Temp dropping out

[Hoosierboy]

Hello! I'm new to the group. Been an green egg user for 20 years. Then I bought pit boss PBV4PS2 this past summer and use it regularly with no issues. Love using it. Here recently I'm having issues with the temperature on the unit. I will set the temp to 200 degrees. The unit will get there and stay for awhile. Then it will start dropping out. It will get down to 150 deg and can't get it back to 200 deg. I will change temp setting to 180 deg to see if I can raise it back up in increments. It will get to 180 degrees with no issues. Then I will raise temp setting to 190 deg. however it won't raise it will start dropping back down towards 150. I will change temp setting back to 180 and it will reach it with no issues. Anyone have this issue before? If so, what's causing the issue?

 

[Cowboy1955]

Welcome from Texas to the group!
When’s the last time you cleaned it including the temperature sensor?

 

[Sparky]

Welcome to the club from Texas

 

[Hoosierboy]

Welcome from Texas to the group!
When’s the last time you cleaned it including the temperature sensor?

Thanks! I cleaned the ash tray out before each use. I removed the box above the fire pot and cleaned it. I have not taken the auger out to clean yet. I been thinking about doing that next.

 

[Cowboy1955]

If that doesn’t fix the issue call PitBoss support
It has a five year warranty

 

[Hoosierboy]

If that doesn’t fix the issue call PitBoss support
It has a five year warranty

Sounds good. Thanks!

 

[Cowboy1955]

You’re more than welcome

 

[Mike From R.I.]

Welcome from Rhode Island and I have the same smoker, no issues.

 

[Hoosierboy]

Welcome from Rhode Island and I have the same smoker, no issues.

Thanks! I cleaned it out the hopper and ran the auger until pellets are emptied out. Vacuum, refill, and prime. Did a test run, I got temp up to 250 with no issues. Then I increase temp setting to 280. It drop to 230 then it went back up and reached to 280. I increased to 325 and same similar pattern but it did reach to 325. When you increase the temp on yours, does yours drop before the temp starts to raise?

 

[Jimsmokes]

Thanks! I cleaned it out the hopper and ran the auger until pellets are emptied out. Vacuum, refill, and prime. Did a test run, I got temp up to 250 with no issues. Then I increase temp setting to 280. It drop to 230 then it went back up and reached to 280. I increased to 325 and same similar pattern but it did reach to 325. When you increase the temp on yours, does yours drop before the temp starts to raise?

Took my grill over 10 cooks to settle out

 

[Mike From R.I.]

Thanks! I cleaned it out the hopper and ran the auger until pellets are emptied out. Vacuum, refill, and prime. Did a test run, I got temp up to 250 with no issues. Then I increase temp setting to 280. It drop to 230 then it went back up and reached to 280. I increased to 325 and same similar pattern but it did reach to 325. When you increase the temp on yours, does yours drop before the temp starts to raise?

I never noticed mine to drop, I set a temperature and next I know I get a notification that it's at temperature.

 

[probak118]

I follow Cowboy's advise and I vacuum the pot of ash and wash the ambient temp probe before ( every 2-3 ) cooks. Although a different model my unit when set hits the mark and stays there without issue, does not drop temp after a setting change even in < 30 F weather. Seems to work for me ?

 

[Cowboy1955]

Congratulations
Glad it’s working out for you

 

[bmorgil]

I am going to bet every Pit Boss owner learns the lesson Cowboy has been teaching. He fixed me up the first time I had the issue you speak of. You must clean the temperature sensors regularly or, the temperature will fluctuate and respond inconsistently. They are sensitive to the coating that gets on them in the smoker. In around 48 hours or so of smoking, my temps will begin to "spread" and read low. Also, it is important to remember the probe on the vertical smoker is right above the heat source. The temperature it reads, is the temperature right where it is mounted. For this reason I use a separate accurate remote sensor and place the probe as close to the items I am smoking as possible. What my remote says the temp is, determines how I set my control. Not the numbers on the knob and not the temperature indicated by the Pit Boss. The Pit Boss temp indicated,It is a good indicator of how hot things are down by the pellet pot. It is not uncommon in my Verticle to have a temp difference of over 50 deg. from top to bottom. When it is windy and cold, the differance is substantial.

 

[Cowboy1955]

I am going to bet every Pit Boss owner learns the lesson Cowboy has been teaching. He fixed me up the first time I had the issue you speak of. You must clean the temperature sensors regularly or, the temperature will fluctuate and respond inconsistently. They are sensitive to the coating that gets on them in the smoker. In around 48 hours or so of smoking, my temps will begin to "spread" and read low. Also, it is important to remember the probe on the vertical smoker is right above the heat source. The temperature it reads, is the temperature right where it is mounted. For this reason I use a separate accurate remote sensor and place the probe as close to the items I am smoking as possible. What my remote says the temp is, determines how I set my control. Not the numbers on the knob and not the temperature indicated by the Pit Boss. The Pit Boss temp indicated,It is a good indicator of how hot things are down by the pellet pot. It is not uncommon in my Verticle to have a temp difference of over 50 deg. from top to bottom. When it is windy and cold, the differance is substantial.

Glad I could help you out