degree difference, then one is off. If they are both the same something is probably incorrect with the Maverick; either the wire routing or placement.


Ken

 

[Russ Hazzon]

I've tried it all. The lid thermo only has a 2 inch probe so that may be a factor. funny thing is now the temp fluctuations are backwards. Maverick showing 275 at the grate and lid showing 225. Sorry for the ranting, just had to blow off steam. The one day I have way too many things to do my temps are going wild! Any other day I probably would've blow it off, but it is getting really frustrating right now.

Thank for the suggestions!!

 

[David Lohrentz]

Sounds as though your digital thermometer may be having problems. I wouldn't worry too much about finishing this cook. You will probably be fine. If the Maverick is getting long in the tooth, just go with the analog thermometer. Do you have something else besides the Maverick to check on your internal temps?

 

[Russ Hazzon]

Cooks done, dinners over, time to relax. Definately one of the most difficult cooks I've ever had, but it turned out one of the best briskets I've ever cooked! Go figure!!!

 

[Griff]

I was having the same problem, only my analog was 35* below my ET73. I stuck my Thermapen in and it agreed with the Maverick. In the boiling water test the Maverick and the Thermapen were still right on but the analog was low about 35*. I replaced the analog.

Griff

 

[Jerry N.]

If you don't have too much money into the analog, I would get a different one with a longer stem. A 2 inch stem through the vent will not measure temp very well.

Another thing you can try, just to see if either of the themometers are bad, is the freezing water test. If both thermometers read 32º then I'd say it was other factors causing the problem (probe placement/length).