Best temperature control unit

KingFisher

Hey there my fellow Eggers.  I know this question has been answered a number of times but I'm going to bring it up again as most of the info and posts are old.  I am researching the current crop of temperature control units and want to gauge this communities opinion on the one you think is the best in terms of ease of setup, getting to temp and other features like wifi and Bluetooth connectivity.  From previous posts, it is clear that a number of you have multiple units so I thought this would be the ideal place to get an unbiased opinion.  Stay safe, Be kind and keep on Egging.

lkapigian

Dont overthink temp, or temp control....your egg has a sweet spot, find it and you will be fine

Thatgrimguy

They all work great. Everyone is just going to recommend whatever they bought.

Griffin

Flame Boss. Whatever model has the features you want/need

PigBeanUs

Daisy wheel

stlcharcoal

Used my Flame Boss 500 last night.....love it!

lousubcap

I'm in the camp of learning how to run your BGE w/o a controller so when whatever one you buy craps out you can still get a great result.  I don't own one.
BTW- welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.  Above all, have fun.

sumoconnell

I'd say buy as many as you can  

They all use a similar PID programming model, some with fancier features (like open lid detect) vs others.  From there, it's weatherproofing, WiFi enablement, GUI/ease of use and build quality.  Most are pretty good these days, agreed with @Thatgrimguy


If you're handy, the heatermeter DIY project was fun for me.  I also agree with @lousubcap - most of the time I just use the daisy wheel since it's easier.  I have a remote temp monitor to wake me up if needed.

RRP

Hmmm…the BEST is the one you don’t buy thereby not wasting your money! Im just being honest after wasting $700 on a couple of them, one which went bad and the other I only used once. Save your money and just learn to use the simple to set, and simple to control BGE via the bottom vent and most of us further enhance the control with the daisy. You can thank me later! 

PigBeanUs

I agree with ron

it’s nice to have cruise control, but if you don’t know how to maintain a steady pace the old fashioned way, you don’t really know how to drive. 

4TheGrillOfIt

I’ve never looked at a controller as being a crutch or it doing something I can’t.  It’s just another toy to play with and allows one to remotely monitor and control long cooks.  Nothing wrong with that.

I use an Egg Genius and it works fine.  

danhoo

I like the convenience when I don't have the time to monitor it. 


I went with a smoke x4 with a billows. I'm told the billows is way too much fan for a large BGE but it works well for me. 

I like the handheld remote, and not having to use a tablet or smartphone as a remote. 

Edit. I should add, do your research of what matters to you. 

OhioEgger

FWIW, I was happy with the Flame Boss 200 for several years, but replaced it this year with a Smobot. I like the Smobot much better because it seems to have a better algorithm for steady temp control.

Most of the time I just use the daisy wheel, but a controller is great for long cooks -- takes the stress out of the matter.

CornfedMA

I went with a Smobot. I use it a few times per year. We entertain a lot during the summer and when people are here, they want to be on the beach or the boat during the day, so it definitely helps to have it. I like that it’s basically a passive controller with no fan and that I can monitor/change the cook from anywhere on my phone. 

stlcharcoal

Don't get shamed from everybody here that will tell you "it's a crutch, it's cheating, you don't need it, etc."  Every one of them has AC in their house when they could sweat, a car when they could walk, a smart phone, power windows, a sh!tload of other convenience items that make life easier, including the most obvious one--a BIG GREEN EGG when the could have just bought a Weber "and learned how to use it."  

I have been egg'ing since 1995 and could run mine without a temp controller 95%+ of the time with minimal adjustments, up until 2010 or so when I bought my first controller.  But I always needed to keep an eye on it because there are times that the wind changes or other factors change just enough to screw up the flow.

I have four kids, three companies, and four jobs.  I don't want to have to worry about it or risk forgetting......makes my life easier.  It's cheap insurance to make sure you don't have a flame out, lose a $60+ brisket, or disrupt a party with a hard start time.

Get one and tell all the nay-sayers to go be poor somewhere else.  

fishlessman

waste my money on ac in the house, no way. at&t is taking my flip phone away and sending my a free smart phone when they cancel out my 3g plan, kinda pisses me off. rollup windows in the truck for 38 of 41 years of driving (i dont think automatic windows were an option in my current truck and im not particularly fond of carpets in there either). webers dont work at minus 20 degrees so i was stuck getting an egg. i do have the first guru pit master made, a damper plate with a thermal spring action, no fan, electricity needed seldom use the pit master, its just as easy to use the daisy.  set up for a low and slow, add meat, go to bed, wake up in the morning and check on things, get in the boat and leave til the afternoon, take meat out and eat. could someone explain why i need ac, rollup windows, a smart phone, a pit controller.....wait i do like having ac in the truck, after 38 of 41 years driving without it, i do find it nice as i get older, still not going to happen in the house, im not paying for that

StillH2OEgger

A controller is only a crutch if you don't learn how to use the BGE without one. Some also prefer turbo, which is fine, but if you prefer doing overnighters that is where the controller is most useful. I have no complaints about my smobot and I'm sure the others work well, too. I like being able to monitor and make adjustments from anywhere if I happen to be playing golf or running errands. I've paid far less for countless other mostly worthless tools or accessories, but I wouldn't hesitate to get another controller.

Fred19Flintstone

Wilma bought the Smoke system from Thermoworks for my birthday.  I have the DigiQ2 system, but I think it’s run it’s course and dropping it didn’t help.  The Smoke system can be monitored and controlled by a smartphone.

It’ll get its maiden voyage this weekend with a couple of butts while I’m busy wrenching on my tractor and going to the parts store.

danhoo

I have a Thermoworks Smoke X4 with a Billows.  The Smoke X4 has it's own remote to display temps and alarms but does not have Wifi or Bluetooth. 

They have a similar unit called a Signals that does works with your smartphone but does not have a remote.

I really like being able to light the egg, set the temp, put on food and then go back to working in my home office and not worry about temps, while having the convenience of the temp of the grill and and the food right in front of me.

Thegrim1

I have the old cyberq, never been an issue. Just works. Pain in the ass to set up on network though. 

loco_engr

on my 3rd cook on the XL I did a rack of spares . . . I thought it was stabilized @ 250 but ck'g 2 1/2 hrs later, temp had creaped up over 300 and they were IT'd in the done range.   Thinking I've always been old school w/o any temp control gadgets but maybe it's time.  I'm currently looking at a Flame Boss. Nearest BBQ store has it @ $349 . . . seriously considering it