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mattycamp
BBQ Pro
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 630
Location: Little Rock
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 Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: Maverick Food Probe failed after one cook |
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Grr. I came home tonight and the wife was cooking a tenderloin. She asked if I could check it, so I grabbed my only-used-once Maverick and turned it on. Imagine my surprise when the room temperature registered at 347 degrees. Either that this is way off or summer came super early.
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Matt
24x96 Lone Star Custom by Bates |
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I Smell Smoke
BBQ Fan
Joined: 04 May 2008
Posts: 160
Location: Central Pa.
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: Hot |
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WWHHHOOOOO, With temps like that you better get some beer iced down.
You can calibrate some thermometers. A glass of ice water is 32-33 degrees.
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Tim
Let's Eat
New Braunfels Offset Smoker
Alveron Cookers /Wood Over Gas /24x36
Alveron Cookers /Wood Over Gas /40x60 on Custom Trailer |
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jrb03
BBQ Fan
Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 186
Location: Tx
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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You didnt wash the probe after you used it the first time did you?
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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They are not worth the money hands down. I had one ruin a roast and only have one working probe left that I use to monitor the cooking chamber. When that goes, it goes in the trash.
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mattycamp
BBQ Pro
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 630
Location: Little Rock
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| jrb03 wrote: | | You didnt wash the probe after you used it the first time did you? |
I wiped it clean with a wet washcloth, but, no it didn't go into any detergent or soap or anything.
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Matt
24x96 Lone Star Custom by Bates |
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mattycamp
BBQ Pro
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 630
Location: Little Rock
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| Teleking wrote: | | They are not worth the money hands down. I had one ruin a roast and only have one working probe left that I use to monitor the cooking chamber. When that goes, it goes in the trash. |
Funny, when I realized it had failed, my first thought was "well sumbitch, that Teleking fellow was right about these things!"
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Matt
24x96 Lone Star Custom by Bates |
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DawgPhan
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 12 May 2005
Posts: 3444
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| Yep those things are crap. I wouldn't spend the money on one when you can buy a thermapen for a $40 more or so and have something that far outpaces it in terms of performance. |
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OddThomas
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2010
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| Teleking wrote: | | They are not worth the money hands down. I had one ruin a roast and only have one working probe left that I use to monitor the cooking chamber. When that goes, it goes in the trash. |
What are you planning to use to monitor your cooker temps?
EVERY remote probe I've ever had was a piece of crap. I bought a brand new Acu-Rite (not that I expected much, but still) to use on my last cook and it was 25 °F off of a standard oven thermo sitting on the grates. I thought, heck, that ain't right so I probed a piece of meat, then grabbed my Webber remote that's pretty useless for BBQ because it has a bunch of preset mumbo jumbo and only goes to 199 °F and I probed the same piece of meat in damn near the same spot. 25 °F difference. WTF?
From what I can tell so far and I haven't really had it long enough or tested thoroughly enough to be absolutely certain but the thermos in the doors of my 70 read about 10 °F higher than my oven thermos on center of the lower grates do. I expect the door temp to be a little higher than the grate, so I figure the oven thermos is probably pretty reliable. It worked for my last cook, but it's not exactly scientific.
I was just about ready to pull the trigger on a Maverick when I read this thread... |
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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I have kinda tossed any remote probe possibilities to the wind. I ordered a Tel-Tru last week and don’t have it yet to monitor the cooking chamber. For meats I have a DISHWASER SAFE analog probe I put in the meet when it approaches the estimated cooking time. Pretty sure that you don’t need to monitor a butt that will take well over 8 hours for the whole cooking time. I also have a $3.98 oven thermometer sitting on the grate to peek at when I mop or spritz just to be sure.
I have that one last working probe that I calibrated last weekend at 214* in boiling water.
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BigOrson
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Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 2857
Location: Marietta, GA
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| I've been using 3 of the inexpensive Pyrex brand probe thermometers for about 3 years now and, with the exception of melting one by affixing its magnet to the cooking chamber, I have yet to have an issue with any of them. Under $20 at Bed Bath and Beyond. |
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JimH
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Posts: 1978
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| BigOrson wrote: | | I've been using 3 of the inexpensive Pyrex brand probe thermometers for about 3 years now and, with the exception of melting one by affixing its magnet to the cooking chamber, I have yet to have an issue with any of them. Under $20 at Bed Bath and Beyond. |
I'll second that, the Pyrex was the first thermometer I bought. I ruined one probe with water and two of the thermometers by dropping them but for $20 it was no big deal.
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| JimH wrote: | | I ruined one probe with water and two of the thermometers by dropping them but for $20 it was no big deal. |
You can buy 3 DISHWASER SAFE analog probes for that amount.
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OddThomas
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2010
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: May 09 2008 Post subject: |
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| Teleking wrote: | | Pretty sure that you don’t need to monitor a butt that will take well over 8 hours for the whole cooking time. |
I totally agree. I usually can tell if my food is about done based on time and just by feeling them. That's when I start testing for doneness using my bimetallic. The only thing good about the probes really is the alarm, just in case I forget about something. I might try one of the Pyrex probes BigOrson mentioned.
| Teleking wrote: | | I also have a $3.98 oven thermometer sitting on the grate to peek at when I mop or spritz just to be sure. |
Same here. I use a standard air-pressure based garden sprayer to apply any concoctions, so my doors are only open for a few seconds when I'm doing that. It's long enough for me to check grate temps and compare to the door temps. As long as the difference is always the same I can closely gauge grate temp just by looking at my door thermos. |
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redray
BBQ Fan
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 212
Location: Ellicott City, MD
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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I realize that I probably will jinx it  but I have had my Maverick for 3+ years and use it for probably 60+ cooks a year and I have never had a problem. Maybe I got the only good one ever made  After reading other guys issues with probes going bad I ordered a set for back up but I have never needed them. I have always been very careful when cleaning the probes. I will rinse them under running water but I never submerse them. Also, you have to be careful about pulling on the wires while cleaning and I did cut a tiny notch in the smoker so that the wires don't get pinched when the lid is closed. |
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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| redray wrote: | | I have always been very careful when cleaning the probes. I will rinse them under running water but I never submerse them. Also, you have to be careful about pulling on the wires while cleaning and I did cut a tiny notch in the smoker so that the wires don't get pinched when the lid is closed. |
Seems like a lot of work when I can just drop mine in the dishwasher and walk away! 
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redray
BBQ Fan
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 212
Location: Ellicott City, MD
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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| Teleking wrote: | | redray wrote: | | I have always been very careful when cleaning the probes. I will rinse them under running water but I never submerse them. Also, you have to be careful about pulling on the wires while cleaning and I did cut a tiny notch in the smoker so that the wires don't get pinched when the lid is closed. |
Seems like a lot of work when I can just drop mine in the dishwasher and walk away! |
You are absolutely right about the dishwasher but it only takes about 30 seconds by hand.  The remote with alarm works great for the overnighters, is the Tel tru a remote? |
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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| redray wrote: | | The remote with alarm works great for the overnighters, is the Tel tru a remote? |
Until the prope craps out and sticks at 154*F and you continue to cook your beef roast up to 185 
Negatory, pit thermometer.
http://www.teltru.com/
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JimH
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Posts: 1978
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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| Teleking wrote: | | JimH wrote: | | I ruined one probe with water and two of the thermometers by dropping them but for $20 it was no big deal. |
You can buy 3 DISHWASER SAFE analog probes for that amount. |
I only use them to either monitor the temp of the pit or the temp of a sirloin tip/pork loin/tenderloin.
You cannot really be angry about this, can you?
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jrb03
BBQ Fan
Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 186
Location: Tx
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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| redray wrote: | | I realize that I probably will jinx it but I have had my Maverick for 3+ years and use it for probably 60+ cooks a year and I have never had a problem. Maybe I got the only good one ever made After reading other guys issues with probes going bad I ordered a set for back up but I have never needed them. I have always been very careful when cleaning the probes. I will rinse them under running water but I never submerse them. Also, you have to be careful about pulling on the wires while cleaning and I did cut a tiny notch in the smoker so that the wires don't get pinched when the lid is closed. |
Your definately not the only one. I have had two Mavericks for close to 4 years and never had one problem. I use them just about every weekend. They have never touched water other than to check calibration every now and then. Very easy to clean with a scoth pad. Maybe Mavericks quality has gone down the last couple of years, but mine and everyone I know that has one have never had problems.
To the OP, call maverick and they will send you replacement probes.
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: May 10 2008 Post subject: |
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| jrb03 wrote: | | To the OP, call maverick and they will send you replacement probes. |
Yeah for like $20 plus shipping. Atgan for that price you can get 3 analog probes that don't go bad. And $20 there in after they go bad again.
It was the last straw (do a search). I had a party with a buch of people and 2 beef roasts that I wanted med to slice for steak and cheese sammies. Dried out over done shoe leather all due to a faulty probe
Just my opinion, if yours woks all the power to ya. I would just clibrate before every cook.
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