More reliable temp?

[pellis04]

Have the black 40" MES.

MES temp says 224
Thermopro BBQ probe says 215. It's hanging out just below my meat.

Which one should I trust more.

 

[daveomak]

The therm closest to the meat, ALWAYS... main reason, it didn't come with the smoker... Smoker therms are notoriously incorrect...

 

[GaryHibbert]

If you've boil tested your Thermopro (just to verify its accuracy) then by all means trust it over the MES therm--they have a well earned reputation for inaccuracy. Mine was off by more than 30 degrees. I don't use the MES cook chamber therm or the meat probe. I always use my remote digital 2 probe Smoke.
Gary

 

[SonnyE]

I'm weird (Most know that), I have two remote digital cooking therms, and a stack therm, and of course the MES 30 control therm.
So you could say 5 therms. I have more, but those are my go-to's.
Generally, I never expect them to read the same, or not even too terribly close. Because I know they won't, they are not that high of quality, and have never been proofed with a certified thermo well.
But all in all, they are fairly close very often. As in no more than about a 10 degree spread, on a good day, if I'm holding my tongue just right, standing on one foot, and I don't fart.
Water boils at 212 degrees. At Sea Level. At my house, a bunch of therms say 209. Because your altitude effects the boiling point. Air pressure even has a lesser effect.

So don't beat yourself up over a thermometer.

And that is a damn sight closer than when I'm burning meat on the Bar-B-Que, by guess and by golly. ;)
And closer than a caveman with a lizard on a stick over a campfire... LOL!

Just observe, and get to know your tools. :);)

 

[SmokinAl]

As said above, after checking your thermo pro in boiling water & ice water. If it's accurate put it on the grate a couple of inches from the meat. No body uses the MES controller or temp probe for accurate measurements.
Al

 

[SonnyE]

As said above, after checking your thermo pro in boiling water & ice water. If it's accurate put it on the grate a couple of inches from the meat. No body uses the MES controller or temp probe for accurate measurements.
Al

Al makes a good point. And why I decided to not get an oven with a built in probe.
If my outside therms with extension probes go South on me, I just get something else.
But built in? :(

 

[sm0kin]

I just ordered a Thermopro TP08, are you all running the cable through the vent or between the door seal and box?

 

[SonnyE]

I just ordered a Thermopro TP08, are you all running the cable through the vent or between the door seal and box?

I took the guts out of my MES 30. I was running a probe through the door via the door gasket.
Then realized I had 3 holes available where the chip feeder screw holes are. So I have my leads going through those.

My Taylor therm works fine there, reaches all the shelves, and comes to the top on the outside for the display.
My cheapie 2 probe C therm, does not. But it's base (wireless) does work fine setting atop of my fuel buckets beside my smoker oven.
So I'm happy I found a use for the empty screw holes, without making other holes or fettering the door gasket. :)

 

[sm0kin]

Pretty sure the MES40 is too tall for that to be an option

 

[HalfSmoked]

Lot of good info here and that's the thing about this forum you will get the answers. I have a thermopro smoke and love it easy to set. I run my cables through the top vent.

Warren

 

[pellis04]

I just ordered a Thermopro TP08, are you all running the cable through the vent or between the door seal and box?

Between the door and seal.

 

[SonnyE]

Pretty sure the MES40 is too tall for that to be an option

Yeah may be. But it worked for me. I did use the vent hole, but then I added my stack to make it draw the smoke up and away.
YMMV. LOL!
My Taylor therm does have a nice long lead to it, Teflon housing.
Draping the wire through the door gasket is a good option. Beats making holes.
Using the vacant screw holes gives me an option that doesn't get disturbed except when a rack goes in or out.
Hope you find a solution you like. ;)