Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: okie52 on September 26, 2014, 10:56:18 AM
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The Blazn Grill PID arrives.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall141_zpsf99aa991.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall141_zpsf99aa991.jpg.html)
I'm going to have to move my smoke daddy smoke generator to the backside of the hopper and put a 7/8" plug in the hole it left.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall143_zps05f3edcb.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall143_zps05f3edcb.jpg.html)
Out goes the old ortech knockoff.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall144_zpsd233f86e.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall144_zpsd233f86e.jpg.html)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall145_zps17459d6d.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall145_zps17459d6d.jpg.html)
Took out old RTD and used a 3/4" L bracket to mount the new RTD horizontally fairly close to grate level. Drilled a small hole below the existing top hole for a 10-32 bolt to secure the RTD.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall001_zps77140c99.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall001_zps77140c99.jpg.html)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall003_zps6ee632cd.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall003_zps6ee632cd.jpg.html)
Had to use different holes than the old ortech holes on the new PID.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall005_zps00b1dd61.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall005_zps00b1dd61.jpg.html)
Top bolt/nut on the PID will be inside the hopper.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall007_zpse0eb6799.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall007_zpse0eb6799.jpg.html)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall009_zps3a78aaab.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall009_zps3a78aaab.jpg.html)
Cleaned out the grill to give the new PID a fresh start.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall010_zpsa2936ca0.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall010_zpsa2936ca0.jpg.html)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall012_zps90e62130.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall012_zps90e62130.jpg.html)
Success!!!
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall018_zps3f906a10.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall018_zps3f906a10.jpg.html)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/PIDinstall017_zps814f2dde.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/PIDinstall017_zps814f2dde.jpg.html)
I will admit it is going to take me a while to get used to the constant oscillation of the fan going on and off around target temp.
Please forgive my poor picture taking ability.
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Great looking installation. ;)
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That Traeger got a new lease on life and will be better than ever now.
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Nice install!
If it works the same as mine then if the temp is set to under 300F then the fan will bellow and over 300F it will stay on.
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I am waiting to see how the controller works for you. I ask Blazn Grill for info and if it work on my Traeger. They didn't respond, I suppose because of being responsible if they did. Was it pretty well plug and play or did you have to use new connectors? Any info would be greatly appreciated okie! Don
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Looks like a nice solution.
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Thank you all.
Smokin Don-the connectors were a perfect match for the Traeger. Only real connection you have to do is remove the old RTD and install the new one...crimping the new connectors that they supply to you.
I haven't had it run for very long yet so I want to see how the RTD temp reads vs a Maverick at grate level. Hopefully they will be close. There have been other traeger owners that have retrofitted their ortech knockoffs with the Blazn Grill PID and I've only heard good reports from them. I hope that is true in my case...I'll keep you posted smokin Don.
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Thank you all.
Smokin Don-the connectors were a perfect match for the Traeger. Only real connection you have to do is remove the old PID and install the new one...crimping the new connectors that they supply to you.
I haven't had it run for very long yet so I want to see how the RTD temp reads vs a Maverick at grate level. Hopefully they will be close. There have been other traeger owners that have retrofitted their ortech knockoffs with the Blazn Grill PID and I've only heard good reports from them. I hope that is true in my case...I'll keep you posted smokin Don.
Thanks a lot okie I will probably order one for my xmas present! Don
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Thank you all.
Smokin Don-the connectors were a perfect match for the Traeger. Only real connection you have to do is remove the old PID and install the new one...crimping the new connectors that they supply to you.
I haven't had it run for very long yet so I want to see how the RTD temp reads vs a Maverick at grate level. Hopefully they will be close. There have been other traeger owners that have retrofitted their ortech knockoffs with the Blazn Grill PID and I've only heard good reports from them. I hope that is true in my case...I'll keep you posted smokin Don.
Thanks a lot okie I will probably order one for my xmas present! Don
Sure thing Don.
I said PID but I meant RTD.
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Hmmm I looked at their site and can't see the price. Can you share what it cost ?
Wondering if I could put one on my Jr. I have a SSii on my Texas
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You did a professional job
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Lucky you and pics look good to me. ;) Thanks for sharing and enjoy.
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Hmmm I looked at their site and can't see the price. Can you share what it cost ?
Wondering if I could put one on my Jr. I have a SSii on my Texas
My PID was $219.00 plus shipping....shipping costs turned out to be about $7.00. Regular mail....it took two days from the day they shipped to get to me.
It took about 12 days from the date of my order till it arrived at my home.
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Sweet that's reasonable
I'm working on cutting the top off my jr and adding a cabinet on it so this controller upgrade would be perfect for the jr with a vertical cabinet
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Sweet that's reasonable
I'm working on cutting the top off my jr and adding a cabinet on it so this controller upgrade would be perfect for the jr with a vertical cabinet
I was trying to hold out for a SSII since that would have been an easier conversion on my Texas but after a year of waiting for them to be in stock or for the new SSIII I gave up and went with the blazen grill.
Good luck with your mods on your jr. Hope you'll post pics
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Did my first cook with my new PID. Absolutely rock solid on the temp. Almost never varied on the rtd probe temp. Maverick on the grate was almost always within 5 degrees of the rtd.
Another difference between it and the old traeger controller...the grate temp chased the rtd temp rather than the other way around.
One disappointing thing was that it appeared the new PID put out less smoke than the traeger above 200 degrees. 180 and below it was fine...probably better than the old temp controller as it was a constant smoke. I'm assuming that it's constant fan/auger use on the new PID has it burn more efficiently than the old temp controller allowing for less smoke. It was kind of breezy today so I'll see if the smoke effect holds true tomorrow.
I usually smoked my meats on smoke setting with traegers temp control before I cranked up the heat but I was hoping for good smoke through at least 250. Well, I've still got my smoke daddy if needed...hope it's not.
Still, I'm thrilled with the performance of the new PID.
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There is a trade off to having very even temperatures with less smoke. The more even temperatures the better the burn and less smoke. The more swings and out of control temperatures the more smoke. It is a tough balance to achieve. Your controller does a decent job IMHO by trying to maintain even temps and control the fan speed to stoke the fire and create smoke.
But just because you don't see smoke billowing out does not mean it is not there. The ideal smoke is thin and blue in color IMHO.
And the intensity of smoke flavor is different for each individual. I personally don't care for the heavy smoke flavor. You know when you burp an hour later after eating a whisp of smoke exits your mouth. I like a light smoke flavor. It lets me know it us there without being the prominent flavor in my food. So pellet cookers are great for my pallette.
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I'm afraid that's the trade off...an effective and efficient temp control vs less smoke.
If that's the trade off I'm fine with it. I can use my smoke daddy or go -180 for 2-3 hours in most cases before I crank up the heat. I can't get p settings to provide constant temp control...
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This was cook last night after about 4 hours. 2 hours at 170 and 2 hours at 225. Plenty of smoke at 170...not much at 225.
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af24/okie54/ribcook026_zpsd43e4dd7.jpg) (http://s990.photobucket.com/user/okie54/media/ribcook026_zpsd43e4dd7.jpg.html)
Ended up cooking the ribs for 6 hours. 2 hours at 170 and 4 at 225. No wrap ( which I'm trying not to do these days). Decent smoke flavor (didn't get a pic of the finished product).
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That's a great looking slab of ribs. ;)
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Ribs look great!
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Thanks. They did taste pretty good.
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Nice color on the ribs okie!!! I think I will install one on my Traeger 07E or I may get one from Sawmill grills for $44. With it I would have to build or buy an enclosure. Don
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Thanks Don.
Sawmills or Sawtooth?
$44 is a steal. 1/5 of what I paid for a blazn grill PID (assuming its the same PID).
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Great mod, but not to sure if I need that on my home built pellet pooper.
Having a SRG chamber installed really helps with keeping the meat moist and getting a good bark and no need to worry about temps when on HIGH
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Nice color on the ribs okie!!! I think I will install one on my Traeger 07E or I may get one from Sawmill grills for $44. With it I would have to build or buy an enclosure. Don
I did find this link to sawtooth which I think is about the same PID as the Blaz n grill.
http://www.sawtoothpelletgrills.com/digital-controller
This one is about $175 though.
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Great mod, but not to sure if I need that on my home built pellet pooper.
Having a SRG chamber installed really helps with keeping the meat moist and getting a good bark and no need to worry about temps when on HIGH
Thanks.
I'm not that familiar with the SRGs so I have absolutely no idea how they'd perform for you.
I probably won't use my smoker on high temps very often as I really just want it for smoking.
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Great mod, but not to sure if I need that on my home built pellet pooper.
Having a SRG chamber installed really helps with keeping the meat moist and getting a good bark and no need to worry about temps when on HIGH
Thanks.
I'm not that familiar with the SRGs so I have absolutely no idea how they'd perform for you.
I probably won't use my smoker on high temps very often as I really just want it for smoking.
I use it on high if I want to duplicate an SRG cook but if smoking a butt or beef I find LOW/smoke setting keeps a goos 225 to 235 temp so I'm good with that for now
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Nice color on the ribs okie!!! I think I will install one on my Traeger 07E or I may get one from Sawmill grills for $44. With it I would have to build or buy an enclosure. Don
I did find this link to sawtooth which I think is about the same PID as the Blaz n grill.
http://www.sawtoothpelletgrills.com/digital-controller
This one is about $175 though.
Okie this is the one I looked at for $44 and didn't look close enough. it is not digital. What did you pay for yours?
I wrote Blazn Grill but hey did not give me a price. Don
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Nice color on the ribs okie!!! I think I will install one on my Traeger 07E or I may get one from Sawmill grills for $44. With it I would have to build or buy an enclosure. Don
I did find this link to sawtooth which I think is about the same PID as the Blaz n grill.
http://www.sawtoothpelletgrills.com/digital-controller
This one is about $175 though.
Okie this is the one I looked at for $44 and didn't look close enough. it is not digital. What did you pay for yours?
I wrote Blazn Grill but hey did not give me a price. Don
I paid $219 plus $7 shipping. I'm assuming this is the upgraded sawtooth model that was $175 but I don't know that and I don't think you get the cover with this sawtooth model.
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Nice color on the ribs okie!!! I think I will install one on my Traeger 07E or I may get one from Sawmill grills for $44. With it I would have to build or buy an enclosure. Don
I did find this link to sawtooth which I think is about the same PID as the Blaz n grill.
http://www.sawtoothpelletgrills.com/digital-controller
This one is about $175 though.
Okie this is the one I looked at for $44 and didn't look close enough. it is not digital. What did you pay for yours?
I wrote Blazn Grill but hey did not give me a price. Don
Don I don't think that Blazn would endorse using this controller for a Traeger because it is designed and programmed to work with their grill specifically. So if you asked them if it will work on your Traeger I understand why they did not respond. I am sure they like the fact that people will buy this controller to use with their Traegers because that equals more revenue but they probably don't want to be held liable in any way if something happens.
The Blazn controller is plug and play with a Traeger because the wiring and connectors are both the same. If you go with a controller that is for a pellet grill that does not use a Ortech controller then wiring modifications will be required.
Even though the programming profile and parameters for the Blazn controller are for a Blazn grill the controller is a PID and adapts instantly to any changes it detects. In other words it is smart and learns your cooker and the way it reacts. As long as the initial parameters are close for normal operation the PID takes over from there.
I actually know how to get into the parameter settings on that controller. I found out by accident. But I don't know what most of the settings are for. I know the high and low temp limit settings. These settings are different for different models if that controller and are determined by the manufacturer of the pellet grill.
This controller looks like a nice option for Traeger owners!
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Don I don't think that Blazn would endorse using this controller for a Traeger because it is designed and programmed to work with their grill specifically. So if you asked them if it will work on your Traeger I understand why they did not respond. I am sure they like the fact that people will buy this controller to use with their Traegers because that equals more revenue but they probably don't want to be held liable in any way if something happens.
The Blazn controller is plug and play with a Traeger because the wiring and connectors are both the same. If you go with a controller that is for a pellet grill that does not use a Ortech controller then wiring modifications will be required.
Even though the programming profile and parameters for the Blazn controller are for a Blazn grill the controller is a PID and adapts instantly to any changes it detects. In other words it is smart and learns your cooker and the way it reacts. As long as the initial parameters are close for normal operation the PID takes over from there.
I actually know how to get into the parameter settings on that controller. I found out by accident. But I don't know what most of the settings are for. I know the high and low temp limit settings. These settings are different for different models if that controller and are determined by the manufacturer of the pellet grill.
This controller looks like a nice option for Traeger owners!
Thanks a lot muebe for the info, I figured they would not support the controller for the Traeger but your other info was helpful, thanks! Don
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It's been about a year since this topic was last posted....so did anyone get a Blazn Grill or Sawtooth PID?
If so, how are you liking them?
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I think HighOn Smoke upgraded his controller...Maybe he will comment on this - or send him a PM...
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I upgraded mine right after they came out. I had a couple of minor problems with it for awhile but that was my fault for
messing with the "secret" settings. I put it back to factory default and it stays within 5-10 degrees of what my Maverick reads at
grill level. Hope this helps.
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High on smoke...mine is more like 25 degrees difference from rtd to grate level but it stays rock steady on temp.
The meat probe was a very nice addition.
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High on smoke...mine is more like 25 degrees difference from rtd to grate level but it stays rock steady on temp.
The meat probe was a very nice addition.
I use firebricks in my Grid Iron and also have the downdraft hood that keeps the temps fairly even across the board.
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High on smoke...mine is more like 25 degrees difference from rtd to grate level but it stays rock steady on temp.
The meat probe was a very nice addition.
I use firebricks in my Grid Iron and also have the downdraft hood that keeps the temps fairly even across the board.
I have the DD hood and it has helped with smoke output as well as evening temps out along the grate. I tried fire bricks but at higher end temps it seems to screw up the temps. I have lined the lid with thermal rope and have ordered a traeger thermal blanket. Don't expect it to change my grate differential from the rtd, though. My dome thermometer is actually pretty close to my maverick grate thermometer so I just think my rtd is off.