Maverick et 732 meat probe

[cobra1713]

Hello all,

Just started usingy maverick et732 I bought in July. I tested both probes in boiling water, bbq probe was dead on, meat probe about 8 degrees high. Figures no big deal if add right degrees to target temp. I'm doing a pork butts on the WSM today, it was sitting at 173 (figured this was the stall) all of a sudden it was at 199 and then 205. New this couldn't be right so grabbed my old meat thermo and it read 158.

I took both the maverick probes out of smoker and tried them again in boiling water, this time the meat probe read 240. Not trusting it I put the bbq probe in the meat. Then realizing this smoke will be heading into early am I wanted bbq probe back in case smoker goes out or something. Tested meat probe and came back to 220 in boiling water. Put back in meat and it keeps jumping from 172 to 195 and then back.

Any ideas on what's going on? Thanks for the help

Edit: development, now reading 230 steady and it was at 173 less than 15 minutes ago. No part of the probe is touching metal and it is centered in the pork butts not near the bone. To confirm it is no longer dropping temp but staying at the false high temp

 

[JckDanls 07]

pretty much sounds like probe is faulty ... You can still leave chamber probe in and monitor smoker temps at least... Contact Maverick and talk to them... They are pretty good at sending replacement probes ...

 

[cobra1713]

OK thanks for the response, I'll call them up tomorrow, meat may be done by then lol

 

[SmokinAl]

You may also try moving the probe connector around, twisting it back & forth, where it connects to the sender.

I've had a bad connection there & it affected the temp reading.

And make sure it's pushed in all the way, sometimes they don't go all the way in without pushing a little harder.

Al

 

[mmmbbq1]

Yep - likely moisture intrusion inside the probe creating a resistance change in the sensor and throwing your readings off. The Mav items use a CRAZY STUPID sensitive sensor that is not sealed from moisture very well. After a couple of smokes, you can get a buildup of water / oil / fat inside the probe that causes erratic readings.

If its water - you can try throwing the front of the part in the oven at 300-400F to bake it out for a while before using it again. If it's oil / smoke / fat residue inside you are probably SOL.

A non sealed part + woven metal braiding that wicks moisture down the tube is a recipe for disaster.

If the connector was the issue [as Al suggested] you should be able to tell pretty quickly by wiggling the wires or rotating them in a circle while firmly holding the connector. If the readings don't change, the connector is good.

-mmmmmmmmmmBBQ!

 

[crankybuzzard]

 
Yep - likely moisture intrusion inside the probe creating a resistance change in the sensor and throwing your readings off. The Mav items use a CRAZY STUPID sensitive sensor that is not sealed from moisture very well. After a couple of smokes, you can get a buildup of water / oil / fat inside the probe that causes erratic readings.

If its water - you can try throwing the front of the part in the oven at 300-400F to bake it out for a while before using it again. If it's oil / smoke / fat residue inside you are probably SOL.

A non sealed part + woven metal braiding that wicks moisture down the tube is a recipe for disaster.

If the connector was the issue [as Al suggested] you should be able to tell pretty quickly by wiggling the wires or rotating them in a circle while firmly holding the connector. If the readings don't change, the connector is good.

-mmmmmmmmmmBBQ!

Let me look when I get home, but I think I still have a written process on how to add silicone and heat shrink tube to help PREVENT this from happening on the Maverick probes.  You won't be able to submerge the probe, but it will make it more resistant to moisture creep.

edit:

Not my write up, but Mr. T did the same thing.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/139633/hightemp-rtv-silicone-on-a-maverick-probe-where-help/20

 

[mmmbbq1]

Yep - silicone is pretty high temperature and highly moisture resistant. Like you said, won't make them waterproof but will def add some much needed moisture resistance.

And it is best done on a virgin part as you stated. The BEST method is to heat the probe up to about 400F, then apply your sealant to the back. As the probe cools the air inside will contract and help pull your sealant down inside the tube for a better seal. Then when its cool you can add more sealant and some shrink tubing.

Or you can buy some of the waterproof ones I'm getting ready to build ;)

Engineering samples in the works about to get some testing done. Disposable Mav probes are a thing of the past!

-mmmmmmmmmBBQ!