kbosch74
, I had the same problem. Mine is stamped with a 05-12-2013 date and I ordered it in June 2014 - so it sat somewhere for over a year before I got it. I really wanted to like it and for the most part, the guys at their forums (although it is said it is not company run/supported) were extremely helpful. It did reach 225 (at least I think it did - I didn't have a thermometer and took 5 hours) 2-3 times (when I first used it) and the ribs were slammin' - near perfect. After that, it wouldn't go over 185 degrees. The Owner sent me a new controller and element - I replaced my controller - same results - just wouldn't get over 185 degrees. Drove me crazy. The new controller has a "149 degrees C" (I think that is about 300 degrees fahrenheit) stamped on it. Obviously, they are bad batch of controllers OR I think they just might be the incorrect ones for the #3 - which surprises me, because they are not inferior (made by EGO). I now know a lot about thermostats and how they work (THANKS SARGE). I can not speak for the others (who have the #1 and #2 or even the #3 for that matter). It seems to be a #3 specific. I had to spend another $215 plus shipping and another $22.50 plus shipping for an Auber and thru-wall probe. It auto tuned correctly, but the directions were a bit confusing. The time spent trying to get the SI #3 to work correctly (and I still haven't - time wise and disgusted) - had I had to do it all again, I would have went with the CookShack - it is already set up to do all this and about the same cost - minus the cart (slightly smaller interior). I was going to send it back, it was still covered, but I threw the box out (I never do that) and the Owner told me to "just get one from FedEX." It would cost me nearly $150 to send back a defective unit. It's over a month now and the whole thing has gotten me so disgusted with the ordeal it is sitting in the back of my garage. I can't (in good conscience) sell it to anyone. Lesson learned.
