Egg Genius... yea or nay?

Seymour_Smoke

  Greetings from a relatively new egger.
 I did a search here but it turned up no threads for the Egg Genius or temp controller which is surprising. Search guidance tips would be appreciated. 
 My limited research into online reviews of several temp controllers hasn't turned up any clear winner so far. 
 Could someone please recommend a thread on this topic. Looking for a reliable controller for an XLBGE.
    Regards, Mike

Seymour_Smoke

BTW, even the thread below didn't come up in my search.
Regards, Mike

EzraBrooks

Welcome. The search function on this site is not the best. In the future try googling "egghead forum [topic]" and I think you'll get better results.

I had a temp controller when I first started cooking and felt like it was more trouble than it was worth. I'd be constantly worried about it not holding temp, or the fan kicking up when I opened the lid. I know there's a learning curve, and for me it was long, but I feel like I can basically "set and forget" the egg now that I went through it. So my opinion would be don't waste your money.

OhioEgger

It has actually been discussed a fair amount here. This should help you:
eggheadforum.com: egg genius

Seymour_Smoke

Thank you for the search tip Ezra.
I've resisted getting a controller so far. I'm getting pretty good at holding temps manually but am looking forward to doing overnight briskets and thought it might be time to go digital. 
I'm sure that I still wouldn't sleep even with a controller running. 
Regards, Mike

WeberWho

I'd look at something like this if you're looking for something around a few hundred bucks. I had a basic Auber Instruments controller years ago and it was excellent. I never had an issue with it. I gave it to my brother-in-law and he still uses it to this day. I would have bought this given it price point and good experience from the company if I didn't get a really good deal on a Flame Boss 500. 

https://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_100_101_110&products_id=970

The Ink Bird looks interesting for $120 but I have no personal experience with it. 

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Temperature-Controller-Automatic-Thermometer/dp/B0BQ23D117/ref=asc_df_B0BQ23D117/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693713553256&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=386777677259799502&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019810&hvtargid=pla-2019577709277&psc=1&mcid=7a93236a5b2f3169a3ac67c663cc6910&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWZPw8W1Llz9R7B9dEfphyV9Ll7UZTgC0XaeE2cP3rtX4goZbBgWddAaAu0dEALw_wcB

OhioEgger

I should also mention that although I've had a few of that kind, I've been very happily using the Smobot for the last few years and think it's by far the best controller available.

Seymour_Smoke

Thanks everyone!
  

alaskanassasin

Smobot. Simple

danhoo

I have a Thermoworks Billows with a smoke X4 and only use it for overnight slow and low cooks. I stablize temps with meat on without the fan running and when I go to bed I set the fan temp 5 degrees below pit temp. It's more of an insurance play than a temp controller. 

Seymour_Smoke

danhoo, I like your thinking on this. Thx

Mr_D

I have a Flame Boss and it's rock solid for controlling temps. 

Seymour_Smoke

  Thanks everyone.  I decided to go with the Smobot and am very happy. I've done 8 or 10 cooks with it and am very pleased with its temperature stability. On the first run, it did it's calibration thing for a couple of hours and settled in right at the set 300° point. It has been very consistent on every cook and has had very little temp overrun after opening the lid. I have a Weber for grilling so all of my cooks on the XLBGE have been low & slow.
 One note that I hadn't considered with the Smobot is that as with any of the vent caps, it will require regular cleaning to keep it opening smoothly. 
  Thoughts on how to keep it clean?

Thanks again, regards, Mike

6baluts

@Seymour_Smoke
- I have found for me on cleaning the Smobot robotic damper that Isopropyl Alcohol (higher percentage the better) and cotton balls work fine. - After the initial clean off which took a while, after every 2-3 cooks I just wipe it off and it works like a champ.
- Think I am 250+ cooks in with the Smobot and it has become my go to controller. Heck they even make adapters now for Webers.

Botch

Seymour_Smoke said:

One note that I hadn't considered with the Smobot is that as with any of the vent caps, it will require regular cleaning to keep it opening smoothly. 
Thoughts on how to keep it clean?

Thanks again, regards, Mike

I got to the point where I disassembled my Smobot every spring and scrubbed off the gunk between the rotating leaf/disks, in the sink with soap and hot water.  Be warned, there are small screws and washers that are very easy to lose, keep track of them.  
And a hint for you or any Smobot user.  I bought my Large assembled, but never received the ceramic cap; I didn't worry about it as I was using the DMSR or whatever its called, so I could just close it up to snuff the fire.  Once the Smobot was installed, I couldn't do that until I came up with this hack: turn the controller off at the end of the cook, then switch it back on.  This power cycle causes the servo to cycle between fully open and fully closed, simply Power Off again as soon as it fully closes; fire snuffed!  This "power cycle" is also a good time to tell when it's time to disassemble and clean (when the Egg is cold, not at the end of a cook).  

Seymour_Smoke

Thanks guys, cleaning the Smobot with isopropyl alcohol worked very well.  The tip from Botch works too!
 Regards, Mike

alaskanassasin

I never clean mine, seals better.

JohnInCarolina

I think we know then answer now.

Legume

kl8ton