Looking for a new temperature controller...which one?

Jolly_Roger

Well my tried and true BBQ Guru crapped out after only 4 years. First the food temp stopped working earlier in the year and now the pit temp quit working too.  BBQ Guru is offering to replace the controller and probes for $121.  My concern is, will the new one suffer the same fate after only a few years too?  Maybe I'd be better off putting that $121 towards a more reliable brand.  Which one do you all use and how long have you had it?  Thanks in advance.
JR

BigreenGreg

I’ve had the Flame Boss 500 for a couple of years, really like it. @stlcharcoal sells them. Had the Guru before it.

Dondgc

Is the whole unit bad or just the probes?

Jolly_Roger

@Dondgc
That's the thing, I don't know.  How can I test them?  BBQ Guru said they would sell me 2 new probes for $44.  That I can swallow.

OhioEgger

My Flame Boss 200 is five years old and going strong.

Too bad you didn't swap the probes when the first one quit -- that would tell you whether it was the controller or the probe that was bad. 

If you really like using it, I would probably get the new probes for $44 and see if that cured the problem.

6baluts

Most likely it is just the probes and I would go the $44 route.
With that said I have the following controllers and will comment on them below. No I do not collect them just have kids that obviously do not talk amongst themselves.
- BBQGuru DX2- Best constructed control box of the lot. Never any probe issues. Dealt with customer service once. Great experience. This is a non web controller.
- Flameboss 200. Web based. Works great. Mr. Collins tech support is fantastic. App is decent. Data logging and cook notes are straight forward. Seem to have server issues worked out. For some reason this controller hates my Primo XL however no issues with my 4 BGE's or Kikuya Hibatchi Pot. 
- Smobot. Web based. Simple to use. No stinking fan. Data logging is fine and very simplistic. Cook notes are okay. Out of all my controllers this one keeps the tightest temp margins...pretty much flat line cooks. This has become my goto controller. I like there app. Curtis and Eric are very responsive when you have a question.
- Fireboard (first version) good graphics and notes. I use the pit viper and flameboss fans. Took a while to figure this controller out. Company is very innovative and leans forward. A lot of the innovation came before they became the controller of choice for Yoder. This partnership I personally think is a good thing and NO I do not own a Yoder (MAK yes).  Has cook programs etc like some of the higher end pellet grills. Not my favorite or least favorite controller. Never have had any issues. I finally sprung for the water resistant box which was pretty steep in price. Intially my temps were all over the place then found how to limit fan control. Keeps a tighter rein on temp fluctuations than the DX2 or Flameboss. 
- Fireboard 2-Drive. Updated version of the original (no drive cable) which is a plus and full screen on controller. Truth be told if I could find a good/great deal on the original with drive cable I woukd pass on the Fireboard 2 drive. 
Overall Smobot for the win. I like it because "No Fan" and your kamado cooks and breathes normally. However they all make a great product

PigBeanUs

Lower slide vent and the daisy wheel work well. 

Haven’t lost an overnight in a dozen years. No battery or wifi connectivity issues. 

Sleep like a baby. 

OEM

DonWW

I've had a Flame Boss 300 for years and works like a charm.

StillH2OEgger

Don't have experience with any of the others, but smobot has worked wonderfully for me. I'm you'll be happy with any of the models suggested above, but I like the no-fan simplicity.

6baluts

@PBU has a decent point. Myself I have been cooking on Kamado's since 1977 and been eating food off of them since 59 or 60. 
- I have yet to lose any food day or night knock on wood on any cook. Guess it is better to be lucky than good.
- With that said the convience of a controller is in the eye of the beholder. Too me they are a great addition to others not so much.
- Full disclosure the closest I have come to potentially ruining a cook (brisket) was on my Primo XL with the FB-200 at the helm. Cook was going great, started feeling like hammered dog $hit went to the ER had a kidney stone. While doped up on dilauded my phone alarmed temp was at 265 and going up like a rocket. My better 90% shot home disconnected the fan and reset bottom damper and cameback to hospital to drag my gumpy hind end home. Next morning while still doped I looked at cooking graphs pit temp got as high as 470° and fan was at 100%. Brisket came out fine.
- That controller does not like my Primo. Have had 5 runaway fires with it on that cooker. Never an issue though on my BGE's or Kikuya.
- Bottom line convient, yes more so as I age and get lazy, necessary no and nothing replaces the common sense knowledge on daisy wheel and damper settings as my wifeproved.on 

cookingdude555

Auber is a long time mfr of PID controllers, and I currently have their newest model, and it works really well.  If you don't like fan based controllers, I have a smobot and it works really well too.  But honestly, I would buy one of the probes from BBQ Guru to test your controller.  Small investment to determine if replacement is needed.

Photo Egg

The newer BBQ Guru probes are better than the older models. But direct flames will still burn them up.
I believe they are even dishwasher safe, but I personally would not chance it.
If they will sell 2 probes and controller for $121 I think I would jump on this offer unless you just want to upgrade to a newer WiFi unit.
I don’t use mine often but really like the ability to adjust my temps when I’m away from home. This way I can bump or lower my temps to better finish my cooks to my time line. I’m now using the FB 500. Also like being able to run the unit from small battery pack. There are other brands that will also run from batter packs.

Ozzie_Isaac

I currently have a Beta Unit Smobot, a first gen Flameboss 100 (I think @Griffin had has before me), and a FB 200.

Cannot go wrong with either the Smobot or FB.  Both great products with owners who are directly involved and stand behind their product.

All three units have worked great for many many years.

@reinhart36 and @MichaelCollins

Fred19Flintstone

My BBQ Guru DigiQ2 crapped out on me this winter.  I’m replacing it with Signals & Bellows from Thermaworks. They had 25% off on their site so I pulled the trigger.  I like the freedom of forgetting about it & just checking in with it from time to time until the cook is done.  Signals works on an app so I like that as well.

Griffin

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I currently have a Beta Unit Smobot, a first gen Flameboss 100 (I think @Griffin had has before me), and a FB 200.

Cannot go wrong with either the Smobot or FB.  Both great products with owners who are directly involved and stand behind their product.

All three units have worked great for many many years.

@reinhart36 and @MichaelCollins

Yeah, I've got the original FlameBoss that they sent me to review back in 2013 and the following one the FlameBoss100. Never had a problem with either one and both are holding up great, though neither are still available on their website. I wouldn't think twice about getting another one from them if one of them crapped out. 

dstearn

I have the new Ultra Q. So far so good. It can hold 225 temps for low and slow. They just updated the firmware and app with so that you can log into Share My Cook and graph your history directly on the app whether you are at home or remote.

caliking

@6baluts .... wait... hold up a minit...

Forget temp controllers... your bride took you to the ER, hightailed it back home to save your cook, then came back to pick your sorry a$$ up??

Does she have a sister?

6baluts

@caliking, yeah she has two of them and neither of them are user friendly. I would give a go around on both of them.
- Not by any means did I get the pick of the litter, but I have kept her on retainer for going on 45 yrs.
- Now concerning the cook (brisket), the woman has to eat also. She has her priorities right.  Besides watching a kidney stone patient all drugged up does not equal a PO'd spouse ruining a "Chunk O Chest" too include the inevitable griping and blame squarely being placed on her shoulders.
- All joking aside, she surprised and impressed me by springing into action and saving the day/cook. Never thought I would see the day she would futz with a Kamado. Gasser yes, heck she has even used Hastybake and Weber kettle in the past, so she has some grill skill.
- You all have a great weekend. Back to packing for the upcoming move which by the way WILL be worse than any kidney stone.

TheToast

Smobot. Had it nearly 4 years. I managed to toast a temperature probe - the grill one - by stupidly leaving it on the grill when I was direct grilling so it overheated. But replacements are quite cheap - just for me in the uk I get stung by the postage. 

 I think it’s a great device. Runs off a small USB phone battery, the web / app controls are great. 

Jolly_Roger

I took the advice from several of you and replaced the probes for $44 and it worked perfectly.  The new probes look beefier than the original ones.  Thanks for all of your stories and anecdotes.  Cheers!

OhioEgger

Jolly_Roger said:

I took the advice from several of you and replaced the probes for $44 and it worked perfectly.  The new probes look beefier than the original ones.  Thanks for all of your stories and anecdotes.  Cheers!

See? The best advice is always from some random strangers on the interwebs!
  

6baluts

@Jolly_Roger glad it worked out for you. $44 damage is not bad to be up and running again. Good Luck!!!

moose3356

I like my Smobot great temp control