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ThermoWorks Billows

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Comments

  • XC242
    XC242 Posts: 1,208
    Billows sure seems like a goofy name for it. 
    LBGE (still waitin' for my free T-Shirt), DIgiQ DX2 (In Blue, cause it's the fastest), Heavy Duty Kick Ash Basket, Mc Farland, WI. :glasses:  B)
    If it wasn't for my BGE I'd have no use for my backyard...
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  • NCSmoky
    NCSmoky Posts: 515
    Should have called it Bellows

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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    Billow:

    noun
    1. a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.
    2. a rolling mass (as of flame or smoke) that resembles a high wave
    verb
    1. to rise or roll in waves or surges
    2. fill with air and swell outward.
    3. to bulge or swell out (as through action of the wind)
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    The adapter for BGE is supposed to be out soon.

    Will the Billows work on a large BGE?
    BEST ANSWER: Yes, it will. We have a large Big Green Egg at our offices and it has been used a great deal during testing. We have a mounting kit that will make it even easier to attach Billows to your Big Green Egg. They will be available in early August.


    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • 1voyager
    1voyager Posts: 1,157
    ColbyLang said:
    For $60, I wished it interfaced with the Smoke........
    Agreed.

    I sent a product suggestion for adding plug-in compatibility to work with Smoke.

    If anyone else is interested, the email is: kevin.owen@thermoworks.com

    They listened when several people asked for a stand instead of the lanyard for the Smoke receiver, so perhaps they'll rethink Billows for Smoke also.
    Large Egg, PGS A40 gasser.
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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    It would be nice but Thermoworks says that the smoke cannot be retrofitted to work with billows.
    Will the Billows work with the Smoke Thermometer?
    ...
    BEST ANSWER: No, it will not work with Smoke. Signals hardware was especially designed and built to control Billows. Smoke's hardware cannot be retrofitted to control Billows.
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,706
    Did anyone find out if the temps, alarms, etc can be changed from the app?  Or is the app read-only (can only receive data from the control head).
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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    Thermoworks says that the temp can be adjusted from the app (I can't confirm cause I have not ordered one yet - waiting on the adapter to be available -  too lazy to make one myself).
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,377

    Pretty comprehensive review by a former US Marine, so they made it pretty intuitive to figure out.


    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
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  • BugFreak72
    BugFreak72 Posts: 246
    They are having a 15% off everything sale and sent me a coupon for an additional 10% off so I picked one up. $220 for the signals and billows, I couldn't resist and just ordered one.  Hopefully have it early next week to try it out.
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  • mattvandyk
    mattvandyk Posts: 22
    1voyager said:
    ColbyLang said:
    For $60, I wished it interfaced with the Smoke........
    Agreed.

    I sent a product suggestion for adding plug-in compatibility to work with Smoke.

    If anyone else is interested, the email is: kevin.owen@thermoworks.com

    They listened when several people asked for a stand instead of the lanyard for the Smoke receiver, so perhaps they'll rethink Billows for Smoke also.

    I get the impression that there's a technical limitation here. Evidently, Smoke is 1-way communication, and this requires two-way. Also, the Billows is USB-C based, and IIRC, the Smoke was Mini-USB.  

    That all said, I agree with the undercurrent of comments here.  Basically, it's kinda BS that they let Smoke float around out there for a year, got fairly massive buy-in, then released Signals and only the latter works with their temp controller. These shenanigans caused me (and a number of folks, I suspect), to sell their fairly new Smoke (and Gateway) at a substantial loss, just to upgrade it to a Signals. Annoying.
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  • mattvandyk
    mattvandyk Posts: 22
    stlcharcoal said:
    Did anyone find out if the temps, alarms, etc can be changed from the app?  Or is the app read-only (can only receive data from the control head).
    Yes, can be controlled from the app.
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  • mattvandyk
    mattvandyk Posts: 22
    Also, the BGE plate adapter has been released. It's out-of-stock, but you can buy it.

    https://www.thermoworks.com/TX-1607X-M1
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  • BugFreak72
    BugFreak72 Posts: 246
    Finished my first smoke with the Signals and Billows. I planned to use it on my Egg but the adapter was not an option yet so I used my 18.5" WSM. Real easy to setup. I lit one small spot in the charcoal with my looflighter then let Billows do the rest. Probably took about 20 minutes or so to 225. 

    I was able to change temps and fan speed on Bluetooth, WiFi and off-site through the app which was nice when I had to make an unscheduled Lowes run. I changed my fan temp setting a couple times and the new temps were met quickly. 

    I'm not sure if it was my old lighting method or not but I used way less charcoal when using the Billows versus before without. Maybe it was due to the very stable temps versus random spikes before?

    This is my first temp controller and I'm very happy with it. I can't say it's worth replacing an existing one but we'll worth it if you don't already own one.  I do wish the probe wires were a little longer without having to buy extensions though. Probably not an issue if you have a table but I had to use a chair near the smoker to hold the signals. 
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  • tblend
    tblend Posts: 1
    basic electrical question; can my BGE dual probe be used with thermoworks billows or do i have to purchase BGE genious fan

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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    mattvandyk said:
    Also, the BGE plate adapter has been released. It's out-of-stock, but you can buy it.

    https://www.thermoworks.com/TX-1607X-M1
    In stock now.
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,706
    tblend said:
    basic electrical question; can my BGE dual probe be used with thermoworks billows or do i have to purchase BGE genious fan

    Bge dual probe?  Is that the remote temp monitor that's shaped like an egg?  If yes, it will not work with anything.....I believe that's made by maverick.

    Not sure on the probes, but the Thermoworks probes are not interchangeable with the flameboss/eggenious controllers.  I believe thermoworks and maverick are interchangeable though (thermoworks being much much better quality).
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  • aem
    aem Posts: 146
    My Maverick is starting to act up.  I've convinced myself I want the Signals over the Smoke for built-in WiFi and future expansion.  I don't need the controller, yet; I have a DigiQ DX that works fine.  I'm just kicking myself I didn't buy when there were 20% off, now I have to wait for the next sale.
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