BBQ Guru Probe Tree

Jeepster47

I tacked a Probe Tree on my son's last order from CGS.  Finally got to try it out today.  I thought it was a gimmick item so put off buying one for quite awhile, but have now changed my mind. 

The stainless steel grill clips that come with Maverick, Thermowork, and other units restricts where the probe can be placed and the angle of the probe ... thus the angle of the leads as they leave the egg.  Plus, I run a DigiQ and a Maverick, so placing the probes side-by-side eats up a lot of real estate on the grill.  When the clips are removed to shut down the egg, care has to be taken to not twist them, and thus, the leads right at the probes.

Here's my set up ... small amount of grill space used up, probes not perpendicular to the grill rods, and a smooth angle on the leads right at the probes.



Also, check out my new high-tech Pit Viper motor rain shield.  Cut the bottom off a slab sided gallon water jug and punched a hole near the bottom ... a little off center.  Pulled the fan unit out of the adapter, slipped the fan unit inside the modified jug with the output tube through the hole, flipped the assembly upside down, and then, slid the output tube into the adapter again.  Looks like a good proof of concept.

4Runner

How does the probe stay put?  Also. What is the bulldog clip for in second pic?   I'm interested in the probe tree for sure.   

Carolina Q

Nice jug. I use foil... if I remember to. One less thing to store, especially since I would use it so infrequently.

I couldn't care less what my grid temp is. I have never checked. The temp sending unit in my oven is at the top, BGE puts their temp gauge at the top and recipes are given with an "oven" or "dome" temp. I figure they are trying to tell us something.

The only remote probes I use are for my DigiQ and I just clip the pit temp probe to the dome probe. I have a maverick, but never use it. If I did, I would clip that pit temp probe to the dome too. 

4Runner

Carolina Q said:

I couldn't care less what my grid temp is. I have never checked. The temp sending unit in my oven is at the top, BGE puts their temp gauge at the top and recipes are given with an "oven" or "dome" temp. I figure they are trying to tell us something.

The only remote probes I use are for my DigiQ and I just clip the pit temp probe to the dome probe. I have a maverick, but never use it. If I did, I would clip that pit temp probe to the dome too. 

Blastphamy.  You are really missing out.  

swordsmn

brilliant on the viper rainshield   and your clamp to it's right for vent closure.

Jeepster47

Probe Tree:

Except for the stainless steel shaft, the base of the tree and the two holders are made from "food grade silicone."  The base is a wedge with ridges running from side-to-side on the sloped sides.  You simply push it down between the grill rods until it's snug.  The probes are held by a similar material ... simply slide the probe into the hole and it's snug.  Then move the probe holders up or down the shaft to get them where you want them.

One additional plus looks to be that the probes all come off the grill as an assembly ... no twisting or turning.

I like to set the DigiQ to read the grill temp ... after all that's where the protein is located.  I thought the alligator clip that came with the DigiQ was a great idea until I had some trouble maintaining steady temps.  My theory is that the alligator clip covering the end of the probe dampens the change in temperature of the probe.  The probe tree alleviates that clip and fully exposes the tip of the probe to read the ambient.

Bull Dog Clip:

My screen door and solid door are tight.  When I slide the solid door open, the damn screen door comes with it.  So, the bull dog clip goes on the screen door tabs and the stop tab to hold it closed.  With it in place, adjusting the solid door becomes a one handed operation.  It's on the solid door in the above picture just to get it out of the way.  Here's what it looks like in operation:


Raincap:

The adapter has stayed cool for the last four hours, so I think the plastic jug will actually work for low-n-slow cooks.  Will watch for a tin box just to be on the safe side.

Michael, I've only used tin foil in the past. But, I liked the more solid covers that others have made for their Stoker, so I tried to think of a way to attach one without major modifications.  I think catching the cover between the adapter and the output tube will work to capture a solid cover.

johnmitchell

I like everything I see here..Thanks for posting. I must agree with Michael I don't pay too much attention to grid temps. I like the Bulldog clip...

4Runner

It's all about the grate temp.  One thing we love to do around here is overanlayze the crap out our BGE cooks.  It's all good.


thanks for the info @jeepster47.   I'm sold on the tree but have no need for the bulldog clips...at least not yet anyway.  

Carolina Q

I like the clip idea. Gets old having to use two hands to adjust the solid door! Surely I have a clip around here somewhere! Thanks!

But I still don't care what my grid temp is.   

swordsmn

I dunno... Meats on the grid, not IN the Dome.  I've been a dome clipper with the cyber q but might be good to set to the temp I want the meat to eggsperience...

Ozzie_Isaac

Most important for me is height from heat source, direct vs. indirect, and food temp.

Measure grid or dome.  Both work.

maso

Carolina Q said:

The only remote probes I use are for my DigiQ and I just clip the pit temp probe to the dome probe. I have a maverick, but never use it. If I did, I would clip that pit temp probe to the dome too. 

How do you clip the probe to the dome probe? I've tried searching but didn't come up with anything.

Carolina Q

maso said:

Carolina Q said:

The only remote probes I use are for my DigiQ and I just clip the pit temp probe to the dome probe. I have a maverick, but never use it. If I did, I would clip that pit temp probe to the dome too. 

How do you clip the probe to the dome probe? I've tried searching but didn't come up with anything.

Alligator clip. Don't remember whether it came with my Guru or I had to buy. Might have been Radio Shack.  

Ozzie_Isaac

Some people remove the dome thermometer and stick the Maverick or Guru probe through.

johnmitchell

I just had a thought..What about a probe in-between grid and dome.. 

johnmitchell

Sorry just read this..Too many beverages

Dobie

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Some people remove the dome thermometer and stick the Maverick or Guru probe through.

Winner winner chicken dinner. Its completely out of the way and most recipes are using dome temp. 

RRP

Tom, I have a similar problem with my older vintage sliding door which I retrofitted way back when with the screen door ember arrestor. Even though I solved much of that problem of 2 sliding doors in the same track the tab at that time was quite small. Here was my solution and to this day it still works quite well! Is there sign of overkill there? Youbetcha! LOL