Newbie

[wazzusmoker]

Morning..just got my pro575..first traeger. gettingnready to fire it up but wanted to confirm that the little wire thing poking out on the inside is the temo reader and there’s nothing i need to attach to that? photo is attached. also read on here some treat the interior with veg oil..do u so that while doing the intitial prime auger? much appreciated.

 

[Shedd]

Morning..just got my pro575..first traeger. gettingnready to fire it up but wanted to confirm that the little wire thing poking out on the inside is the temo reader and there’s nothing i need to attach to that? photo is attached. also read on here some treat the interior with veg oil..do u so that while doing the intitial prime auger? much appreciated.

Welcome!!
I’m new to pellet grills too but I have a 780 Pro and it has the same probe. So yes it’s the ambient temperature probe. Expect it to not be accurate and as far as I know it can’t be calibrated either. You can and should calibrate the meat probe, you’ll find instructions in your manual, it’s really easy. You’ll quickly figure out that using a separate thermometer like Fireboard or Tempro will help you figure out what temperature your grill is actually cooking at. As for treating the inside, I really don’t know, I didn’t do it to mine. I’m sure someone with more experience will chime in, a great group of folks on here that are really helpful.

 

[RayClem]

The RTD thermocouple probe sends a signal to the controller for feedback on the chamber temperature. Most people find them to be inaccurate. They are covered in a fragile ceramic coating. I had only had my grill a few weeks when I bumped the probe while removing grates from the grill. The coating broke off leaving the wires exposed. I remedied the problem by cleaning the probe and applying a couple of drops of JB Weld Red High Temperature Silicone Gasket Maker and Sealant. I did purchase a replacement probe just in case the old one failed, but I have yet to install the replacement. The silicone will withstand the heat of the grill and the slick surface make it easy to keep the probe clean.

In order to prevent damage to the probe, some people have added a metal strap over top of the probe. Such straps can be purchased in the pluming or electrical sections of your favorite hardware store. As couple of sheet metal screw will secure it to the side of the grill. I have not added a strap to mine as I am now extremely cautious when removing the grates and drip tray.

 

[wazzusmoker]

Appreciate the help..::Is the Ceramic covering that was supposed to be there just for protection from breaking and ok to use w/o the ceramic protrction?

 

[RayClem]

Appreciate the help..::Is the Ceramic covering that was supposed to be there just for protection from breaking and ok to use w/o the ceramic protrction?

A thermocouple is a junction of two different wires that changes resistance as the temperature changes. The ceramic protects that junction from excessive heat and corrosion. Thus, it is not a great idea to run bare wires. If the ceramic breaks, RTV silicone will coat the wires and provide similar protection. While it might not cause irreparable damage to run bare wires for a cook or two, I suspect it will shorten the life of the thermocouple. A tube of the red RTV is only a few dollars and a tube will last quite a while. Once opened, the tube will eventually harden, but it will take a while.