Party Q battery operated controller??

texbagger · September 2012

I ordered the BBQ Guru, Party Q controller last night, finally decided I wanted to sleep through the night on my next low and slow. I sort of wanted the wireless unit but really couldn't justify that kind of money, especially since I'm primarily a weekend cooker. I've got pretty big cook coming up in a couple of weeks that I'm doing for co-workers. Probably will do 2 pork butts and several loads of chicken for Boss' Day where one of my favorite bosses is heading overseas to work for 4 or 5 months, and I *really* want to get this one right.
Just wondering if any of you have this little battery powered party Q device, and what kind of luck you have had with it?

Thanks,
Tex

mountaindewbass · September 2012

I have both a partyq and wifi cyber q. The biggest issue ive had with the party q was the buttons to turn up and down the temp wwre stuck. I mailed it in and they fixed it. Since them they have changed the structure of the device to prevent that. I use the party q for cooks 1hr and under.. Anything longer then that i pop in the wifi edition.

Also somethings thats helpful... I attach the probe to the grate about 25 degrees(dome temp) under.. So by the time its around the target temp the probe has heated up to the grate temp

GLW · September 2012

I have the Q and love it. I have a large and small adapter and the small works on my small and my mini. Word of caution. If the low battery indicator comes on it really does mean it is low. Duh!

Piganytime · September 2012

I had the same logic you had and it's been perfect. I've done numerous overnights or throughout the day while at work with no problems. Just finished two Butts this weekend with the Party Q. The key is getting the temp stabilized with the top vent in the normal position to hold a low temp.

medic119 · September 2012

Texbagger, I have had a Party Q for almost a year and I love it. I have used it for over 20 hours on fresh batteries. Any of the Guru product pretty much make the BGE a set it and forget it cooker.

texbagger · September 2012

Thanks for the comments and feedback. I'm hoping it gets here quick so I can start using this little party Q! Sounds like a useful investment.

The Naked Whiz · September 2012

I absolutely loved it when I did my review. Still do, for that matter, :-)

texbagger · September 2012

Holy Smokes! Checked the snail mail box here and the little Party Q arrived! It will get a good workout this weekend and I'm dying to try it. Put in the batteries, and have the adaptor on the egg already. Time to shop for some meat and get this going! Thanks to all, and to the Naked Whiz, love your website! I have spent hours on it reading to my hearts content! I appreciate your comments and thanks for testing and all that you do.
More to come later.
Tex

TonyA · September 2012

I think Naked Whiz covered this in his write up .. but do bring your egg up close to temp before putting the party Q on .. will help on battery life. that said - I like it a lot.

Mickey · September 2012

Had a Digi Q and sold it as I (me) just could not work it. Ordered a Party Q...........

Have it and used it once (not good / I am sure it was me). It's in a box somewhere. Seems EVERYONE but ME can use the thing. Yep, it's me.....

Griffin · October 2012

GLW said:

I have the Q and love it. I have a large and small adapter and the small works on my small and my mini.

Good to know. I was wondering last week if there was a controller for a small or mini. Can't remember anybody ever saying anything about one.

texbagger · October 2012

Well, I love this thing. Cooked 2 racks of St Louis style ribs Sunday morning, and they came out perfect. The Party Q kept my XL at a perfect 250 for hours on one of the windiest days of the year here in South Texas. It must have been gusting up to 35 mph! Them ribs are the best Ive ever cooked and a lot of it has to do the the steady temps I experienced. The Party Q is amazing. I cooked 2 spatchcock chickens later that evening and same results, steady as a rock temps on the XL BGE! Anybody considering this little controller, just do it! Wish I had bought it sooner.

And no I don't work for them Guru guys either! I just love being able to control the temps like it does for me. Frees me up for other important things like football and beer!!!!!!

GLW · October 2012

The party Q on a small. The mini has the same bottom vent.

Mickey · October 2012

I have got to dig mine out and give it another try.

texbagger · October 2012

A quick pic with Party Q on the XL BGE.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

Mickey said:
I have got to dig mine out and give it another try.

Or work a deal with your buddy centex......always wanted to try one.

Mickey · October 2012

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

I have got to dig mine out and give it another try.
Or work a deal with your buddy centex......always wanted to try one.

You are more than welcome to use mine to see how you like them. Have Large and Small/Mini fitting as well.

Ragtop99 · October 2012

texbagger said:

I cooked 2 spatchcock chickens later that evening and same results, steady as a rock temps on the XL BGE! Anybody considering this little controller, just do it! Wish I had bought it sooner.

What temp (dome) were you cooking the chicken at? When I looked at the specs, I was concerned that it might not flow enough for an XL since the fan CFM is the same unit as used for smaller eggs, but if you got 350 - 375* w/o it running flat out that would be good.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

Mickey said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

I have got to dig mine out and give it another try.
Or work a deal with your buddy centex......always wanted to try one.

You are more than welcome to use mine to see how you like them. Have Large and Small/Mini fitting as well.

would love to play around with one and see if I like it.

Mickey · October 2012

John I will find it and call you. Then we can get together.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

Mickey said:

John I will find it and call you. Then we can get together.

sounds good. I'll be through on Sunday PM and again on Tuesday evening. I'll be back through a lot over the next several weeks so no hurry.

Chunky_Charc · October 2012

Just got mine and used it this past weekend. It worked like a charm. I cooked an overnight brisket. For the first two and a half hours I held the temp at 200 before bumping up to 240 and then to 265. The brisket was awesome and the Party Q worked flawlessly. the brisket cooked about 13.5 hours.

NOTE: figured out the key is to make sure your daisy wheel is dialed down very low...it was nearly closed holding at 200 and 240. Once I opened the wheel up it had a tendency to overshoot.

All in all I was very impressed!

Chunky_Charc · October 2012

I used it on a large BGE

Mickey · October 2012

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Mickey said:

John I will find it and call you. Then we can get together.

sounds good. I'll be through on Sunday PM and again on Tuesday evening. I'll be back through a lot over the next several weeks so no hurry.

How about just stopping at the house in Salado Sunday and you can pick it up on your way.

travisstrick · October 2012

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Mickey said:

John I will find it and call you. Then we can get together.

sounds good. I'll be through on Sunday PM and again on Tuesday evening. I'll be back through a lot over the next several weeks so no hurry.

Ahem...............

texbagger · October 2012

Ragtop99 said:

texbagger said:

I cooked 2 spatchcock chickens later that evening and same results, steady as a rock temps on the XL BGE! Anybody considering this little controller, just do it! Wish I had bought it sooner.

What temp (dome) were you cooking the chicken at? When I looked at the specs, I was concerned that it might not flow enough for an XL since the fan CFM is the same unit as used for smaller eggs, but if you got 350 - 375* w/o it running flat out that would be good.

I ran it at 350 with no issues. I intentionally ran it up from lower to higher (250 to 350) and although slow to climb initially it did great and only slightly overshot the 350 target by 12 degrees which I don't think much mattered. After all, it's chicken! LOL. Everything came out great. I think for future cooks I will be able to do overnight cooks without losing any sleep like I have in the past.

Mickey · October 2012

The Cen-Tex Smoker I thought about it this morning and pulled it for you. Give me a call and you can pick it up. I only have the Large adpter as I forgot and I gave the small with the DigiQ I sold last summer before buying the PartyQ. Get it and try it to see if you like it.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

Mickey said:
The Cen-Tex Smoker I thought about it this morning and pulled it for you. Give me a call and you can pick it up. I only have the Large adpter as I forgot and I gave the small with the DigiQ I sold last summer before buying the PartyQ. Get it and try it to see if you like it.

Thank you DT! I drove through at 5 am Monday so forgive me for not ringing your doorbell :). Back home in Austin. I'll call you after lunch.

Little Steven · October 2012

Mickey,

Um, I wouldn't give CT anything that is battery operated and has party in it's name....just sayin'

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

Little Steven said:

Mickey,
Um, I wouldn't give CT anything that is battery operated and has party in it's name....just sayin'

Not if you want it back :))

Mickey · October 2012

Steven I see no problem. I know his wife and he married so far up his social standing any and all problems can be fixed =))

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Party Q battery operated controller??

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