Pellet Fan

Pit Talk -- Comments and Questions Regarding These Pellet Pits => recteq => Topic started by: DialTone301 on May 27, 2018, 12:17:54 PM

Title: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on May 27, 2018, 12:17:54 PM
Are others having trouble with the accuracy of the temperature probes?

 I have an almost 50 degree difference between the 2.  I am sure it is the probes not the ports....if i swap ports the temps follow the probe.

I am also questioning the accuracy of the better of the 2 probes.   I have 2  8 1/2 lb shoulders on at 250 and after 6 hours the one lower probe is showing 180 degrees.  I feel like that is too high since i expect them to take near 12 hours. 

I don't have another thermometer so I am planning on cooking 12 hours and hoping for the best.  Does that sound reasonable?

I will call Rec Tec on Tuesday.   I love this smoker so far!
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DaisyCutter on May 27, 2018, 12:59:33 PM
You can test them by putting them into a glass of ice water, it should read 32 degrees or at least very close.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on May 27, 2018, 01:28:03 PM
The two probes are now reading within a couple of degrees of each other.  It took them 7 hours to come together.  They both read in the low 190's now.  It still seems high after only 7 hours at 250.

Is 12 hours about right for an 8 1/2 lb shoulder?  Since I can't trust the probes I am going to rely on time.

Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on May 27, 2018, 02:04:05 PM
Just did the ice water test and they read around 42.  Weird thing is they were not stable and would go up to 48 and down to 41 sometimes within a few seconds while sitting in the water. 

Inserted back in my pork shoulder and one reads 180 while the other is 185. 

I will talk to support on Tuesday.  I am confident they will figure it out.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on May 27, 2018, 03:00:41 PM

I typically go 16 hours at 225.  I'd be interested in what RT says about this issue.


I'll be using the three probes on my CyberQ at one time to compare the two RT probes once I get my RT.  Those three probes always read the same or within a degree or two of each other when cooking pork shoulders.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: Ross77 on May 27, 2018, 03:38:29 PM
It's a known issue and last I heard they were working on a fix.  Either via a firmware update or an app update to allow you to manually adjust them.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: gkas on May 27, 2018, 04:40:52 PM
It's a known issue and last I heard they were working on a fix.  Either via a firmware update or an app update to allow you to manually adjust them.

I just installed an updated board in my RT-700. My original board did not have the option for calibration. They both read the same, 10° below my ThermaPen. With the new board I calibrated both probes to read the same as my Thermapen.

Smoker works fantastic. The only small problem is that I keep getting 'disconnected' messages from the Rec Tec app on my Android Samsung S8+. Seems to work OK, just annoying. I turned off notifications from the app. Support says they are working on a solution. Seems to be a problem when the app goes offline automatically. I agree, the symptoms point to that (40 year computer systems software nerd, retired). I'm sure they'll get it worked out. It's a minor annoyance.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: Ross77 on May 27, 2018, 04:44:33 PM
Must be why they have delayed the $99 controller upgrade for 680 and Mini owners.  Still working out the bugs.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: cookingjnj on May 27, 2018, 05:08:37 PM
Good point Ross.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: ehubbard on May 27, 2018, 06:48:13 PM
gkas --  was it easy to tell the difference between the new and old controller?  When my stampede arrives (any day now)..  it would be cool if I could figure out if I have v1 or v2.. 
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: gkas on May 28, 2018, 07:40:20 PM
gkas --  was it easy to tell the difference between the new and old controller?  When my stampede arrives (any day now)..  it would be cool if I could figure out if I have v1 or v2..

On the bottom of the front panel is a 'gear' button, next to the power button.  Press it and hold the 1st page will come up. If you press it 2 more times you should get a probe setting page. If you don't get the 'PrA' page, then you have the older controller firmware.

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Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: ehubbard on May 29, 2018, 12:06:10 PM
gkas -- thanks much!
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on May 29, 2018, 04:22:25 PM
Just got off the phone with Adam at support. Super nice guy....definitely a good experience so far.  He is sending me out one of the revised controllers.  I should have it for the weekend so I will report back once I get a chance to test it.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on May 29, 2018, 06:24:26 PM
Good deal and thanks for the update!  I hope mine already comes with the fix.  If not, I will give them a call. It hasn't been picked up yet by the carrier.  Got a GFCI installed and am ready for the experience, I think lol.  Burgers and dogs yesterday on the KJ were very tasty.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: LowSlowJoe on May 30, 2018, 12:10:32 PM
Interesting... I was told they were working on a way to update the controller, no mention of having ones that already had the feature.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on May 30, 2018, 12:29:19 PM
Interesting... I was told they were working on a way to update the controller, no mention of having ones that already had the feature.



Just my wishful hopes.  I am not holding my breath on this one bit, but is how I would like it to go down for the best RT experience.  I did get another shipping update this morning for some reason.  It said awaiting shipment just like the last update on the 24th.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on May 31, 2018, 01:19:05 PM
Got the shipped notification yesterday so the Bull is on the move.  Watch out!
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: Ralphie on May 31, 2018, 01:48:45 PM
Great news Grilltreats!  Where do you live?
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on May 31, 2018, 01:50:31 PM
Great news Grilltreats!  Where do you live?



Nashville
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on May 31, 2018, 03:24:13 PM
Great news Grilltreats!  Where do you live?



Nashville



Just received the call from the carrier and the delivery is set for tomorrow midday.  That was fast!
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on June 02, 2018, 08:02:02 AM
New controller is installed.  I will give it a try later today.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on June 02, 2018, 03:54:27 PM
Adjusted probes to be identical last night using a glass of ice water.  One probe needed a -9 degree adjustment and didn't want to hold a steady temp. 

Today i put a pork loin on and inserted both probes to see how they compare.  Once again i 
am seeing almost a 100 degree difference between the 2.  The one probe is obviously bad....to late to call support so i will have to talk to them Monday.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: Ross77 on June 02, 2018, 05:07:07 PM
So you can adjust the probe offset?  How does it know which is which?  Or is it adjusting the probe port?
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on June 02, 2018, 05:18:32 PM
With the new controller you can adjust the probe offset.  I assume you are really adjusting the port....so i have marked mine so that i always use the same one in each port.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: Spartan Smoker on June 04, 2018, 07:26:16 AM
I had this issue the first couple of cooks and although it seems like i shouldn't have to, i just bought an external probe.  I guess if i start hearing guys saying that the controller unit made a big change for them i will call.  But for now, i am not sure i want to tear mine apart and put a new one on to get the same results.

Anyone out there switch it out and get better results?  RT did offer to ship me a new one.  Very easy (also sent me a new shelf that was bent on delivery).  I told them to hold it until i was sure i was going to switch it out.

Any good experiences with the switch out is everyone getting the same inconsistent results?

Thanks...
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on June 04, 2018, 04:26:57 PM
New probes are on the way.  I will report back once I have a chance to use them. 
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: DialTone301 on June 10, 2018, 11:29:55 AM
I got the new probes and have dialed in the offset.  They were both within a couple of degrees of my Thermoworks thermometer.  They both seem stable....unlike the one original. 

I feel confident that the one bad probe was my trouble all along.  I shipped the original probes and controller back to Rec Tec so they can test them.  I also included 3 pages of pictures and narrative to show them what I was experiencing. 

Rec Tec support has been great during this process.  Very polite and professional.
Title: Re: RT-700 Temp Probes
Post by: grilltreats on June 10, 2018, 11:29:17 PM
Glad you got the issue resolved.  My probes read 35 and 37 in the ice water test, close enough for now.  I really want the firmware that allows for probe calibrations.