New Pro 850 - ACT Temperature reading issue

[Tcope1984]

No once it hits the set temp it stays.. but in my opinion that’s how it should be it shouldn’t fluctuate at all... the fluctuation is just to show you the direction it’s headed for what it’s set at... the app shows what the actual temp is.

Mine doesn’t it stays steady on whatever the set temp is. The act temp will read whatever I have it set at indefinitely

 

[Tcope1984]

Maybe something is wrong and I’m just used to the way it is lol Then again it’s so cold where I live that I use the app, the app shows actually temp and set temp... I’m curious though... let a brother know!

Just got off the phone with pit boss. Flame tech guy never got back to me but I was able to get a resolution with pit boss. It’s good news / bad news lol. She said that it is not operating like it should so the good news is that a new “updated” controller should fix the problem. Bad news is they don’t currently have any in stock to ship out. She put me on a list to receive one as soon as they come in. She estimated by the end of the month. I am going to get a new ambient probe and double check temps and she said I should be able to use until new controller comes in.

 

[SRS’sgonepellet]

My AustinXL does the same thing and I’ve decided that it not a big deal. I also agree with others that you really don’t have a problem. I hope the new controller works and doesn’t make things worse. The on board therms and thermostats settings never match my secondary Inkbird temp probes which is dead on balls accurate at measuring grate and meat temps. I only pay attention to the IB temps and adjust the PB thermostat up and down to the swing zone that I want.

 

[Themuttsnuts]

I purchased my first pellet grill, a new pro 850 from Lowes the other day. The issue I am having is after startup and everything I set the temperature at, lets use 300 as an example. The grill begins to heat up and the ACT temp reads out degree by degree as it climbs. Once the ACT temp reaches the 300 SET temp, the ACT temp display constantly reads 300 as the ACT temp. If I change the temp to 250, or really any other temp, it again begins to read the actual temp degree by degree until it reaches the SET temp then it seems to lock on.. EXAMPLE: I do the startup and set grill to 300. It climbs up and once it reached 300 the ACT temp reads steady at 300 and does not show ANY change. I open the lid for approx. 30 seconds. ACT still reads 300. I close the lid and adjust set temp to 350. Immediately the ACT temp drops to, lets say, 260, and then begins to climb and read correctly until it reaches the SET temp. Once it reaches the SET temp, in this case 350, the ACT reads 350 and never changes.

I contacted Pit Boss and the lady was VERY nice, in fact it would almost be impossible for her to be any nicer. She built a case and put me in touch with Flame Tech. The Rep from flame tech was stumped. At first he said that it sounded like it was normal for that to happen but I explained that that could not possibly be the case because it makes monitoring temps impossible. (I always monitor with second means anyway) After I got him to really understand the issue he told me that he needed to do some research and get back to me. He said it would probably be Monday (today) before he could ask the appropriate people on the issue.

Other than that, the unit works well and aside from running a little on the colder side of what the ACT reading says (by 10-15 degrees). My ACT readout will be 225 but my ambient probe positioned right near the built in will read 210-215. Has anyone else experienced this? I am trying to expedite a fix. I'm hoping to have it straight soon as I do a lot of smoking/grilling and would like this new unit working properly.

My actual fluctuates, so it sounds odd.

 

[Sterisken]

It seems like you don't have much of a problem, you want the temperature to stay the same right?
When you opened the lit you let some heat out and that's why it dropped before it climbed up to your next set temp.
I have the 850 also and it used to get hotter on the left side, I fixed that and now have even temps. what does yours do?
Also, mine stays at the set temp. very well, check your auger feed ratio, is it the same all the time or does it change the time on as it is heating up? I also added two dial thermometers to the lid to monitor better.

Just curious you stated you fixed the problem of your unit being hotter on the left side. My 850 is 25 to 30 hotter on left side as opposed to the right side. Can you explain how you evened out the temps.
Thanks

 

[Sterisken]

Just got off the phone with pit boss. Flame tech guy never got back to me but I was able to get a resolution with pit boss. It’s good news / bad news lol. She said that it is not operating like it should so the good news is that a new “updated” controller should fix the problem. Bad news is they don’t currently have any in stock to ship out. She put me on a list to receive one as soon as they come in. She estimated by the end of the month. I am going to get a new ambient probe and double check temps and she said I should be able to use until new controller comes in.

My 850 does the same as yours, the actual temp does not fluctuate after reaching the set point. The controller just shows the set point and not the actual temp. I may need to call Pitt Boss too. Think I will try a couple more cooks and see how it does. I have a big temp difference between the left side of smoker and the right side, 25 to 30 degrees.

 

[Freeeire1916]

Came across this post as I have been wondering for hours why my actual temp isn't moving. This absolutely feels like a problem because if the internal therm isn't reading and displaying as it should who's to say that it's feeding pellets and regulating temp as it should. This is only the second time I used this smoker and last time it worked properly. I'll be calling pit boss Monday. Thanks for doing the early leg work for us!

 

[carmangary]

I just bought one of these from Lowes. I think they may have fixed the temp issue because mine always shows the actual temperature. However, I am not so sure how accurate the "actual" temperature is. I think the temp in the grill might be lower than the setpoint because the pork butt I am cooking is taking TOO LONG too cook. I am going to install some of those manual dial indicators in the lid as soon as I buy some.

Anyway, I found this forum searching to see if others have this issue or if I am imagining things.

 

[MikeInFla]

When using a pellet smoker never go by time, only internal temp. Pork butts can take a LONG time. I always start mine around 3AM and I am lucky if they are ready by 5PM.

 

[carmangary]

When using a pellet smoker never go by time, only internal temp. Pork butts can take a LONG time. I always start mine around 3AM and I am lucky if they are ready by 5PM.

Thanks for the reply. I put a temp probe in the grill after I posted and it was actually hotter in the barrel than my setpoint. So, the grill is not running cold like I initially thought. I just needed to give it more time. I finally finished my cook after 21 hours! it could have gone an extra hour but I got tired of waiting. I am new to this low and slow cooking.

 

[Guineabear]

I use a Thermoworks Smoke probe to check actual temps. My controller also stays the same but the probe shows quite a variation when opening the door. I have the updated controller but still depend on my Smoke probe to guage actual temperature. Much more dependable.