Pit boss 1150

[Ljking]

When I fired up my PB850-2 for the first few times temps were all over the place when I tried to smoke at low temperatures (180 or 200). I changed a few things to resolve the issue, but I don't know which change is significant.

1) I deleted the app from my iPhone XR. I can't be sure but I think the iOS app was changing the setpoint every time I looked at the temperature. I still have the Android app on my Android phone and it seems to behave. I am a developer of Android and iOS apps for Bluetooth connected appliances, so I know it is really difficult to get iOS BT apps working correctly.
2) I deleted and re-installed the app on my Android phone. The re-installed Android app then did a controller firmware upgrade. This may have been the resolution of the problem.
3) I 'think' the PID controller learns and gets better each time you use it. I have used the PB a half dozen times at 250 or 350 since the firmware was updated. Now I can set it to low temps like 180 and it controls the temperature really well.

My suspicion (based on zero facts, and just a hunch) is the initial PID control constants are not close enough to where they need to be, and as the PID controller learns the constants get better and control gets better. Of course this could be completely wrong, particularly if the PID controller is not a learning PID controller.

Hope these ideas help.

 

[TekVu]

When I fired up my PB850-2 for the first few times temps were all over the place when I tried to smoke at low temperatures (180 or 200). I changed a few things to resolve the issue, but I don't know which change is significant.

1) I deleted the app from my iPhone XR. I can't be sure but I think the iOS app was changing the setpoint every time I looked at the temperature. I still have the Android app on my Android phone and it seems to behave. I am a developer of Android and iOS apps for Bluetooth connected appliances, so I know it is really difficult to get iOS BT apps working correctly.
2) I deleted and re-installed the app on my Android phone. The re-installed Android app then did a controller firmware upgrade. This may have been the resolution of the problem.
3) I 'think' the PID controller learns and gets better each time you use it. I have used the PB a half dozen times at 250 or 350 since the firmware was updated. Now I can set it to low temps like 180 and it controls the temperature really well.

My suspicion (based on zero facts, and just a hunch) is the initial PID control constants are not close enough to where they need to be, and as the PID controller learns the constants get better and control gets better. Of course this could be completely wrong, particularly if the PID controller is not a learning PID controller.

Hope these ideas help.

I had to disable Bluetooth on my iOS to prevent the temp setting changes. This was with the original PID and older smokeIT software version. I have sinced swapped it with the new controller and upgraded app which has stopped the random set point changes.