Let's Talk BBQ

Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Grills & Smokers => Pellet Grills and Smokers => Topic started by: okie52 on September 12, 2014, 03:22:23 PM

Title: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 12, 2014, 03:22:23 PM
I finally got tired of the temp swings on the ortech knockoff on my texas grill so I ordered a new Blazn Grill PID today...supposedly it will ship out next week so I should have it in the next 2 weeks. 

I have heard good things about this PID and that the installation was pretty simple.  I any of you have done this or have any experience in using the Blazn Grill PID I'd sure like to hear from you.
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: muebe on September 12, 2014, 04:13:36 PM
I don't have the Blazn but I think that controller is based on the same model on my Memphis. If that is the case then you should be more than pleased with the results.

The wiring should be plug and play because I believe the Blazn uses the same wiring connectors and setup as a Traeger.

Let us know what you think when you get it working and include pictures.
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 12, 2014, 04:29:32 PM
I didn't know about the Memphis but I hope you are right because I know the Memphis PIDs do a good job.  I had heard that it may be the same one as the Sawtooth and Louisiana Grills but I certainly don't know that for a fact.

I'm going to have to move my smoke daddy smoke generator to the other side of the hopper although I don't use it near as much now that I switched from Traeger pellets to BBQ dellight pellets.  I'll definitely post pics when I get it installed.   
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: teesquare on September 12, 2014, 04:34:05 PM
RecTec also  uses the Memphis type controller.
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: HighOnSmoke on September 12, 2014, 05:57:40 PM
I changed out my factory PID on the Grid Iron and replaced it with the retrofit. It is within 2 to 5 degrees
of my Maverick at grill level. Mike and Tim are both correct this is the same controller on the Memphis and the
Rec Tec. There wasn't anything really wrong with the Ortech that came with it except I like to do ribs and pork butt
at 230 - 235. The Ortech was either 225 or 250. Nothing major but once I found out this was the same controller as
the Memphis and Rec Tec I didn't hesitate to order it. It took all of 15 minutes to install the old one and put the new one in. Your
mileage may vary. Hope this helps!
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: Smokin Don on September 13, 2014, 01:09:48 AM
I'll be interested in how this controller works for you!! I am tired of waiting on the Savannah Stoker to come out, over 2 years now! Don
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 13, 2014, 03:54:51 AM
I had been waiting for about a year on the savannah stoker to come out or be back in stock so I gave up. 

I'll be glad to post pics and report on this PID when I receive it.
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 13, 2014, 03:59:03 AM
RecTec also  uses the Memphis type controller.

I'd heard that rec tec along with sawtooth, memphis, and Louisiana grills all were using Roanoke PIDs. I tried rec tec but couldnt get them to sell me one of their PIDs.
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 13, 2014, 04:16:41 AM
I changed out my factory PID on the Grid Iron and replaced it with the retrofit. It is within 2 to 5 degrees
of my Maverick at grill level. Mike and Tim are both correct this is the same controller on the Memphis and the
Rec Tec. There wasn't anything really wrong with the Ortech that came with it except I like to do ribs and pork butt
at 230 - 235. The Ortech was either 225 or 250. Nothing major but once I found out this was the same controller as
the Memphis and Rec Tec I didn't hesitate to order it. It took all of 15 minutes to install the old one and put the new one in. Your
mileage may vary. Hope this helps!

Well my traeger Texas is about a year old and it uses an Ortech knockoff and I guess it's programming wasn't as good as the ortechs because I would have huge temp spikes.

The RTD on the traeger was vertical and it often read 30 plus degrees different than what my mavericks read at grate level. My dome thermometer usually read much closer to grate temp than my rtd so if I wanted to cook at 225 I was using a temp setting of 180 on the traeger temp controller.

I'm going to try to mount the blazn grill PID RTD horizontally as close to grate level as possible. Hopefully that will minimize the difference between grate level temps and the RTDs.

I'm also looking forward to the meat probe/PID program that will have your grill drop the temp down to 170 degrees after the meat hits it's desired internal temp. 

Thanks for your input.

Okie
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 24, 2014, 12:56:38 PM
My new Blazn grill PID just arrived today.  I'm anxious to get it installed.  I'll try to post pics for those that are interested.

Since I'm not an electrical guy I hope the wiring is simple and drilling is held to a minimum. 
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: grc_42 on September 26, 2014, 10:20:08 AM
Just registered to follow this. I have an old 070 and am looking at buying this controller.
Please post pics and installation details.
Title: Re: New Blazn Grill PID for my Traeger Texas Grill
Post by: okie52 on September 26, 2014, 11:06:38 AM
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.