Pit viper - guru fans review, sort of..

[Richard Chrz]

This is a bit of a long story, but maybe 3–4 years ago, I bought my first FireBoard and decided to go with Pit Viper fans after having issues with two fans from ThermoWorks. I was really happy with how well the Pit Vipers worked in comparison—so much so that I bought another FireBoard and a second fan.

That winter, I was likely smoking something for a neighbor, and it was super cold. I went out at night to bring my grill into the garage, without turning on a light. The next morning, I went out into the garage and saw that the connector had broken off the fan. I was super bummed. I was certain I had run it over with my wheelchair and beat myself up for not turning on the light. I ended up purchasing another fan to replace it.

This past January, it was something ridiculous like 10 below zero on the weekend I smoked over 200 lbs of processed venison for my neighbor. After one grill was done, I moved it into the garage—and sure enough, I broke another connector off. Again, I was really mad at myself. Why didn’t I just take the fan off before moving the grill and running over the stupid connector? So I made a new rule: never move a grill with the fan still attached. Take the time—remove the fan.

But then, I took the other Pit Viper off and brought it into the house. I set it down on the counter, and the connector broke off right there in front of me. I hadn’t run it over. My conclusion—and I believe this is correct—is that the wire harness they use is so thin and cheap that it becomes brittle in extremely cold weather, and the connectors just snap off. Now I truly believe I didn’t run over any of them, as they all broke off in 0°F weather or close to it.

I messaged BBQ Guru and asked if they had heard of this happening. I explained that I might have run over one, but I was really starting to think the issue was with their harness. I didn’t ask for a warranty repair—I wasn’t going to buy another one anyway, but I also wasn’t going to trash them. I just thought they should know.

They claimed to have no knowledge of this happening, but they still wanted to do something for me, even though it wasn’t under warranty and I didn’t ask for anything. They ended up sending me two of their Pit Bull fans as a gesture.

I happily accepted them and thanked them. But by this coming winter, I hope to have purchased at least one fan from FireBoard, as their newer fan has a far better connector setup. All in all, I’d seriously consider avoiding the Guru fans because of the connector issue.

Attached is the photo I sent them



and the braided wire from fireboard

[RonB]

I have used a Pit Viper fan for about 10 years and it's still going strong. Of course, I don't get 0° weather here either.

[Richard Chrz]

Of course the caveat is for cold weather zones, but, it should serve an idea of how delicate that connection end is. I’m hard on things, I know this, and told them that, but after 3 of them, It;s not me that is the problem.

[texastweeter]

Multiple failures at the same exact point...looks like a duck to me.

[Richard Chrz]

Identically, flush at the connector, and one of the tiniest wires I’ve seen running , I think it is actually the plastic gets brittle and cracks, and the wire is too weak to handle the event.

[texastweeter]

Easy to rectify at the factory. Let me guess, it's made of chinesium

[Richard Chrz]

“Easy to recity” have respect for the money you are accepting from customers that give up time from their lives’s to purchase it, Show pride in what you do & fix it. Heck, charge me a few more dollars even. I’ll spend a bit more to not have to contact customer service. There is an opportunity for them.

[Mosca]

Huh.

My 2 Pit Viper fans look like this:



Yeah, the wire is cheap, and I’ve always worried about it breaking, and I handle it with extra care; I don’t let the wire hold any weight, I don’t pull on it, etc.. But I’ve also cooked in near zero °F temps with the fans and never had an issue.

If a wire ever did break, I’d probably look into fixing it, idk. I hope I never need to find out.

[Richard Chrz]

I’ve never pulled on a wire either. I’ve always worried about the connection, even more after the first one broke. The exact same place, all three of them, flush at the connector.

I really don’t think you can fix, it’s like a tiny one wire strand per side.I definitely thought about it.

They treated me right and I was not asking or needing them to, and I believe for many they are probably really good, but definitely a design flaw to address, not everyone lives in warm weather climate.

[Richard Chrz]

Interesting on the difference in looks, the 2 pit bull fans they sent me in return look like that.

[Mosca]

“I’ve always worried about the connection….” Yep, that might have even been my very first thought upon seeing the unit!

The “repair it” thought was just as much, “Well, it’s broke completely anyhow, might as well see what’s in there.” I did fix a DX-3 unit that was wonky, it had a wire pinched inside the case. Completely different, I know.

Glad they stepped up for you!

[fillirican]

Luckily, I haven't had any issues with my wires. I obviously don't experience outside temps like that in Las Vegas. However, when I first received mine, I contacted BBQ Guru because it had a cosmetic defect. No questions asked, they immediately sent a replacement.

[Richard Chrz]

Customer service was pleasant to deal with the entire time. I still will not say bad about them as a company, but money can be hard to come by, so i thought it should be a considered trait.

[DumpsterFireBBQ]

I let the Pit Viper wire get too close to my PBC and it burned through.

my SIL (journeyman electrician) and I both attempted to repair it. After an hour with an Exacto knife, soldering gun and way too much electrical tape, it is precariously repaired.

Why is the wire so small?

[Richard Chrz]

Under engineered. They could have done better, and I’m sure they know it,