Controller upgrade? BAC236 --> BAC365

[SavageHunter11]

Long shot I'm guessing but...

Been working with Traeger customer support for the last couple weeks. Determined my Elite Pro's (p/n: BBQ400) controller needs to be replaced. Traeger has informed me the replacement I need is the BAC236 which doesn't have temp probe hook ups.

Has anyone upgraded their BAC236 controller to the BAC365? Wire harness and everything else appears (from online pictures at least) to be identical for both controllers. The 365 just appears to have the addition of temp probes as an added option.

I'm not afraid of some wire splicing if a know procedure is necessary (used to be an auto tech by trade) but would prefer a plug-and-play option. Hopefully someone has done this or tried it and can offer insight. I was about to buy a fancy Bluetooth meat thermometer but figured if I had to replace my controller, I would kill two birds with one stone if possible (I know the BAC365 doesn't have Bluetooth, I just don't have a meat thermometer at all currently).

Thank you.

 

[Timmy]

IMO, put the BAC236 in it and by a good quality 3rd party thermometer with probes to monitor the grill and meat. Traegers temp probes are terrible, I don’t use mine, it’s in a baggy filed away with the grills instructions.

 

[Murphy's Law]

No wiser words have ever been written!

 

[traeger860]

It's a plug and play install. No splicing needed.

 

[SavageHunter11]

IMO, put the BAC236 in it and by a good quality 3rd party thermometer with probes to monitor the grill and meat. Traegers temp probes are terrible, I don’t use mine, it’s in a baggy filed away with the grills instructions.

That is good information to know. I had no idea the Traeger probes weren't very good. Any suggestion on a 3rd party probe? I was looking at the ThermoPro TP28

 

[Timmy]

Top of the line what I would recommend is the FireBoard 2, second would be the InkBird IBBQ 4.
Others have not had good luck with the thermo pro product , I have not tested mine to see how accurate after purchasing the FireBoard.

 

[scenarlob]

This is relevant to my experience. I've had my smoker for about 6 months-it was a gift. I've turned out some pretty decent chow with it, but not without a fair amount of frustration encompassing everything from auger jams to flameouts. I expected a bit of a learning curve-storing my pellets away from the cold, moist Oregon air has had the biggest benefit. Still, the idea of leaving the thing unattended for a long smoke is laughable in my experience. The temperature control is sketchy at best; I'm wondering if anyone has considered controlling the auger speed with a simple potentiometer instead and simply referring to any of a number of excellent remote thermometers like the Thermopro Smoke for temperature control.

 

[RemE]

This is relevant to my experience. I've had my smoker for about 6 months-it was a gift. I've turned out some pretty decent chow with it, but not without a fair amount of frustration encompassing everything from auger jams to flameouts. I expected a bit of a learning curve-storing my pellets away from the cold, moist Oregon air has had the biggest benefit. Still, the idea of leaving the thing unattended for a long smoke is laughable in my experience. The temperature control is sketchy at best; I'm wondering if anyone has considered controlling the auger speed with a simple potentiometer instead and simply referring to any of a number of excellent remote thermometers like the Thermopro Smoke for temperature control.

The auger is turned on and off by the controller, that is part of the feedback loop. It measures temp and adjusts fuel feed by controlling the run timing of the auger (duty cycle).

 

[scenarlob]

The auger is turned on and off by the controller, that is part of the feedback loop. It measures temp and adjusts fuel feed by controlling the run timing of the auger (duty cycle).

Thanks, I understand how it's designed to work but don't think that what amounts to averaging swings above and below the desired temperature is ideal. The temperature sensor seems weak compared to several calibrated instruments that I've checked it against. Automaton is great when it works, but given a choice I'd prefer to be able to manually control the speed of the auger to control temperature. I can't help but think that some flameouts follow closely on the heels of temperature spikes.