FireBoard Drive2 question

[Mosca]

I can’t find the exact answer I’m looking for on the FireBoard site, nor by googling, so maybe someone here has the answer before I shoot off an email and bug someone at FireBoard.

I have the Drive 2, which has 6 channels. I want to monitor 2 pits. I thought about getting a second FB setup, but I don’t want to drop $350 on it; I have 2 DigiQs and a CyberQ, so I don’t need any additional fan drive capability. I’m thinking I can run Pit #1 with the FireBoard Drive, and Pit #2 with one of the Q devices, and use one of the channels on the FireBoard to graph Pit #2 by putting that pit probe next to the Q pit probe. With 6 channels, I can use the 4 remaining to monitor food temps on both pits pretty easily. Like brisket point and flat in one pit, and a couple pork butts in the other. Or any combination of anything.

How would the FireBoard know which of the 2 pit probes to assign to the fan? As best I can figure from reading through the literature, any channel can be either a pit or a food channel, but only one can be a drive channel.

In the end, I wouldn’t really care, I just want to see the graph. And I never look at the graphs anyhow. And the BGE doesn’t even need a fan. But it’s this weird urge I have to complete an ultimately flexible system, without dumping another $350. Heck, I could drill a hole in the Smokey Joe and monitor 3 pits if I wanted to. Or get another Weber Kettle off Marketplace. I could monitor 3 pits and use the Pulse in my indoor oven. The world would be open.

SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE.

[fitzoo7]

If I'm reading it correctly, fan goes off of what's in the blue circle, usually the probe in the first port.

You can click on the white label, mine says "Pit Master" and change the control channel.

[Brian_M]

Yes, in the app just tap on “Control Channel” and then select whichever probe you want to use as your ambient temp probe.

I’ll have to admit, I did not know you could custom-label the probes. Mine have always been the stock Channel 1, Channel 2, etc. You’ve provided more proof that I’m under-utilizing all the tools in the Fireboard app.

[realdocBBQ]

Hahaha yes, I am always changing my channel names. Even mid-cook when I swap that probe to something else once a protein finishes.

[realdocBBQ]

Yes you can choose which channel is the 'Drive' channel. So you can run like Channel 1 (or 5 or 6) as an Ambient in pit #1 to control the fan on that pit, then another channel as an Ambient in Pit 2, then still have 4 channels for food.

[realdocBBQ]

I've run 2 smokers at once numerous times, I think I even monitored 3 smokers at once - my Yoder pellet, my Camp Chef Smoke Vault propane and the Weber kettle. Think I only did that once, but I've monitored the Super 55 drum and the kettle together multiple times as well as the Yoder and Camp Chef multiple times. But you can run the drive off of any channel you wish.

[Mosca]

By “run” you mean monitor, not drive, correct? I did find in the literature that some people have had success using splitter cables but that it is inconsistent.

[realdocBBQ]

Oh yeah I mean monitor, fer sure. Sorry, my slang-addicted Okie arse. lol Only one Drive channel, but it can be any one.