I installed a Thermoworks DOT in my dome. Turned out well for me.

EggersRUs

Short version: I'm glad that I bought a DOT instead of replacing my dome thermometer

Long version

Would I do it again if my dome thermometer wasn't bad? Yes.

Realized my dome thermometer was off by how my pizzas were cooking.

Instead of replacing the dome thermometer I decided to go with a Thermoworks DOT. 

Much/most of the things I could find on calibrating a dome thermometer involved boiling water, and I felt my dome thermometer was reasonably accurate at that range but not at higher temperatures.

I made a temporary that may become permanent mounting piece for the probe out of a piece of bent coat \\hanger. The probe sensor sits about an inch or so from the dome thermometer. Photo attached.

Some things I noticed, may/maynot relate to BGE, but probably are similar. The Kamado Joe does have thicker ceramic than others so I have read.

The DOT measures air temp, the factory Thermometer is placed through the dome ceramic and is influenced by the ceramic temps and is much slower responding. Realization of this is key to understanding the dome temps and how long it may take the dome to stabilize. I had settled years ago on stabilizing at temperature for ten minutes, and this appears to work well with a Kamado Joe and for me it may be less with a BGE and for you.

My reason for stabilizing is I'm thinking that the Kamado ovens cook by radiating heat from the ceramic and uniformly cooking while the temps are adjusted by air flow and that not so much airflow through the oven helps keep the cook from drying out. You can confirm the need for stabilizing by touching the bottom of the kamado with your hand. If it doesn't feel close to as hot as the top does, you're not going to be radiating heat from the bottom of the egg for your cook.

Does the DOT make me a better cook?  Probably not. It does make for an easier cook, simply by giving more information.

It does make me better and quicker at reaching a temp and stabilizing there.

While I do have a raised grid, and cook with a Thermopen, I haven't gone in for many of the accessories that I see being sold. I just don't think I would use them enough although I'm usually cooking three or four nights a week on the Kamado. Probably will do less now that it's winter here in South Carolina.

I cooked salmon tonight that took fourteen minutes to cook and the total time including ten minutes stabilizing from fire up to sitting down to eat was 43 minutes. Ambient temp here was 43/45 or so.

I can't say if buying and rigging one of these is best for you to do, I can say that if I had it to do over again I would do it before my dome thermometer started acting up.

Hope this may help someone here.

Kayak

Why is the cable run inside? I just bought another DOT because I've bounce tested mine one too many times. I like them and like the idea of the air temp probe mounted there. Awesome!

EggersRUs

Made more sense to me, than running it another way.

My older Kamado Joe, has a top that is great for pizza cooking since you can look down inside it, but no way for a cable to make it through the top when closed.

Anywhere else and you're not going to choke off enough air to choke off the fire, on mine anyhow.

I normally have it pulled more to the side than in the pic, and let the gasket seal it off.

How do you run your cable?

Kayak

Wouldn't it pass through the dome gauge hole to the outside? I don't have it set up, I still put it on the grate and pinch it between top and bottom.

RRP

Kayak said:

Why is the cable run inside? I just bought another DOT because I've bounce tested mine one too many times. I like them and like the idea of the air temp probe mounted there. Awesome!

I couldn’t figure that out either! BTW I often have removed my dome thermometer and inserted my DOT in the hole...but my cable is always outside! 

EggersRUs

I didn't think of removing the dome thermometer and going thru that hole.

I thought maybe my post would help someone, and instead you guys are helping me.

I probably went that way originally to check the accuracy of the dome thermometer ( off more than 20 degrees above 300.)

Thanks for your posts!

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I am so confused