New Member from Delaware

[21fred]

Greetings all. I have been smoking with a Weber kettle for some time, but was looking to automate a little.. I bought a 780 Pro on a black Friday deal and am about 4 cooks in. Being a little slow, I just realized that my cooks are taking a lot longer than expected... I put a separate probe near the setpoint probe and found that the Traeger reading is about 70 degrees higher than the reading I was getting on my separate probe. After poking around on line, I see that this is a common issue.

The only useful solution I found was to buy an aftermarket controller.... I spent a lot of money on this smoker and expect it to work as promised without spending additional time and money to change out the controller.

I'm betting that someone here has found a solution and I hope you will share same.
Thanks!!

 

[Like Smoke]

Welcome to the forum. My first thought would be to talk with the folks you purchased it from and relay the problem, They may be of some help with a controller exchange. I use a Thermpro dual probe, but there are many good units out there that will do the job. One probe in the protein and one mounted next to it (not touching the grill rack). If my readout on the external probe is not matching my Traeger readout I just adjust the controller a click up or down to get the temp I am looking for. I must say that I am a low and slow cooker and have never used mine for grilling at high temp. Thanks for using the forum, I am sure you will hear from others with good ideas to help you with your problem.

 

[Parrothead1809]

Welcome to the party !!! I'm a fellow 780 owner and yes, the thermometers in the Traeger are not the most accurate. Besides an instant read (most use a Thermapen) I also have a Thermoworks "Smoke" which is much more accurate for monitoring the chamber temp.

I will say this, before my Traeger, I had a vertical smoker that was a challenge to maintain temps. The Traeger is much better - really - don't sweat it once you figure out how it cooks. Just set it and forget it. Remember, if you're lookin' you ain't cookin' !!!

Finally - be sure to check out the What's Cooking Today thread (https://www.traegerforum.com/threads/whats-cooking-today-🔥-pics-are-necessary.3207/unread) - lots of great advise there !

Welcome again !
-PH

 

[21fred]

Thank you both! I was on the phone with Traeger. They could see that it took 20 hours to get my ribs to 205, they could see the temperature (according to the Treager sensor) but said it was all working fine. 3-2-1 ribs don't take 20 hours... lol.

I have resolved to use my separate sensors and put in a false setpoint on the traeger to achieve the desired cooking temp. Still, its a little disappointing to spend so much money and have to do a work around... Onward and upward! Thanks again!!