Stoker 2 Fails Me Again

DoubleEgger · May 2015

New Stoker unit freezes up during a cook. All the lights are on as if it's working but it's not. I have to reset the unit to get it working. Pit temp dropped from 225 to 187 before I caught it. I bought the Stoker so I could get some sleep not to refresh the computer screen every five minutes to see if it is still working. This has happened every time I have tried to do a low and slow. (Four times in a row now)

Called Rocks on Thursday about this and didn't receive a call back yet. Hope this doesn't turn into a PITA to get fixed.

nolaegghead · May 2015

Uncharacteristic. They're usually reliable. Technology can be your best friend or worst enemy. If you set the vents so it's stable 5 degrees or so below your set point you'll be fine in the morning (unless the blower is stuck on). I used my DigiQ the first year or so, but I don't bother anymore. Good luck my friend.

DoubleEgger · May 2015

And it failed again..... Definitely not a happy camper right now. I can maintain the temp a lot better with the daisy wheel.

stompbox · May 2015

I only used mine once so far but had no issues. I bought mine around the same time as you so I am crossing my fingers for the future.

mahenryak · May 2015

I have the Stoker I. @DoubleEgger is there a chance that the Egg is in a wide temperature swing when this is happening? Meaning, maybe the Egg overshot the target by a good margin and then it took a while to cool down? I ask because I notice when this has happened to me on occasion that the fan can take quite a while to kick in again. Almost like there is an algorithm of some kind that's trying to average things out. Probably a bit of a reach, here, I know.

Backyard Mike · May 2015

I have Stoker 1 and have never had a problem. The company means well and tries hard but does get overwhelmed. Keep trying them.

Cookbook_Chip · May 2015

stompbox said:

I only used mine once so far but had no issues. I bought mine around the same time as you so I am crossing my fingers for the future.

Me too. Got mine with y'all. Used twice so far and worked as expected. Good luck!

BamaFanInArky · May 2015

Have you guys been able to connect to wireless? I have an Apple AirPort Extreme that I plug into and it gives me an IP address (070.001.etc), but I can't connect to the webpage when I type it in. I've watched every video, but no luck!

Cookbook_Chip · May 2015

@BamaFanInArky make sure not to type leading zeros. So type 070.x as 70.x

Aussie · May 2015

The only problem I had was operator error ,me. when learning how to run the thing I associated the blower with the food probe and not the pit probe.
Anyway it was a newby mistake, which I figured out after the alarms going off a couple of time.
Great piece of kit though

4Runner · May 2015

I've had a Stoker, Stoker WiFi and a Stoker II WiFi with no issues. Nothing like the comfort of a good temp controller.

You need to send that one back as it is defective. Rock will take care of you.

DoubleEgger · May 2015

mahenryak said:

I have the Stoker I. @DoubleEgger is there a chance that the Egg is in a wide temperature swing when this is happening? Meaning, maybe the Egg overshot the target by a good margin and then it took a while to cool down? I ask because I notice when this has happened to me on occasion that the fan can take quite a while to kick in again. Almost like there is an algorithm of some kind that's trying to average things out. Probably a bit of a reach, here, I know.

No temp swings. Does it several hours into a cook. I set the temp lower initially counting on the overshoot and then feather the temp up to desired level. Last time it froze up, the temp was within 2 degrees. Did it a total of three times in 11 hours. Didn't get any sleep last night because I didn't trust it.

mahenryak · May 2015

DoubleEgger said:

No temp swings. Does it several hours into a cook. I set the temp lower initially counting on the overshoot and then feather the temp up to desired level. Last time it froze up, the temp was within 2 degrees. Did it a total of three times in 11 hours. Didn't get any sleep last night because I didn't trust it.

Okay. Sounds like you're pretty much following the same procedure as me. I'm sure they will make it right. I just hope for your sake it's sooner, rather than later. These units are not cheap and folks deserve reliable, prompt customer service.

DoubleEgger · May 2015

It definitely wasn't cheap buying a setup for two eggs....

DoubleEgger · May 2015

Still no response back from Rock's. Hopefully, I don't have a fiasco on my hands.

hapster · May 2015

sorry for the trouble you are having and I hope you get it resolved without too much fuss... This post makes me happy that I didn't get a pit controller of any type, and instead let the egg do what it's designed to do... my low n slows almost always stay +/- 20 at the max

4Runner · May 2015

@hapster - read mine then with no issues to counter your happiness.

@doublegger - no neet to set low and feather. Just light and small spot and immediately let the Stoker take over. Once you are stable, then throw on the meat. This is a side note as I still think you have defective unit. Have you called them or emailed? I have no luck via email and they are on the west coast. Just call them and keep calling until they pickup. Good luck and please post resolution.

hapster · May 2015

4Runner said:

@hapster - read mine then with no issues to counter your happiness.

I don't have any issues with anyone having or buying one of these units; it just seems to be a very expensive and at times complicated solution to a non existent problem for the most part. I'm sorry that he's experiencing the issues he is; I would be pissed spending that much on something and not having it work as advertised, so I can appreciate his frustration.

4Runner · May 2015

just joking.

DoubleEgger · May 2015

4Runner said:

@hapster - read mine then with no issues to counter your happiness.

@doublegger - no neet to set low and feather. Just light and small spot and immediately let the Stoker take over. Once you are stable, then throw on the meat. This is a side note as I still think you have defective unit. Have you called them or emailed? I have no luck via email and they are on the west coast. Just call them and keep calling until they pickup. Good luck and please post resolution.

Called and emailed. You do have to feather the temp on a medium regardless of whether you are using a monitor. If you overshoot the temp on a medium egg low and slow, you'll play hell getting her back down to temp. The stoker will overshoot by 15-20 degrees if left alone at startup.

mahenryak · May 2015

DoubleEgger said:

... If you overshoot the temp on a medium egg low and slow, you'll play hell getting her back down to temp. The stoker will overshoot by 15-20 degrees if left alone at startup.

FWIW I have found the same to be true for my large, particularly during the winter months (5 F to 15 F).

4Runner · May 2015

@doublegger and @mahenryak - You must be lighting too large of an area or maybe your top vent is open too much. Checkout my graph posted in the below thread and you can see how the Stoker adjusts the fan as the grate temp approaches and then reaches my target temp. Nowhere near 10 degree or higher overshoot. Feathering only means the Stoker takes longer to stabilize your cook. At least that is has been my experience as used to do exactly what you are describing until told otherwise.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/1724323/#Comment_1724323

DoubleEgger · May 2015

I have to keep the smokeware cap closed to have a chance with the medium. The stoker doesn't overshoot on my XL just the medium. Mediums have a tendency to jump in temp rapidly.

4Runner · May 2015

DoubleEgger said:

I have to keep the smokeware cap closed to have a chance with the medium. The stoker doesn't overshoot on my XL just the medium. Mediums have a tendency to jump in temp rapidly.

Got it. I only have the Large. Even when you light just the smallest of lump on your medium? I wish I had a medium to test with my setup. I will say my Stoker WiFi II is faster and does a better job maintaining temp than the Stoker or Stoker WiFi I. I have also made the mistake of sitting up the fan upside down. I quickly realized it when the temp kept going up and up.

mahenryak · May 2015

I take your point 4Runner and I think this time of year I tend to be a little less worried about it. I'm just in a habit now of manually bringing it up to temp and then inserting the Stoker fan at or a little before target temp. I just feel more confident this way, I suppose. Plus, in the winter if I have to check on something I might lose 40 to 60 degrees for a few moments. On a few occasions where the fan has come back on too soon, meaning the pit temp was still significantly below target temp, I have overshot my target temp by a significant margin. Some of this may very well be due to inconsistencies in initial lighting, or maybe airflow even though I have the hi-que grate, but I don't have to worry about it if I keep to my simple guidelines. This little 'feature' has never ruined any of my cooks. I have always slept comfortably during overnight cooks and the Stoker's temperature has otherwise been dead on throughout the cook. Anyway, I don't want to hijack DoubleEgger's thread, here.

4Runner · May 2015

I'm convinced @DoubleEgger has a defective unit. As soon as he catches a person at Rock's, they will take care of him for sure. I too run modified grate for additional airflow and Smokeware up top. I tend to start my fire and forget about it so I just light and button up everything and then come back an hour or two later with the meat. In the end, whatever works for you is all good.

DoubleEgger · May 2015

Oh I know it's defective! It just randomly decides to quit working and freezes up.

Ozzie_Isaac · May 2015

DoubleEgger said:

I have to keep the smokeware cap closed to have a chance with the medium. The stoker doesn't overshoot on my XL just the medium. Mediums have a tendency to jump in temp rapidly.

My medium and Flameboss 100 overshoots by about 50 deg during startup. I have the adaptive trims turned off since I use it on my XL too. My solution is to light a small spot then set temp to 190. After it settles I adjust from there with no overshooting.

DoubleEgger · May 2015

^^^ that's what I started doing on the medium.

lkapigian · May 2015

@DoubleEgger are you using an APP or just the control console, used mine half dozen times since I got it last month, no issues....I did have to return my First one before ever using it because it would just freeze trying to set it up...lights should not be on, just the blower when it's running

4Runner · May 2015

@DoubleEgger - once you get your replacement Stoker WiFi II, test it out on the overshoot and post results. I have found the Stoker WiFi II is an improvement. Interested to read about your results on the Medium.

Stoker 2 Fails Me Again

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