Thermometer Probe Grommet

[PolishDeli]

I use an IBT-4XP with my MES30.
The probes are put into the smoker through the vent, or pinched in the door. It works fine. But, I ran across these grommets. They seem pretty slick. Anyone have experience with these? Good? Bad? Ugly?

I see how they install onto a grill or barell smoker. But the MES's have insulated walls, right? How would you mount them? I'm thinking this would need to be mounted onto a piece of sheet metal which then gets bolts onto the MES. In a sence, thats more forgiving: if you drill a hole thats too big, you get a do-over.

 

[tallbm]

I use an IBT-4XP with my MES30.
The probes are put into the smoker through the vent, or pinched in the door. It works fine. But, I ran across these grommets. They seem pretty slick. Anyone have experience with these? Good? Bad? Ugly?

I see how they install onto a grill or barell smoker. But the MES's have insulated walls, right? How would you mount them? I'm thinking this would need to be mounted onto a piece of sheet metal which then gets bolts onto the MES. In a sence, thats more forgiving: if you drill a hole thats too big, you get a do-over.

They look neat and interesting.

Yeah I think the hardest problem to solve is mounting them in the MES.

Personally I would just trill the temp probe hole through the walls (inside, outside, and through insulation) of the MES first.
Then I would run the probe through 1 grommet on the outside wall of the MES, probe through the walls of the MES, and finally the probe through the 2nd grommet on the INSIDE of the MES.
Finally I would high temp silicon RTV both grommets to the walls (inside and outside) of the MES.

Going this route I would avoid remove insulation, having to have a whole saw that can cut through the steel AND the insulation depth of the MES walls, and have to fool around with potentially plugging up or sealing or repairing such a large hole in the MES walls.

This approach I mention is minimal impact to drilling the MES with maximum benefit and allows for easy "oh crap" repairing should it all go wrong or should you decide to change the probe placement later hahaha.

I hope this info gives some food for thought :)
Then Drill a hole just for the hole part of the crommet without damaging the grommet (or drill the whole first then silicon RTV the grommet to the MES wall.

 

[cmayna]

My Weber kettle/grill has one. I run 2 wires thru it. I don't see how this grommet would work on a insulated wall. Mine seems to be designed for a single layer wall.

 

[cvan]

Check our McMaster.com they have a huge selection of grommet sizes that you can choose from.