Confused about temp probe...

[magnetnerd]

New here and am strongly considering purchasing a Traeger, but I've read quite a lot about how everyone runs 3rd party temp probes.

How does this work with the Traeger app? Is the idea to have a 3rd party meat probe and 3rd party ambient temp probe, and adjust grill temp using that? For example:
3rd party Meat probe alarm at 212, current reading 170
3rd party Ambient probe alarm at 250, current reading 225
Traeger Ambient probe set to 250, current reading 225

And this is where I want everything to be? Assuming I want grill to be 225, I have to set it to 250, /knowing/ that there's a (in this instance) 25 degree difference between what the Traeger is set to and what the actual temp is?

Does this not detract from what the Traeger app is all about? Is there another manufacturer who does it better, or who will let you use a 3rd party probe to actually control the grill instead of having an almost useless probe to set the grill temp?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CMTiger]

I guess it detracts a bit, but the main reason I like the app is the control I have from my phone. I’ve cranked up the temp on something before 20 miles from my house with my phone.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

Well, .......... it is not as bad as it looks. I know my Traeger's ambient probe is off by about 25 degrees so I set the temperature accordingly and it works fine. It is just a minor annoyance that I have to do it like that.

If this bothers you a lot, yes there is a brand that has excellent probes but it is a high end one called Yoder. If you are considering top-of-the-line Traegers, such as the Timberlines, you should definitely give Yoder a look. If not everything else about the Traeger is solid and a 3rd party probe solves the probe issue.

 

[midwest]

As far as I know there are no other probes that will work with the Traeger app. So like you have said, you will use the aftermarket probe and make adjustments accordingly. I use Ink bird and when I have tested it against my MK4 it is very accurate. Part of the problem is, many of us don't have a Traeger probe that is off by a set amount. For example, when I am under 300 degrees mine might only be off by 15 degrees or so but I have seen it as far off as 60 degrees when when I am over 400 degrees. The only good thing about that is when I cook at high temps it is usually just burgers or a steak I am searing. Nothing yet where the temps have been vital. If you were cooking a long low and slow cook a 60 degree difference would be disastrous.

 

[TheGrumpyGriller]

I use the InkBird wifi with 4 probes. One always for pit temp and three for whatever is being smoked. In fact I have 2 of them, and often use both sets .

The Traeger app is used to adjust the temp for me only, and honestly, I prefer it that way as I have one app to monitor temps even if some things aren't on the Traeger, and one app to simply adjust the pit temp.

Good luck!

 

[Don C]

I have the Traeger App on an iPad & the Inkbird App on an iPhone.

I put the 2 devices side by side & adjust the Traeger pit temp via the Traeger App depending on what the Inkbird App says the Traeger pit temperature actually is.

Even if the Traeger pit temp was accurate, most of the time you need more than the 1 meat probe that Traeger provides.

 

[magnetnerd]

Thanks for the help y'all! It sounds not too bad to have a different system for the temps. I'm looking at the Ironwood line, so throwing another 1k plus for a Yoder doesn't really make sense to me right now.

Looks like it'll be the Ironwood 650 and a set of inkbird probes!

 

[Luther]

New here and am strongly considering purchasing a Traeger, but I've read quite a lot about how everyone runs 3rd party temp probes.

How does this work with the Traeger app? Is the idea to have a 3rd party meat probe and 3rd party ambient temp probe, and adjust grill temp using that? For example:
3rd party Meat probe alarm at 212, current reading 170
3rd party Ambient probe alarm at 250, current reading 225
Traeger Ambient probe set to 250, current reading 225

And this is where I want everything to be? Assuming I want grill to be 225, I have to set it to 250, /knowing/ that there's a (in this instance) 25 degree difference between what the Traeger is set to and what the actual temp is?

Does this not detract from what the Traeger app is all about? Is there another manufacturer who does it better, or who will let you use a 3rd party probe to actually control the grill instead of having an almost useless probe to set the grill temp?

Thanks in advance!

I have been dealing with this for a while and this is not my first smoker but is my first Traeger. After talking with tech support several times the issue wasn't resolved. I did figure out my other grills have the pit temp probe around the bottom rack height. The 1300 one of the largest Treagers for some reason put the put thermocouple above or near the top rack at the top of the dome. In 50-60 degree weather I see a difference of 30 -60 difference between Traeger pit temp and the rack height. I have proven this with tech support using the meat probe on the main or bottom rack as well as my own second set of meat probes.
I don't generally cook on the top rack so I don't need to know the temp up there.
Not sure if it is possible to move my heat probe down since it is a double wall.
This doesn't make any sense to me why they built such a nice grill with this obvious of a problem.

 

[Big Man Dan]

I use the InkBird wifi with 4 probes. One always for pit temp and three for whatever is being smoked. In fact I have 2 of them, and often use both sets .

The Traeger app is used to adjust the temp for me only, and honestly, I prefer it that way as I have one app to monitor temps even if some things aren't on the Traeger, and one app to simply adjust the pit temp.

Good luck!

I do exactly the same as Grumpy except I only have one Inkbird 4 probe doodad. Love my Inkbird tools!