Flame Boss 200 Pit Temp Low

russellds

Has anyone had an issue where the Pit Temp is stuck at low for a flame boss 200? The meat temp is reading correctly but for some reason the pit temp won't register. Perhaps the pit temp probe is bad?

chuckytheegghead

Sorry I haven't had that issue myself but I would be inclined to think that is a probe issue. Hopefully somebody that knows for sure will be along shortly. Or maybe @MichaelCollins will be on here today. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I have not had the issue, but a few others have.  It could be the probe or the socket on the board.  Try plugging it in and wiggling it.  You can also wiggle the probe end and see if ot registers.

Either way FB will help you get it resolved.

blind99

Swap the probes. If the same probe gives you a bad reading on both sockets, the probe is bad. If both probes read bad on the same socket, but accurate on the other, it's the socket. (Johnny Obvious here

i had a probe go bad within warranty period and they replaced it quickly and no hassle. 

RedSkip

I did, I believe it was a bad controller.  Change the probe from pit to meat.  If it still has an error, bad probe.  If the error goes away then it's a bad controller.

(Use the same probe and go back and forth between meat/pit in the back of the unit). 
@MichaelCollins

Ozzie_Isaac

blind99 said:

Swap the probes. If the same probe gives you a bad reading on both sockets, the probe is bad. If both probes read bad on the same socket, but accurate on the other, it's the socket. (Johnny Obvious here

i had a probe go bad within warranty period and they replaced it quickly and no hassle. 

Sure, get all trouble-shooty and stuff.  

MichaelCollins

blind99 said:

Swap the probes. If the same probe gives you a bad reading on both sockets, the probe is bad. If both probes read bad on the same socket, but accurate on the other, it's the socket. (Johnny Obvious here

i had a probe go bad within warranty period and they replaced it quickly and no hassle. 

Exactly what @blind99 said. Contact us and let us know which component is bad and we will make it right.

Photo Egg

MichaelCollins said:

blind99 said:

Swap the probes. If the same probe gives you a bad reading on both sockets, the probe is bad. If both probes read bad on the same socket, but accurate on the other, it's the socket. (Johnny Obvious here

i had a probe go bad within warranty period and they replaced it quickly and no hassle. 

Exactly what @blind99 said. Contact us and let us know which component is bad and we will make it right.

Your customer service is outstanding...

chuckytheegghead

Photo Egg said:

MichaelCollins said:

blind99 said:

Swap the probes. If the same probe gives you a bad reading on both sockets, the probe is bad. If both probes read bad on the same socket, but accurate on the other, it's the socket. (Johnny Obvious here

i had a probe go bad within warranty period and they replaced it quickly and no hassle. 

Exactly what @blind99 said. Contact us and let us know which component is bad and we will make it right.

Your customer service is outstanding...

That's why I do business with them and will continue to refer. 

sporting100

My temp probe has stopped working twice. They replaced the controller the first time. The second time happened yesterday. Which is why I on the forum looking to see if I am just unlucky and happened to get two bad controllers or there is quality issue with flame boss products.  Thoughts and Feedback?  Thanks!!

byrne092

I guess maybe I should get back in touch too. I've had 2 pit probes go bad. Or I assume it was bad. Both times the temperature jumps around and usually ends up faulting out saying HI. The weird thing is, this doesn't seem normal for a temp sensors, usually it will just flat out fail, erratic behavior isn't a typical symptom of a sensor. The weird thing is that when I've changed out the sensor it seems to work fine again? It's just strange and a little frustrating because it the pit sensor fails it obviously causes serious issues on temp control if not spotted quick. I didn't know the flameboss people were on this forum. @MichaelCollins have you had any problems like this before? Suggestions?

Ozzie_Isaac

Do you guys shield your probes from direct lit lump?  I shield mine with firebricks.  I have been using two separate FB units for 2 years with nary an issue.

Photo Egg

byrne092 said:

The weird thing is, this doesn't seem normal for a temp sensors, usually it will just flat out fail, erratic behavior isn't a typical symptom of a sensor. The weird thing is that when I've changed out the sensor it seems to work fine again?

I have had a couple issues with Thermoworks heat probes in the past. When they started to fail they read anywhere between 140-190 in a 70 degree room. Their probes are industry pro standard. Another company with excellent customer service as they replaced the probes.

byrne092

@Ozzie_Isaac no I haven't shielded them, but I haven't used them for controlling a pit temp over like 325-350. I understand the reasoning behind shielding them, I don't see why it should be necessary since its intended use and conditions are known. When it works, it works perfect, guess I'll just have to do a little troubleshooting. Still curious if they have had this issue with any other customer. Like stated above, maybe it's a connection issue on the board. 

@Photo Egg that's interesting. Yeah any probe can go bad. That's good on thermoworks for taking care of you. Love my thermapen and dot 

Photo Egg

byrne092 said:

@Ozzie_Isaac no I haven't shielded them, but I haven't used them for controlling a pit temp over like 325-350. I understand the reasoning behind shielding them, I don't see why it should be necessary since its intended use and conditions are known. When it works, it works perfect, guess I'll just have to do a little troubleshooting. Still curious if they have had this issue with any other customer. Like stated above, maybe it's a connection issue on the board. 

@Photo Egg that's interesting. Yeah any probe can go bad. That's good on thermoworks for taking care of you. Love my thermapen and dot 

Is the misreading probe family consistent? Did you try swapping the pit and meat probe to see if its the port or probe?

Ozzie_Isaac

byrne092 said:

@Ozzie_Isaac no I haven't shielded them, but I haven't used them for controlling a pit temp over like 325-350. I understand the reasoning behind shielding them, I don't see why it should be necessary since its intended use and conditions are known. When it works, it works perfect, guess I'll just have to do a little troubleshooting. Still curious if they have had this issue with any other customer. Like stated above, maybe it's a connection issue on the board. 

@Photo Egg that's interesting. Yeah any probe can go bad. That's good on thermoworks for taking care of you. Love my thermapen and dot 

Even on low temp cooks the lit lump moves around and can subject the probes to intense direct heat.  Shielding them is a good idea.

stlcharcoal

Probes are the sacrificial part of any controller.  Moisture is their biggest enemy.  So if you soak them or don't keep them dry, they can fail pretty quick.  Also, do keep the shielded from direct heat.  Mine has lasted many years, yet others can fail without notice. 

byrne092

@Photo Egg yeah it's been the pit probe. It's been over a decent period of time. 1st one failed pretty early after getting the FB, like 3 months. The second one has lasted about a year, so it's really not bad, but I still don't think it should be failing after a year. They have both failed in the same manner too. The new one just failed/started to fail this past week. The temperature reading will drastically fluctuate and hit HI. Ill restart the controller and it may or may not happen again. Once again, I'm just confused how it is partially working? Makes it seem like a controller issue. It's odd

SaintJohnsEgger

Photo Egg said:

MichaelCollins said:

blind99 said:

Swap the probes. If the same probe gives you a bad reading on both sockets, the probe is bad. If both probes read bad on the same socket, but accurate on the other, it's the socket. (Johnny Obvious here

i had a probe go bad within warranty period and they replaced it quickly and no hassle. 

Exactly what @blind99 said. Contact us and let us know which component is bad and we will make it right.

Your customer service is outstanding...

I haven't had to use their customer service for any issues but they have been quick to answer my questions.