Camp Chef Upgraded PID Controller/temp swings

[oquela]

Hi all,
First post ever, but longtime reader. I recently upgraded the controller on 3 year old CampChef DLX pellet smoker to a Camp Chef Gen 2 PID controller. What I noticed immediately was my first cook with the controller (St. Louis ribs) were done in under 2 hours although I set the temp at 225 as usual. The ribs were just barely salvaged-being quite crispy and charred at the bottom.

Later, after it cooled down, I set the 2 built in probes at grate level, as well as an additional 2 probes from my ThermoPro. I cleaned the internal temp probe from the Camp Chef, vacuumed the interior, and fired up the pellet grill again, set the temperature at 250. The grill temp reading averaged 244-246, according to it's internal temp probe, which is within PID specs, I think. Here were my readings on the 4 wired probes:
Facing the grill:
Probe 1 (Top/rear Right) : 388
Probe 2 (bottom/front Right): 374
Probe 3 (Top/rear Left) : 360
Probe 4 (bottom/front Left) : 351

That's 120-138 hotter at the grill surface, which explains the 2 hour charred ribs. What do you think I should try next? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[kruizer]

Best suggestion I can give is to call Camp Chef and talk to customer service. They are very helpful and will most likely solve your problem

 

[mike243]

Sounds like the temp probe should have been changed when you changed the board

 

[oquela]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll swap out the temp probe first, and contact CC if it doesn't fix it.

 

[oquela]

Thanks Mike243 and kruizer. Problem solved! I swapped out the old internal temp probe, and put in a new one. These were the new readings at the grate/grill level for a set temp of 250 (grill internal now avg. 260 degrees at the built in temp probe)
Probe 1 (Top/rear Right) : 252
Probe 2 (bottom/front Right): 256
Probe 3 (Top/rear Left) : 258
Probe 4 (bottom/front Left) : 258

A diff. of 2-8 degrees from my set temp, versus what I had which was 110-138 degrees hotter than set temp. Thanks again!