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Temperature controller / blower - recommendations
Ok, so after my recent thread on Bluetooth meat thermometers, I've gotten to looking more into temperature controllers as a possible alternative. I realize they are quite a bit more costly, but for what the BGE costs, it doesn't seem like that much of a difference to make the BGE a whole lot better for low and slow cooks. I see there are quite a few popular brands - the BGE DigiQ, CyberQ, Flameboss, and more.
Since this is the BGE forum, I thought I'd ask here was are people's opinions on these for an XL BGE. Which one do you think is best and why? What should I know before buying one of these. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Comments
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I have a wifi stoker and love it. I really like being able to control it from my computer and I really like being able to graph cooks to learn more about how the meat cooks. You can cook on different temperatures and see how quickly the meat temp rises, how long it takes to get through the stall, etc. It allows you take a more scientific approach to cooking and IMO that allows you to produce consistent results.
XL BGE
Plano, TX -
Worth looking at : Pitmaster IQ 120, and the Party Q , The Q is battery operated very nice if you camp and no plug in is available. These are both in the $160 range (more or less)
You can go high end but your talking some $400 + dollars.I've slow smoked and eaten so much pork, I'm legally recognized as being part swine - Chatsworth Ca. -
Another Stoker lover here. Not sure that came out exactly how I intended. There are cheaper alternatives.Joe - I'm a reformed gasser-holic aka 4Runner Columbia, SC Wonderful BGE Resource Site: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramicfaq.htm and http://www.nibblemethis.com/ and http://playingwithfireandsmoke.blogspot.com/2006/02/recipes.html
What am I drinking now? Woodford....neat -
+1 for stoker. As added bonus of the stoker is you can control more than one egg/pitt at the same time. if you have the additional bowers and probesGarland, TX
2 Large, 1 Mini Max, 1 Mini -
I'm also a stoker owner and love it
Big Lake, Minnesota
2X Large BGE, 1 Mini Max, Stokers, Adjustable Rig
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I have the wifi FlameBoss and love it, very easy to use, great results every time. Definitely not cheap though...LBGE 2015 - Atlanta
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I started out with a DigiQ DX2 and recently purchased the CyberQ. Really easy to use. Like the WIFI a lot.
Two XL BGEs - So Happy!!!!
Waunakee, WI
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+1 stoker here, too. Very solid device with lots of expansion ports for probes. Nice web interface and works great with the Pit Pal app.Lovin' my Large Egg since May 2012 (Richmond, VA) ... and makin' cookbooks at https://FamilyCookbookProject.com
Stoker II wifi, Thermapen, and a Fork for plating photo purposes -
I have a WIFI Stoker, and have nothing but trouble with the WIFI connectivity (it keeps losing the connection, even though the access point is only about 20 feet away), to the point of running Ethernet to it. Other than that, it works great.Muskogee, OK LBGE
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Love my Stoker. If you have two eggs, it is a must. I bought two adapters, one for my large and one for my minimax. $15 per kit. Haven't figured out how to get the wifi going outside my network though.
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If you are a little electronics savvy, checkout a DIY type device called HeaterMeter. The Weber guys have an official forum for it. It's a micro-controller together with a Raspberry Pi with wifi.
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Over the years, the consensus seemed to be, learn how to use the egg without a crutch before you decide if you want/need one. I don't see that opinion expressed as often these day, but I still think it's a good idea.
I have a DigiQ that I bought after about a year with my egg. It works great, but I don't do as many overnight cooks as I used to and it's not needed for most other cooks. Too easy to maintain temp without it for an hour or two, or even five-ish for something like ribs. For me, a lot of money for too little benefit.
As for the wifi stuff, I have no interest in that at all. I never cook when I'm not home (and I don't know what I would do remotely even if I did), I don't care about charts and graphs, nor do I care to watch what happens when I change the pit temp because I never DO that. And then there are the connectivity issues that some seem to have.
The reason I bought a pit controller in the first place was so I wouldn't have to mess with a long cook, not so I could mess with it MORE. I start it up, install the Guru, let it burn for a bit, put the meat on and walk away. I come back about the time I think it's going to be done. And it usually is. That's it. No babysitting, no staring at my computer, no adjusting temps, no watching meat cook one degree at a time. Simple.I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!
MichaelCentral Connecticut -
I would suggest you evaluate your needs. I use my controllers on overnighters and when running multiple cookers. Not real often, but indispensable when needed. I have dx 2 and party q. Love them both. That said the cyber, stoker and flame boss are all great products. Some have more bells and whistles than others. You may or may not need them all. I like the party q in conjunction with a two probe remote maverick or solar unit. The other controlled are stand alone. The party q just controls the pit, which I would suggest many people use most. You can't really make a bad buy.
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I originally purchased my Stoker I (one) for my lg bge. I then added a KJ Jr and purchased an additional fan and pit probe for it (I already had two temp probes). I now routinely use it not just for low and slow but also for faster cooks, in particular, turkey rolls on the KJ Jr. I have found that I can comfortably do two 3 lb white meat turkey rolls at 325 on the Jr in about 2 hours and the Stoker does a great job regulating the temperature on this cook, too. (I like to do the turkey rolls because it makes for convenient and tasty lunch sandwiches, later.)
Edit: Another quicker cook I like to use the Stoker for is jerk chicken low and slow at 250 for a couple of hours--hat tip @THEBuckeye
LG BGE, KJ Jr, Smokin Bros. Premier 36 and Pizza Party Bollore -
I was actually debating buying the thermoworks thermaQ or just springing the extra dough for a temp controller. Realistically the longest cook I would most likely do would be a brisket. Do you guys think a temp controller is overkill? Also I chose the thermaQ out of all the others because it is high quality, buy once cry once unless there is another cheaper option that is a trooper for grate temp/meat temp.
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Add me to the Stoker. I have the Stoker wifi and the original. Both are great. The stoker 2 updated the Stoker to N wireless.
Its Been a solid controller. Never had an issue with either of them or any the 6 probes and 4 fans I have either. Its a little more complex for the noob, but after a playing with it, its super simple.
The controllers, whichever one you choose, are great and absolutely worth he money. Just used mine today to control my XL for a turkey. Best bbq device, other than the egg, I've purchased.
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I just got the cyberq and was amazed at the accuracy of the controler. I have had temperature control problems with my xl and it not staying consistent. I did have a cracked base and not exactly sure when that happened and could have been part of the problem.
XLBGE, Egging in NH -
dflores said:Do you guys think a temp controller is overkill?
LG BGE, KJ Jr, Smokin Bros. Premier 36 and Pizza Party Bollore -
mahenryak said:dflores said:Do you guys think a temp controller is overkill?
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I bought a Flame Boss 200 recently and really like it. Was about to pull the trigger on a Stoker, but issues with connectivity and concerns about customer service made me change my mind.
The Flame Boss was simple to set up. I egged some ribs while I went to work on Saturday. Its a bit of a learning curve to figure out how to optimally use a controller, but its fun playing with a new toy!
#1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February 2013 • #3 Mini May 2013A happy BGE family in Houston, TX. -
I started out with no controller on my XL and just set my alarm to wake me up every 2 hours to check temps. Then I added a Maverick to let me know if temps got out of whack while I slept. Then I added a PartyQ to keep things set. When the Stoker II went on sale because they didn't have inventory I order it. I wish I had just bought the Stoker from the get go.They/Them
Morgantown, PA
XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer - PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker -
Just got Flame Boss 200 for my XL as well. Super easy to use...
Customer service awesome... @caliking... also great help...Thank you,DarianGalveston Texas -
I built my heatermeter and I love it. I imagine I'd like most controllers that have similar features. I agree with others, the controller setup work best when you know how run the egg without them, and you'll need to know how to run the egg anyway.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++Austin, Texas. I'm the guy holding a beer.
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I have a Flame Boss 200 and really like it. The company's customer service is great and the unit is very easy to use. Lastly, as has been written previously, it's best to learn how to control your Egg without a controller before relying on one.
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+1 on the Flameboss 200 ... if for no other reason than customer service.
Washington, IL > Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max
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I love the DigiQ. I can't say that I absolutely NEED it but don't mind being able to see the internal meat temperature without lifting up the lid. I'm not an expert so I don't trust myself to know exactly what the meat should look and feel like just looking at on the grill. And yes I look up nearly everytime on my BBQ Smoking App what the internal meat temp should be to be on the safe side. I don't ever want to risk serving undercooked meat and I don't want to over cook it either. The DigiQ is easy to use and the alarm goes off when the internal temp is GTG. pretty simple stupid. I like it that way.
Winchester, Virginia LBGE, MiniMax
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Jeepster47 said:+1 on the Flameboss 200 ... if for no other reason than customer service.#1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February 2013 • #3 Mini May 2013A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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Hi I was the one that got u thinking temp control/wifi... I DO like sitting in the den and glancing at the ipad seeing the temp stay within a few degrees of setpoint throughout the cook I have an app that graphs the whole cook & I see the meat probes gradually slope toward my finish temp setpoint. it's just cool. Mine is the CyberQ but I am really impressed by the apparent ease of wifi setup on the Flame Boss 200 (even viewing from ur phone away from your cook site thanks to them having a remote server the unit just "finds" a lot easier than the cyberQ need for port fwding in your router/cable modem. My votes for cyberQ or flame boss 200LBGE, AR. Lives in N.E. ATL
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I haven't read all the replies, but once I got my Stoker connected correctly, it's been flawless. Love it.
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Another post mentioned the Stoker is currently 10% off. I got one a month or two ago. Sweet unit.Aledo, Texas
Large BGE
KJ Jr.
Exodus 12:9 KJV
Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
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