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A cold lesson with the Party Q

GLWGLW Posts: 178
in EggHead Forum

I am a big fan of the BBQ Guru Party Q.  However, I did learn a lesson over the Christmas holiday.  I put new duracell batteries in the party Q at eight in the evening and got to smoking a pork butt.  At six the next morning the temp was at 225 (exactly where I set it) but the batteries were pretty much gone. I replaced the batteries with four more new duracells and within 4 hours they were dead.  The temps were in the 20's all night and day.  I ended up just removing the Q and finishing up without the device. 

I still love the little gadget but did learn that it does have its limitations.

When in doubt add more pepper.
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Comments

  • OLD NORTH STATE BBQ CO.OLD NORTH STATE BBQ CO. Posts: 412

     

    GLW said:

    I am a big fan of the BBQ Guru Party Q.  However, I did learn a lesson over the Christmas holiday.  I put new duracell batteries in the party Q at eight in the evening and got to smoking a pork butt.  At six the next morning the temp was at 225 (exactly where I set it) but the batteries were pretty much gone. I replaced the batteries with four more new duracells and within 4 hours they were dead.  The temps were in the 20's all night and day.  I ended up just removing the Q and finishing up without the device. 

    I still love the little gadget but did learn that it does have its limitations.

    Had the same thing happen to me over Christmas.  Do you think the batteries under preform in cold weather, OR the cold weather makes the device work extra hard, thus depleting the batteries?

     "Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great, Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!"

    Med & XL

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  • GLWGLW Posts: 178
    I think the cold impacts the batteries.  This was the first time i used the Q in cold weather.  Still a handy device.  
    When in doubt add more pepper.
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  • jlsmjlsm Posts: 1,011
    @nakedwiz recommends lithium in the extreme cold. 
    *******
    Owner of a large and a beloved mini in Philadelphia
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  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 40,441
    Yes, Lithium.  I'm a battery nerd because of all my RC days.  You can also rig up a wall-wort and plug it in.

    Make sure your bypass air is high enough the fan doesn't have to run much.
    ______________________________________________
    I collect junk and work as a lowly lab technician at the bench!!!!!
    WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  GREATNESS!!!!!!!!!
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  • GLWGLW Posts: 178
    I think the venting was okay. I didn't know about the lithium batteries and will try that.

    What's a wal-wort?
    When in doubt add more pepper.
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  • twlangantwlangan Posts: 307
    I got 14 hours out of the set of Eveready Industrial AA's that came with my PartyQ. It was 26F at 8 pm when I started and 18F the next morning. I replaced with regular Duracell AA's and my cook was finished 3 hrs later.

    Once my warranty is off, I plan to rig up a wall wort to run mine. A wall wort is an AC to DC power source. You see them powering all sorts of electronic devices. I plan to find a 5 volt, cut the plug off the end, and solder it up to the Q's battery box. No more batteries and no more worrying about keeping them going in freezing cold. Something along the line of this...

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  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 40,441
    I have a whole drawer full of those - that's what I use em for too.
    ______________________________________________
    I collect junk and work as a lowly lab technician at the bench!!!!!
    WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  GREATNESS!!!!!!!!!
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  • MrCookingNurseMrCookingNurse Posts: 4,665
    Zombie thread I know, but if I just splice and attach the pos and negs, it will work by plugging it in??


    _______________________________________________

    XLBGE 
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  • Ozzie_IsaacOzzie_Isaac Posts: 14,553
    edited July 2015
    MrCookingNurse said:
    Zombie thread I know, but if I just splice and attach the pos and negs, it will work by plugging it in??
    Make sure the voltage and polarity are appropriate.

    Are the batteries side by side or in a line?
    If it is worth doing, it is worth overdoing.

    Some Eggs, some Weber stuff, the occasional Traeger, and various other things that make flames and hold coals.
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  • SoCalTimSoCalTim Posts: 2,158
    I'm looking into purchasing a Party Q - what kind of life expectancy can I expect to get in 60 degree weather (Los Angeles) with alkaline and or lithium batteries.


    I've slow smoked and eaten so much pork, I'm legally recognized as being part swine - Chatsworth Ca.
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  • biggreenrobbiggreenrob Posts: 194
    I am using Eneloop rechargable batteries. They work very well for me. Overnight or all-day cooks can be done on 1 charge with extra juice left.  Costco has a 8AA and 4AAA with charger for $21.99 right now which is a good price.
    LBGE | DigiQ | SW Cap | KAB | iGrill2 | CI PS | PSWoo2 | HQ Grid | Extender
    Mini Max | PartyQ | KAB | CGW 2-Tier (Mod) | Woo w/Stone | SW Cap (mod) | CI13 
    Location: NoVA
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  • dirty_denim86dirty_denim86 Posts: 134
    biggreenrob said:
    I am using Eneloop rechargable batteries. They work very well for me. Overnight or all-day cooks can be done on 1 charge with extra juice left.  Costco has a 8AA and 4AAA with charger for $21.99 right now which is a good price.
    In store or online?
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  • biggreenrobbiggreenrob Posts: 194
    dirty_denim86 said:
    biggreenrob said:
    I am using Eneloop rechargable batteries. They work very well for me. Overnight or all-day cooks can be done on 1 charge with extra juice left.  Costco has a 8AA and 4AAA with charger for $21.99 right now which is a good price.
    In store or online?
    I saw them on sale in-store
    LBGE | DigiQ | SW Cap | KAB | iGrill2 | CI PS | PSWoo2 | HQ Grid | Extender
    Mini Max | PartyQ | KAB | CGW 2-Tier (Mod) | Woo w/Stone | SW Cap (mod) | CI13 
    Location: NoVA
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  • jaydub58jaydub58 Posts: 2,167
    I got a good long run out of the original batteries that came with my Q, then switched to rechargeable.
    All good.
    John in the Willamette Valley of Oregon
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