Temp Guages on Smoker?

[Weekend Warrior]

My new RF is being built and I wanted to get everyone's opinion on temp gauges mounted to the cooking chamber.

Is it worth putting them on? I have read they are not very accurate but I was also thinking it wouldn't be terrible to have them on to get a vague idea of what the temperature is.

I plan on using my Maverick to monitor the actual temp in the smoker and will probably get 2 more (one for the other side of the cook chamber and one for the warming cabinet).

Thanks,
Phil

[DDave]

Is it worth putting them on? I have read they are not very accurate but I was also thinking it wouldn't be terrible to have them on to get a vague idea of what the temperature is.

I have them mounted and use them on my smokers. Sometimes I'll use a digital, sometimes not. I've used them enough with the dial thermos that I know that the dial thermos are giving me a pretty good idea of the smoker temp. And the nice thing about the dial thermos is that they don't need batteries.

Typically the ones that come with lower priced smokers aren't very accurate. Could be also where they are place relative to the cooking surface. If you buy a Teltru or Ashcroft they are going to be accurate. If you by a $3 thermo off of Ebay . . . well . . . who knows.

Dave

[Weekend Warrior]

I have them mounted and use them on my smokers. Sometimes I'll use a digital, sometimes not. I've used them enough with the dial thermos that I know that the dial thermos are giving me a pretty good idea of the smoker temp. And the nice thing about the dial thermos is that they don't need batteries.

Typically the ones that come with lower priced smokers aren't very accurate. Could be also where they are place relative to the cooking surface. If you buy a Teltru or Ashcroft they are going to be accurate. If you by a $3 thermo off of Ebay . . . well . . . who knows.

Dave

I looked at the Teltru and they carry a little price tag with them but I guess you get what you pay for. I liked the glow in the dark ones they had!

[zombini]

I looked at the Teltru and they carry a little price tag with them but I guess you get what you pay for. I liked the glow in the dark ones they had!

Tel Trus are the best. The gauges will make it look nicer too.

[DDave]

I looked at the Teltru and they carry a little price tag with them

Yes, good quality products generally do.

but I guess you get what you pay for.

Exactly.

It's a tradeoff for sure. I have a Teltru on my UDS and a couple of these from Spicewine on my SnP that are a bit less expensive.

Dave

[barkonbutts]

I use but just as a guide. I do not use it for accurate info.. just to get an idea where we are in the range... if I need to be 100% sure I pull out the maverick or the super fast Thermopen! So in short I think they are worth adding them to the smoker...just my thoughts.

[SmokinOutBack]

Another vote for Teltru.

[Weekend Warrior]

Well Teltru seems to be a quality gauge. I see there are different stem lengths. How long is long enough?

[SMOKE FREAK]

I put a TELTRU with a 4" stem on my Longhorn...Reaches far enough into the pit that Im not reading the lid temp but the area with the meat instead...My maverick is located just below the cooking grate so as not to take up space that could be used by meat...The only time they don't read the same is when a full load of cool meat is on the grate...Then the maverick reads a bit lower than the TT...

[nickelmore]

I will have an analog one on on my next build very Large so I can see it from a distance.

I currently use a maverick or my PID controller

[tenacious bee]

Going against the grain here. I use digital exclusively. Maverick dual probes and quick read.

[curious aardvark]

I pretty much just use the one that came with the beast. chargriller outlaw.
The food cooks like I expect it to at the temps the gauge shows. So I've never bothered to mess with it.
Probes for meat temp, but never used anything but the stock thermo for oven temp.