How to care for Smobot grid temp probe?

OhioEgger

I've had my Smobot for about three years and I absolutely love it. But I'm now on my third temperature probe (the one with the alligator clip that goes on the grid). They just get black and eventually start having only an intermittent connection to the controller.
Is that typical, or am I doing something wrong? I try not to let it get crimped and keep it away from the very edge, but is there something else?

Botch

I got to where I automatically buy a spare probe any time I bought a new controller (of which there've been way too many).  I did wrap my Smobot pit probe wire with some tin foil, and it's still working so far.  
 
The Thermoworks company offers a lot of "heavy duty" probes, but the selection is a bit overwhelming.  https://www.thermoworks.com/shop/products/probes/  

Elijah

I also wrap the whole wire in rather loose aluminum foil as a heat shield. I just focus on the braided part and bring it all the way up until I can compress the foil at the gasket. I haven't lost one in years after starting that with fairly regular use

6baluts

- Sorry to hear of your issue. I have been lucky so far and have yet to have any issues with the Smobot probes almost 300 cooks in ( most likely just jinxed myself).
- Here is a decent writeup by thermoworks. https://blog.thermoworks.com/thermometer/probe-safety-a-guide/
- If the tension idea talked about above trips your trigger search on the web for a "probe tree". BBQ Guru made one for about $12 if I remember correctly.

OhioEgger

Yeah, I do the same so I always have a spare on hand, but I was curious whether I was missing something.
Not a big deal, and the Smobot is worth the maintenance cost.

alaskanassasin

I have never had a problem with mine @OhioEgger maybe Eric can chime in, I don’t remember his handle 

alaskanassasin

Possibly try scratching the plug terminals to make better contact? 

I also never unplug  my grill clamp probe

OhioEgger

OK, thanks guys.
I guess using foil shielding for the wire is the way to go.

Captnrontx

I cannot disagree with any of the comments, but in over two years of usage, I’ve never had a probe issue with my Smobot.