Weird Temp Probe Readings

[backyardsmokin]

During my last smoke out I noticed something very weird and I am hoping that someone may be able to help me.

I set my Pellet grill to 250 degrees and placed three temp probes in the dead center of the grill.  The probe tips were pointed at each other in and area of about a nickel, but I am getting very different readings from each probe.

Maverick ET-732 smoker probe - 385 degrees

Maverick ET-732 meat probe - 180 degrees

Generic Meat Probe - 250 degrees

A few days later I decided to run tests on the probes to see if any of them were broken and I go the following responses

Ice Bath 

    Maverick ET-732 smoker probe - 33 degrees

    Maverick ET-732 meat probe - 34 degrees

    Generic Meat Probe - 33 degrees

Boiling Water

    Maverick ET-732 smoker probe - 210 degrees

    Maverick ET-732 meat probe - 212 degrees

    Generic Meat Probe - 212 degrees

Any thoughts on why these three would +/- 2 degrees of each other in the tests, but completely different when in the smoker?

 

[dr k]

 
During my last smoke out I noticed something very weird and I am hoping that someone may be able to help me.

I set my Pellet grill to 250 degrees and placed three temp probes in the dead center of the grill.  The probe tips were pointed at each other in and area of about a nickel, but I am getting very different readings from each probe.

Maverick ET-732 smoker probe - 385 degrees

Maverick ET-732 meat probe - 180 degrees

Generic Meat Probe - 250 degrees

A few days later I decided to run tests on the probes to see if any of them were broken and I go the following responses

Ice Bath 

    Maverick ET-732 smoker probe - 33 degrees

    Maverick ET-732 meat probe - 34 degrees

    Generic Meat Probe - 33 degrees

Boiling Water

    Maverick ET-732 smoker probe - 210 degrees

    Maverick ET-732 meat probe - 212 degrees

    Generic Meat Probe - 212 degrees

Any thoughts on why these three would +/- 2 degrees of each other in the tests, but completely different when in the smoker?

One set of tests in water the other air.  The auger, drip trays, heat diffusers and other cast iron over/around the pellet burner may absorb/radiate heat differently throughout the cooking chamber, making a convection. Since they are in a spoke formation maybe the therms are aborbing heat from other areas outside of the nickel sized area.  Maybe lining up the therms in a line pointing in the same direction may give more consistent air readings.  You'll find the answer.  If you don't, then don't put anything in that nickel sized area. LOL

-Kurt

 

[westby]

Makes no sense at all.  Did you ever figure it out?

 

[backyardsmokin]

I just ordered a new smoker probe for my maverick (wanted to switch fro 3ft to 6ft cable) and retested.  Everything came out +/- 2 degrees of each other.

 

[westby]

But they did on your boiling water and ice bath tests before also.  Did they come out within 2 degrees of each other when placed next to each other in the grill?

 

[backyardsmokin]

The ice and boil test as well as in the smoker all came out within 2 degrees of each other with the new smoker probe installed.  I don't know, but maybe something in the new probe kick the 732 into working correctly.