Digi Q pit temp issues

Focker

First cook with ribs, blower damper was 1/3 open, daisy wheel slightly open for probe wires to feed through the top. 

Tel-Tru was recently calibrated.  Pit temp probe was attached to the stem from above.  Going by feel of the ceramic which I do at various temps, the Tel-Tru was accurate, Digi Q was off.  

Dome temp was 275 while the programmed pit temp was 225.  Is this common?  Can, or should a Digi Q be calibrated?  Really don't think this is the issue. 

Does the Digi Q let in too much air on the BGE to achieve 250? 

Installed an adapter yesterday for the WSM, going to try a rib cook to see if there are temp differences with a unit that has more airflow.

Any tips on egg use are appreciated, thanks.

Carolina Q

Brandon, I always set the DigiQ for 250° and clip the pit probe to the dome thermo probe, routing the wire past the gasket, not thru the top vent (though I don't see why that would matter). Blower 1/3 open, DFMT about a toothpick open. The temps never match, but they are +/-5°.

Don't know if you can calibrate the DigiQ or not. I'm imagine it CAN be, but you may have to send it in. When you calibrated your dome, did you put the probe in the water all the way to the notch? I understand that's where the most accurate reading is (though I could be mistaken).

I bought the WSM adapter too and installed it in my kettle. Did a butt with lump and the DigiQ. This was late fall, early winter and it was pretty cold and quite breezy. Didn't work so well, even with the crutch. I was chasing temps the whole time. Tasted fine, but was a pain. On a nice day without wind, I think it would be ok, but I haven't tried.

Focker

Thanks Michael.  I don't have a manual, so I may have to look around on the bbqguru site to find one?  50 degrees off seems a bit much.

Carolina Q

Here's one for the DX unit...

http://www.thebbqguru.com/PDF/DIGIQ-DX-USER-MANUAL.pdf

Looks lie a pain. I would recheck my TelTru first. Good luck.

Buckegg

Close the bottom damper all the way.

bettysnephew

@Focker
Brandon, close the bottom flow gate on the fan further to restrict the air flow.  Even when the fan is not running the air will be pulled through it due to the chimney draft effect of the Egg.  I run my probe wires between the gaskets over the platesetter leg to protect them from direct heat.  I have run with the daisy wheel completely shut and the fan pressurizes the Egg and air still comes out around the daisy wheel as it is not air tight even when shut.  I suspect that is why the Egg comes with the ceramic cap for shutdown.

nolaegghead

Put your DigiQ probes in some boiling water.  I've had one that was off before - and it was erratic.  Bad probe.  Try not to get any water on the lead side of the thermocouple.

Cowdogs

bettysnephew said:

@Focker
Brandon, close the bottom flow gate on the fan further to restrict the air flow.  Even when the fan is not running the air will be pulled through it due to the chimney draft effect of the Egg.  I run my probe wires between the gaskets over the platesetter leg to protect them from direct heat.  I have run with the daisy wheel completely shut and the fan pressurizes the Egg and air still comes out around the daisy wheel as it is not air tight even when shut.  I suspect that is why the Egg comes with the ceramic cap for shutdown.

x2  The digi can run the egg at 190 this way.

nolaegghead

^^^yes yes yes.  Good point.

Focker

Thanks guys.  Going to calibrate and run with the daisy closed. 

Focker

147 in boiling water for the pit probe after calibration of the food probe.  Could be a bad probe even though it is still functioning and no - - - are displayed?

nolaegghead

I believe you get the - - - displayed if there's an open or short on the probe.  Switch the probes.  Should just switch the problem telling you it's the probe.

Try drying the probe out in the oven at 250F.  Also, check the solder joints on the jack.

Focker

@nolaegghead,

Thanks man, will do.

Carolina Q

You ARE olugging the probes in before powering up, aren't you? Istr recall the manual saying you had to do that. Dunno what happens if you don't though.

Focker

Yes, even letting it "warm up" for 15 minutes as stated.

When calibrating, you only calibrate the food probe.  Naked Whiz's section goes into detail about calibrating the unit vs each probe.  May need to call the guru folks Monday.  Everything leads to a bad probe.   

Carolina Q

Are the probe wires plugged in securely? If not, you get sporadic temp readings as well as temp reading low, causing the pit tp get excessively hot.

Above is paraphrased. I would have pasted it from the manual, but when I tried, I got...

AF>*T%9YZZ\%"W^.6[%[_.%`65c.^%"W[5%[_.%]5W[65Z0%EY^_%[_.%`ZY#%"W[5%[_.%]5WW.]["5W%^.]Y6.Z\%YW["Z%"[%^W<`^% "W%`Z<].0%-4%[_.%`65c.^%<6.%W5[%`ZY##.a%"W%^.]Y6.Z\V%^`56<a"]%[.:`.6<[Y6.%6.<a"W#^%:<\%5]]Y6%<Wa%[_.% !"#"$%;"ZZ%W5[%]5W[65Z%[_.%`"[%<]]Y6<[.Z\0%>_.%[.:`.6<[Y6.%:<\%<Z^5%6.<a%Z5;%]<Y^"W#%[_.%`"[%[5%#.[% .b].^^"/.Z\%_5[0%% %

nolaegghead

I had a grate probe go bad.  I just used my food probe until I got a replacement.   I just used my DigiQ for the first time in 6 months recently with a wagyu brisket.  I'm kind of settled on just using the grate probe for the DigiQ and hooking up the Maverick for a 2nd grate probe (keep the DigiQ probe honest) and food.  And I have the Mav remote to keep an eye on everything.

Focker

Yes.  Calibrated twice, still the same issue.  Thanks for the help Q.  May need to get a pit probe replacement.  Will talk to them first, something is f'd up.

Focker

nolaegghead said:

I had a grate probe go bad.  I just used my food probe until I got a replacement.   I just used my DigiQ for the first time in 6 months recently with a wagyu brisket.  I'm kind of settled on just using the grate probe for the DigiQ and hooking up the Maverick for a 2nd grate probe (keep the DigiQ probe honest) and food.  And I have the Mav remote to keep an eye on everything.

Excellent point, use food probe as pit probe, carry on.  Stick it through a tater or onion on the grate.

Thanks brother.