Pit Boss 1150 temp setting accuracy

brianaggie2002 · Sunday at 6:11 PM

I have used my P/B 1150 for a couple of years. Using the temp control, I have set it a 270 degrees or so and I also set up a ThermoWorks Signals (TWS) multi probe for comparison purposes. I put one TWS probe on the right side of the grate and one on the left. Almost always there can be as much as a 20 to 30 degree difference between what the P/B temp setting indicates and the TWS shows. How reliable and accurate do some of you think the P/B temp control is? Which should I count on? Thanks for any experiences on this issue!

Cowboy1955 · Sunday at 6:14 PM

When’s the last time you cleaned the temperature sensor?
I use a INKBIRD myself

brianaggie2002 · Sunday at 7:12 PM

Cowboy1955 said:
When’s the last time you cleaned the temperature sensor?
I use a INKBIRD myself

I clean it about every 2 to 3 months. It's also based on use. I try to remember to clean it after about 5 or 6 cooks. Thank you for the reply! Does Inkbird control the temp or does it just tell you what it is?

Cowboy1955 · Sunday at 7:13 PM

Just tells you the temperature

sparkyv · Sunday at 9:24 PM

Sounds normal, to me.

Vertical Smoker Temps

My PBV4PS2 never gets to the "set" temp. If I set to to 250, it will get to maybe 230, then drop off to 220 or around that. It's like the smoker just can't keep up. I know that is can, though, because if I set it to much higher, the max of the control, it will go ahead and heat up. This doesn't...

www.pitbossforum.com

brianaggie2002 said:
Almost always there can be as much as a 20 to 30 degree difference between what the P/B temp setting indicates and the TWS shows.

probak118 · Tuesday at 10:20 AM

I have the PB PS2IIoo , I wipe off the internal probe (soap and water) after every 2nd smoke, but I also have the left side heat shield plus a smoke like a boss shorty burner shield. My displayed temperature takes a little time to be there but once there it stays frozen at the set temperature. Sometimes I set it higher to get there quicker but then lower it to the set temp. Maybe the combination of all these helps ? I have never downloaded the app or made a wifi connection, always set temps manually to cook.

Freedbyjc · 2024-11-02T09:06:59-0400

brianaggie2002 said:
I have used my P/B 1150 for a couple of years. Using the temp control, I have set it a 270 degrees or so and I also set up a ThermoWorks Signals (TWS) multi probe for comparison purposes. I put one TWS probe on the right side of the grate and one on the left. Almost always there can be as much as a 20 to 30 degree difference between what the P/B temp setting indicates and the TWS shows. How reliable and accurate do some of you think the P/B temp control is? Which should I count on? Thanks for any experiences on this issue!

Absolutely normal for all pellet smokers … Unless your oven thermometers or meat probes, the latter specifically not meant for measuring air temperatures, were positioned EXACTLY like this (see photo) the tip of the thermometer almost touching the digital temperature probe, your personal temperature reading comparisons are totally invalid for comparison to the “Actual” temperature shown on the controller. Your grate temperatures are NEVER going to match the actual temperature shown on the controller.

The PitBoss controllers algorithms are set to create a stable temperature environment throughout the barrel ... not that exact temperature readings at every point across the grates. It just not possible with any pellet smoker.

If you’re interested in the grate temperatures, you’ll have to get a secondary thermometer probe specifically designed to measure that. Usually they have squared off or blunted tips and always come with grate clips to hold it off the smoker grates surface.

The ACTUAL temperature showing on the smokers controller is the reading of the digital temperature probe mounted on the left side of the barrel at that specific position ... it’s not “the grill” or “grate” temperatures by any means. Your grate and lid probes (if so equipped) are going to be different and probably higher or lower due to their placement in the barrel.

Watch your ACTUAL digital temperature, as it controls the controller, and if you feel it’s necessary, keep an eye on your grate temperature but the IT on your meat probe is the one temperature that’s the most important.

The supposed “probe problem” is that folks don’t know enough about their PitBoss smokers design to know that the digital temperature shown on the controller and the grate temperatures are almost never going to match.

Remember, your PitBoss has a controller with an awesome algorithm that runs the smoker. After you’ve used it a few times you’ll realize that it works and works well. Relax... put your temperature probes in the food where they belong and let that awesome smoker you bought do the work for you. Smoke On!

It’s definitely not a question of BELIEF of what’s correct but CHOICE of which to follow.

sparkyv · 2024-11-02T10:11:08-0400

Well said, Freedbyjc. Unless the probe malfunctions, they're all "correct". They all provide useful information, but the most important one to me is the one internally in the meat.