Grate temp during brisket stall

Duuane

I've only done a couple briskets before today, but I'm familiar with "the stall" Previously the grate temp stayed consistent during the stall, I didn't make any adjustments, and I patiently waited for the stall to end. Today the grate temp went down 15 degrees about an hour and a half into the stall. Is that sometimes to be expected?   Thanks!

stlcharcoal

It could just be the fire moving around in the firebox.  That probe is only measuring one cubic inch of airspace under the dome, and it can vary from side to side, especially in an XL.  Don't worry too much about 15F or even 25F.  If it's 50F, then yeah something is up.

Best practices.....Keep the pit probe at least an inch or two away from the meat or outer ceramic, not over a drip pan, out of direct view of the fire (over a plate setter leg), and have an insulator between the alligator clip and grill grate.

Grogu

I clip my “grate” probe to the dome thermometer instead of the grate.

Duuane

I was using a Meater probe, which i think worked very nicely. The finish temp on the App was the same as my Thermapen when I double checked it. The end that measured the ambient temp, which I called the grate temp was within 1.5" of the grate but near the meat so maybe that affected it as well as the fire moving in the box, which I hadn't thought of. Anyway, thanks for the replies. I realize that if there are no pics, it didn't happen, but the brisket turned out very good.