Got my Fireboard 2 - Observations during first use...

[Puertex]

I purchased the Fireboard 2 to use with my Pro 780.
Just used it while cooking 2 racks of Babyback ribs. The ribs turned out outstanding !
By placing the ambient probe next to the meat I realized the huge difference in temperature between the grill probe and the Fireboard ambient probe.
It seems that the probe location is the issue.
I am glad I made the purchase!
Puertex

 

[John S.]

i use 2 ambient probes ( left and right side) then meat probes on the food this will give you a good data poi for the range of temp on your grill...

 

[Puertex]

i use 2 ambient probes ( left and right side) then meat probes on the food this will give you a good data poi for the range of temp on your grill...

Good idea to try... It seems the difference results from the heat distribution inside the grill.
The grease drip tray acts as a shield to the air flow where the air flow lines wrap around it. This is convection heat.
This results in the hotter air flowing around the tray and headed to the smoke chimney.
Also radiant heat is another factor in the equation. Direct conduction heat does not apply in this application.
With all these factors influencing cooking temperature, it is best to sample the temp left and right of the cooking location.

 

[John S.]

I have a timberline the convection air pattern is different than a pro....

 

[Puertex]

Looking at the Timberline, I do not see a chimney...
Where is the hot air gas exhaust?
BTW, Its a nice humongous smoker...

 

[Timmy]

Last time I checked my 780, temp differential was 8 degrees left to right.

 

[Timmy]

Looking at the Timberline, I do not see a chimney...
Where is the hot air gas exhaust?
BTW, Its a nice humongous smoker...

I believe it exhausts out the back.

 

[RustyJake]

I believe it exhausts out the back.

Out the back in a downdraft design. Supposed to support better air movement

 

[Puertex]

Out the back in a downdraft design. Supposed to support better air movement

I see the benefit of the Timberline approach.
Instead of left to right flow, the air folds around front to back.
I would think this provides a lot better temperature gradients left to right.
This may be my next smoker.
Timmy reports a 8 deg F difference left to right for his Pro 780... Not bad... For most practical purposes, this difference is a non issue...
I wonder if the Timberline has any left to right differential since the air flow is front to back?
Interesting stuff...

 

[John S.]

Yes there is a lright to left temp gradient on timberline’s. The level of the gradient depends on the right side temp setting...

 

[dflaher]

Care to share your recipe for the ribs?

 

[Puertex]

Care to share your recipe for the ribs?

Hi!
I used the 3-2-1 recipe that you can find in the Traeger site.
They turned out amazing.. I have done 3 racks already and very happy with how they turned out.
I use a nice BBQ rub made by a local well known BBQ restaurant. Its called Killens BBQ rub.
Also, a good site with lots of relevant info is amazingribs.com
Puertex

 

[Puertex]

Yes there is a lright to left temp gradient on timberline’s. The level of the gradient depends on the right side temp setting...

When you state a right side temp setting...Does the smoker have left and right side?
Thanks,
Puertex
Puertex = PuertoRican + Texan

 

[John S.]

The timberline has the Traeger grill probe near the top on the right side as you look at it from the front. I put a FB ambient probe next to the Traeger probe for a right side temp reading, Then in approximately the same place on the left side For a left side reading.The FB channel 1 and 2 are my right and left temperature and they often vary by 20 + degrees.
‘this is the gradient right to left...
‘the right side is often within 2-5 degrees of the Traeger probe....

 

[Puertex]

The timberline has the Traeger grill probe near the top on the right side as you look at it from the front. I put a FB ambient probe next to the Traeger probe for a right side temp reading, Then in approximately the same place on the left side For a left side reading.The FB channel 1 and 2 are my right and left temperature and they often vary by 20 + degrees.
‘this is the gradient right to left...
‘the right side is often within 2-5 degrees of the Traeger probe....

Thanks for the info!
Based on your response my thinking is that because of the drip pan, there is very little air velocity around the center of the grates.
I believe this is intentional since the cooking is intended to be mostly with indirect heat.
I am convinced of using ambient probes immediately to the right and left of the meat to better sample the true cooking temp.
I did this on a breezy day and noticed that the Traeger ambient probe was showing temp hotter than the ambient probes next to the meat. When the breeze died down, the temp divergence was a lot less.
Good to have the FB since you can use 6 probes...
Puertex