Very long time to reach set temperature.

[nickm324]

What would the average time for my PB850 Pro to get to the set temp of 350 after turning it on?

Recently I was sent a new controller to resolve an issue since purchase with the Wi-Fi not working. The new controller did correct that issue.
Since I have put in that controller it now takes approximately 40 minutes from the time, I turn on the power and the temp is at 88 degrees and I set the dial to 350 for it to reach 350.
It also is doing a weird fluctuation It wasnt doing before where it will get to like 332 and then all of a sudden it will start dropping till it gets to 325 and then start going back up to 332.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't doing this before, usually took about 10 to 15 minutes max to reach the set temp.
I have verified the auger is clear and pellets are making it into the pot, the pot is cleaned before each cook, all the temps seem to be correct. Just takes forever to get to 350 now.

What else could the issue be?

 

[ANT0407]

My first thought is that it's a brand new PID controller that needs to learn. PID controllers get better and more accurate the more you cook. I don't remember my 1600 taking that long in the beginning but that was 3 years ago it could have.

 

[DanStealth]

Are your pellets new?

 

[nickm324]

Are your pellets new?

Well not new per say probably a couple months old, but are Pit Boss pellets and are always kept in the Pit Boss 5-gallon bucket and sealed tight, and I can verify that they are completely dry and have no moisture in them.

 

[Jimsmokes]

keep cooking and let the PID learn. Seems like it took my 1150 10+ cooks.

 

[nickm324]

keep cooking and let the PID learn. Seems like it took my 1150 10+ cooks.

I cooked a couple chicken breasts on my PB last night and from the time I hit the power button till the time it hit the set temperature of 350 degrees it took 55 minutes. I left it on the Smoke setting till it hit 180 then I set it for 350.
Somehow that just doesn't seem PID related.

 

[brewersfan73]

I agree - that does seem like a long time. I don't have a PID so I can't tell you if that's normal. But I would be annoyed if I had to wait almost an hour to get up to temp. I rarely begin any cook higher than 225, and I always get there within 15 minutes. If I started at 350, I'd be surprised if it took longer than 20, even in my large sized grill.

 

[Freedbyjc]

What would the average time for my PB850 Pro to get to the set temp of 350 after turning it on?

Recently I was sent a new controller to resolve an issue since purchase with the Wi-Fi not working. The new controller did correct that issue.
Since I have put in that controller it now takes approximately 40 minutes from the time, I turn on the power and the temp is at 88 degrees and I set the dial to 350 for it to reach 350.
It also is doing a weird fluctuation It wasnt doing before where it will get to like 332 and then all of a sudden it will start dropping till it gets to 325 and then start going back up to 332.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't doing this before, usually took about 10 to 15 minutes max to reach the set temp.
I have verified the auger is clear and pellets are making it into the pot, the pot is cleaned before each cook, all the temps seem to be correct. Just takes forever to get to 350 now.

What else could the issue be?

Absolutely normal for the large units and the PID controller. A slow startup, if you’ve gotten your smoker tuned in will lessen with use.



It’s a wood pellet smoker/grill with a PID controller…it’s not a propane grill. It’s not anywhere near being instantaneous… it takes a few seconds to get the digital temperature probe readings to the controller and then the controller commands to the auger to activate it and a minute for the pellets to start to pile up in the firepot.



Also it’s your smoker, what you do operationally and how you have yours set up mechanically will cause it to react to commands differently that someone else’s.



You can also ramp up the dial to HIGH causing the auger to run constantly. Whenever you turn the dial, the pellets have to move into the firepot, catch fire and then burnoff to produce heat.



While it’s on HIGH, Once you get to your desired temperature, simply turn the dial down to that temperature and it’ll hold. If it drops then like the manual says, HOLD DOWN your Prime button to boost the heat… it what the Prime button was designed to do. Do this several times until the controller catches up.



With this PID controller it always helps to run it up 50° hotter than your session temperature and then when it settles drop it down and it’ll hold the lower temperature better.

 

[nickm324]

Ok, guess my original controller was not a PID controller as it never performed like this one does. It would get to temp in about 15 minutes and the temp did not fluctuate like this one does. It will get up like 332 and then just stop and drop back down to like 327 and then will slowly start coming back up. And also, if I open the lid to take temp of the meat or turn whatever is on there if I have it open more than a minute the temp will drop by a 100 degrees. My old controller never did any of that.

 

[Freedbyjc]

Ok, guess my original controller was not a PID controller as it never performed like this one does. It would get to temp in about 15 minutes and the temp did not fluctuate like this one does. It will get up like 332 and then just stop and drop back down to like 327 and then will slowly start coming back up. And also, if I open the lid to take temp of the meat or turn whatever is on there if I have it open more than a minute the temp will drop by a 100 degrees. My old controller never did any of that.

Use your prime button to get a burst of heat before/after opening the lid. It’s wha tit was designed for.

 

[nickm324]

Thought the prime button was for when the auger was emptied or first use to fill it to the pot and when refilling with new pellets.

In any case I have cooked at least 12 times now with this new controller and again last night it's still taking almost an hour to get to 350, and has large temp swings. I opened the lid last night to flip some pork chops and take a temp on them and it dropped over 100 degrees and It couldn't have been more than 30 to 45 seconds I had it open. It then took like 30 minutes for it to get back up to 350. Just doesn't seem normal considering how my old controller performed.

 

[Freedbyjc]

Thought the prime button was for when the auger was emptied or first use to fill it to the pot and when refilling with new pellets.

In any case I have cooked at least 12 times now with this new controller and again last night it's still taking almost an hour to get to 350, and has large temp swings. I opened the lid last night to flip some pork chops and take a temp on them and it dropped over 100 degrees, it then took like 30 minutes for it to get back up to 350. Just doesn't seem normal considering how my old controller performed.

No sir… the PRIME BUTTON was added to give a burst of heat when needed. Before or after the lid is opened.
It’s a PID controller and it’s operation is way different from the older PSetting controllers.
Absolutely normal for the large units and the PID controller. A slow startup, if you’ve gotten your smoker tuned in will lessen with use.
It’s a wood pellet smoker/grill with a PID controller…it’s not a propane grill. It’s not anywhere near being instantaneous… it takes a few seconds to get the digital temperature probe readings to the controller and then the controller commands to the auger to activate it and a minute for the pellets to start to pile up in the firepot.

Also it’s your smoker, what you do operationally and how you have yours set up mechanically will cause it to react to commands differently that someone else’s.

You can also ramp up the dial to HIGH causing the auger to run constantly. Whenever you turn the dial, the pellets have to move into the firepot, catch fire and then burnoff to produce heat.

While it’s on HIGH, Once you get to your desired temperature, simply turn the dial down to that temperature and it’ll hold. If it drops then like the manual says, HOLD DOWN your Prime button to boost the heat… it what the Prime button was designed to do. Do this several times until the controller catches up.

With this PID controller it always helps to run it up 50° hotter than your session temperature and then when it settles drop it down and it’ll hold the lower temperature better.

 

[nickm324]

No sir… the PRIME BUTTON was added to give a burst of heat when needed. Before or after the lid is opened.
It’s a PID controller and it’s operation is way different from the older PSetting controllers.
Absolutely normal for the large units and the PID controller. A slow startup, if you’ve gotten your smoker tuned in will lessen with use.
It’s a wood pellet smoker/grill with a PID controller…it’s not a propane grill. It’s not anywhere near being instantaneous… it takes a few seconds to get the digital temperature probe readings to the controller and then the controller commands to the auger to activate it and a minute for the pellets to start to pile up in the firepot.

Also it’s your smoker, what you do operationally and how you have yours set up mechanically will cause it to react to commands differently that someone else’s.

You can also ramp up the dial to HIGH causing the auger to run constantly. Whenever you turn the dial, the pellets have to move into the firepot, catch fire and then burnoff to produce heat.

While it’s on HIGH, Once you get to your desired temperature, simply turn the dial down to that temperature and it’ll hold. If it drops then like the manual says, HOLD DOWN your Prime button to boost the heat… it what the Prime button was designed to do. Do this several times until the controller catches up.

With this PID controller it always helps to run it up 50° hotter than your session temperature and then when it settles drop it down and it’ll hold the lower temperature better.

What does tuned in mean, is there some procedure I should be performing to get it in tune?

 

[Freedbyjc]

What does tuned in mean, is there some procedure I should be performing to get it in tune?

Use it… the more you use it the better it will get. Remember to do the recommended preheat from the manual at every startup too.

 

[nickm324]

Ok, my startup procedure has been to turn it on (defaults to "S" (180)), I wait till it gets to the 180 and then set it to 350.
That is how I always did it with my old controller and seemed to be fine and would get to the 350 within 15 minutes give or take.

So based on that manual excerpt above if I want to cook at 350 I should set it to like 400 right after turning it on then when it gets there drop it down to 350?