Pit Boss Temp Issue

[mike243]

I have been lucky with my Austin LX, other than 1 rack that cracked the temps have been really good, a small swing either way but nothing in left field. I really can't say I have done anything to keep it that way, most of the time the lid gauge is reading the set temp once it is warmed up. wanted to upgrade to a pid but would be a waste of $$, I am glad PB refused to answer my ? about the controller they sell to upgrade for it, I sent them a message to see if it was in 5 degree increments , never no response and after 2 weeks it was removed. my control jumps from 250-300 and I wanted to be able to run in the 275 area, pretty simple but their lack of response reflects badly with me, if I ever buy another pellet smoker it will not be a PB. going to run it till it wont run no more, I have lost track of its age but think over 5-6 years old.

 

[Char-lie]

UPDATE: I have found a solution that has evened out the temperatures in my series 3 vertical Pit Boss smoker. I always suspected the problem was that the temp sensor was located too close to the fire pot at the bottom of the smoker resulting in much higher temp readings at the lower cooking grates (by as much as 50 -75 degrees!). I made a heat deflector out of a small, shallow aluminum pan and placed it just below the temp sensor. No screws or drilling necessary...the water pan holds it in place perfectly. As I type this post, my smoker is set to 275°. The digital readout reads 270° and two separate oven thermometers (top and bottom shelves) read 275° each. This is my 3rd smoke with the deflector and my results have been consistent.

 

[augiedoggy]

UPDATE: I have found a solution that has evened out the temperatures in my series 3 vertical Pit Boss smoker. I always suspected the problem was that the temp sensor was located too close to the fire pot at the bottom of the smoker resulting in much higher temp readings at the lower cooking grates (by as much as 50 -75 degrees!). I made a heat deflector out of a small, shallow aluminum pan and placed it just below the temp sensor. No screws or drilling necessary...the water pan holds it in place perfectly. As I type this post, my smoker is set to 275°. The digital readout reads 270° and two separate oven thermometers (top and bottom shelves) read 275° each. This is my 3rd smoke with the deflector and my results have been consistent.

Thanks! I have actually been thinking of trying something like this. I already tried a longer temp probe.

 

[ProsperDad]

New member here...signed up to revive this thread and seek help.

PD Laredo 1000, purchased August 2021. Constantly fighting it being hotter than it thinks. Set 225 and using thermocouples, consistently reading 60 to 65 degrees hotter. Set 350, temp is actually 410-415.

Fabricated a probe mount to relocate the top of the probe to grill level, but that didn't help.

Even put one of the thermocouples 1/4" away from the top of the PB probe and still getting 60 to 65 degrees higher.

PB has replaced the temp probe, controller and now sending me another controller, but this throwing parts at it is getting old.

I really think there's a software or firmware issue whereby it thinks the probe is reading 225 rather than the actual temp, but customer service still thinks it may be the board.

Appreciate any feedback, tips, thoughts...