Thermometer recommendations - dome and pit

potterlu · November 2010

Hi all,

Quick question for anyone willing to answer. I was doing some pulled pork, and my fire went out overnight. It happens, but it was the first time for me. I would like to have known this happened a little sooner than I did. Anyone have recommendations for a thermometer that does both low and high temperature alarms?

Also, my dome thermometer, while reasonably accurate, has had the red fade out over time. Does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement that is a) accurate, and b) hopefully visible from space? I live in Canada, and would like to be able to check it from my back door (about ten feet from the grill). Winter isn't the most fun here, and running in and out of the house is something I'd like to minimize. Thanks in advance.

Luke

Rusty Rooster · November 2010

You will get lots of answers on what ones to buy. An easy way, with any thermometer, to read it from a distance is to twist it so your target temp. is straight up. Then when you look out all you have to see is how far & whic way from vertical it is to determine temp.

Ripnem · November 2010

Luke,

Maverick makes a monitor (probe) for both the dome and the meat. It will also notify you of temps over or under the range you have set for it.

Guru and a few others take that set-up to a higher level, by actually taking control of your temps (pit) and keep it around the temps you program ir for. It does this with a small fan you attach to the lower vent opening,

As for a dome therm. many of us have gone to a Tel-Tru. They make them in all sorts of sizes, ranges and styles. They do have specific models for the egg, but also have therms with huge faces, ones that glow and others that will adjust the direction they face. Pay close attention to the stem thickness and length. Most will get the 5" stem for the Lg and XL egg and the 2 1/2" stem for the smaller eggs.

One of the most owned and used therms here would probably be the thermapen though.

SmokeyPitt · November 2010

Like Rip said, the Maverick is the most popular. The current version is the ET-73. It is about $40 right now, and gives you both the meat and pit thermometer that you can view remotely. It has a high and low alarm for the pit temp, and a high alarm for the food temp.

They are coming out with a new model. ET-732. It has some advantages like a longer range and it tells you when you are out of range. Those are $60 and I think you can pre-order them now and they will ship in a couple of weeks.

I have the et-73 and I like it. It has a few annoying quirks. For one, the on/off switch for the transmitter is behind the battery door. Also, if you are out of range it just shows you the last reading- there is no good way to be sure you have an up to date reading.

I sometimes use it simply as a replacement for the dome thermometer so I don't have to walk outside. Even for a quick cook it is nice.

fishlessman · November 2010

maverick has a new one coming out with all the bells and whistles, google et 732. i would wait for that one or wait til some one posts a review here about it. i use the et 73 and its a little problematic but i can get by with it, im hoping the new one solves some of the problems it has as there are a few upgrades on it. do what rusty rooster says to do with the dome therm, needle straight up, you can see the direction of the needle from pretty far away. tel tru to upgrade the dome therm

thegrillster · November 2010

I would suggest s Stoker. More expensive but well worth the money.

Do a search on the forum for Stoker to find out more.

potterlu · November 2010

Thanks all; since I doubt I'll be doing any low and slow for a while now, I'll hold out on the ET-732 and also grab a Tel-Tru at some point in time.

Luke

2Fategghead · November 2010

Luke, I let my egg smoke butts at 250F or 125C. I fine my large egg likes them temps for an over night cook. You did not say what temp you were cooking at. Anyway you should be satisfied with the Tel-Tru probe I have two and they work great. Tim

Doug in Eggmonton · November 2010

Where abouts are you Luke? I'm in Edmonton and there are some great eggheads in Ontario, but we are a little thin on the ground.

Doug

Little Steven · November 2010

Doug,

Guessing Waterloo

Steve

Doug in Eggmonton · November 2010

Probably but by the way he was winging about the cold I figured him for the prairies.

Doug

Little Steven · November 2010

We all winge about the cold, you guys winge about really cold :laugh:

Doug in Eggmonton · November 2010

Everyone winges about the cold, I like to think some of have earned the right

Doug.

Little Steven · November 2010

Doug,

It's kind of funny, I don't feel the cold as badly out west as I do here even though the temps are typically lower. It's a drier cold if that makes any sense.Hate Winnipeg though.

Steve

JohnInCarolina · February 12

I'm curious, what did you end up doing here?

Canugghead · February 13

bump

Orsi · May 5

I don't care how dry it is out west, Winnipeg etc, when its minus 20 its cold!!!!

Orsi · May 5

I don't care how dry it is out west, Winnipeg etc, when its minus 20 its cold!!!!

Orsi · May 5

I don't care how dry it is out west, Winnipeg etc, when its minus 20 it's cold!!!!

Botch · May 5

Winnipeg! When I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB in ND I spent a few long weekends up there, and yeah it’s just as cold as GF. What was cool was the underground tunnels that connected most of the downtown buildings, you could walk anywhere and the tunnels were lined with grocers, restaurants and wine shops, really kinda neat. Can’t remember the mosquito quotient in the summer, but if it was anything like GF I won’t be back.

Botch · May 5

Winnipeg! When I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB in ND I spent a few long weekends up there, and yeah it’s just as cold as GF. What was cool was the underground tunnels that connected most of the downtown buildings, you could walk anywhere and the tunnels were lined with grocers, restaurants and wine shops, really kinda neat. Can’t remember the mosquito quotient in the summer, but if it was anything like GF I won’t be back.

Botch · May 5

Winnipeg! When I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB in ND I spent a few long weekends up there, and yeah it’s just as cold as GF. What was cool was the underground tunnels that connected most of the downtown buildings, you could walk anywhere and the tunnels were lined with grocers, restaurants and wine shops, really kinda neat. Can’t remember the mosquito quotient in the summer, but if it was anything like GF I won’t be back.

Botch · May 5

Winnipeg! When I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB in ND I spent a few long weekends up there, and yeah it’s just as cold as GF. What was cool was the underground tunnels that connected most of the downtown buildings, you could walk anywhere and the tunnels were lined with grocers, restaurants and wine shops, really kinda neat. Can’t remember the mosquito quotient in the summer, but if it was anything like GF I won’t be back.

flexfusion · May 5

I've gone throught a few and found Therm Works' "Signal" to be awesome. If you had this, and it was set accurately you would have been woken up. I would also suggest not to purchase any of Fireboars products. They have very poor customer service.

flexfusion · May 5

I've gone throught a few and found Therm Works' "Signal" to be awesome. If you had this, and it was set accurately you would have been woken up. I would also suggest not to purchase any of Fireboars products. They have very poor customer service.

flexfusion · May 5

I've gone throught a few and found Therm Works' "Signal" to be awesome. If you had this, and it was set accurately you would have been woken up. I would also suggest not to purchase any of Fireboars products. They have very poor customer service.

Thermometer recommendations - dome and pit

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