Probe Port?

Tooslim

Club Member

Joined: Mar 2016

Posts: 4

Location: Portland, Oregon
#1

Probe Port?

February 8, 2018, 11:34 PM

Hey-
Long time member, first time poster (I think).

I am ordering a new Horizon 20" RD Special. Question- Shall I have a probe port installed or can I just run probe cables under the lid?
Thoughts, reflections, experiences..?
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Jerod Broussard

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#2

February 8, 2018, 11:54 PM

Welcome to the "forum posting family" and please click on the link below and dive in if you have not already become familiar with the contents of the link.

I prefer a port myself. Even on a Weber Kettle, drilling a hole big enough to accept three probes has no ill effects.

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...ork-assignment
Comment
DWCowles

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Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
#3

February 8, 2018, 11:56 PM

First of all, welcome to The Pit! Second, congrats! That's a good lookin' smoker. Yes I would have the probe ports install.
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Henrik

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#4

February 8, 2018, 11:58 PM

Welcome to the pit, thanks for joining!
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Nate

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#5

February 9, 2018, 04:38 AM

Welcome from Indiana.

Install the probe port.
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#6

February 9, 2018, 06:46 AM

Howdy from Kansas Territory, Welcome to Th Pit!
I'd definitely order th port...
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RonB

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#7

February 9, 2018, 07:19 AM

Welcome to The Pit. Add me to the list of members voting for the port.
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#8

February 9, 2018, 07:45 AM

I wish my WSCGC had a probe port, especially for when I want to run 3 or more probes.

I say go for it, Tooslim .

Welcome! You're going to love this place.

Kathryn
Comment
1 - 2

2 comments

#8.1

Polarbear777 commented

February 9, 2018, 08:11 AM

Editing a comment

If I had that awesome grill, I’d find a way. Does it have a fan port built in, it looks like it. I wonder if you could run cables up through that if you are using the SNS on the other side to constrain the coals?

#8.2

fzxdoc commented

February 9, 2018, 08:52 AM

Editing a comment

I've thought of rigging something to do just that, Polarbear777 . It's annoying to feed cables over the rim. I can't believe something so well designed didn't include probe ports.
K.
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#9

February 9, 2018, 07:57 AM

Welcome to the Pit. Port O Call matie !!!
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Polarbear777

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Joined: Sep 2016

Posts: 1842
#10

February 9, 2018, 07:58 AM

I put a probe port in everything. I used to drop them through the air vents but they are always getting in the way.

You can buy silicone plugs cheaply in different sizes that let you seal the port with or without cables in it. Just make sure your port doesn’t have any rough edges.
Comment
fzxdoc

Founding Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 5323

My toys:
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center (WSCGC) aka Mr. Fancypants
Pit Barrel Cooker (which rocks)
Weber Summit S650 Gas Grill
Weber Kettle Premium 22"
Weber Jumbo Joe Premium 22" (a weird little 22" kettle mutant on 22"-long legs) (donated to local battered women's shelter.)
Camp Chef Somerset IV 4-burner outdoor gas range

Adrenaline BBQ Company's SnS, DnG and Large Charcoal Basket for WSCGC
Adrenaline BBQ Company's Elevated SS Rack for WSCGC
Adrenaline BBQ Company's SS Rack for DnG
Grill Grate for SnS
Grill Grates: five 17.375 sections (retired to storage)
Grill Grates: six 19.25 panels for exact fit for Summit S650 gasser
2 Grill Grate Griddles
Steelmade Griddle for Summit gas grill

Fireboard Extreme BBQ Thermometer Package
Fireboard control unit in addition to that in the Extreme BBQ Package
Additional Fireboard probes: Competition Probes 1" (3) and 4" (1), 3 additional Ambient Probes. 1 additional Food Probe
2 Fireboard Driver Cables
Pit Viper Fan (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Pit Viper Fan new design (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
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Thermoworks Thermapen MK4 (pink too)
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Maverick ET 73 a little workhorse with limited range
Maverick ET 733
Maverick (Ivation) ET 732

Grill Pinz
Vortex (two of them)

Two Joule Sous Vide devices
VacMaster Pro 350 Vacuum Sealer
Instant Pot 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot 10 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Charcoal Companion TurboQue
A-Maze-N tube 12 inch tube smoker accessory for use with pellets

BBQ Dragon and Dragon Chimney

Shun Classic 8" Chef's Knife
Shun Classic 6" Chef's Knife
Shun Classic Gokujo Boning and Fillet Knife
Shun Classic 3 1/2 inch Paring Knife
#11

February 9, 2018, 08:56 AM

Thanks, Polarbear777 . I've been patient with it up to now, but will look for a silicone plug to fit that fan port opening. However, I bought the Fireboard setup and a Pit Viper fan, so the port may be occupied much of the time.

Kathryn
Comment
1 comment

#11.1

Polarbear777 commented

February 9, 2018, 09:10 AM

Editing a comment

The fire viper combo is my latest set up on my other stuff.
Polarbear777

Club Member

Joined: Sep 2016

Posts: 1842
#12

February 9, 2018, 09:09 AM

For the WSCG:

I guess you’d have to drill a port hole (hole saw) then install a stainless pipe (potentially bolt holes and brackets if the sealant won’t hold it in place) then seal it with 2000F rated sealant. Actually not that hard but a good bit of work. McMasterCarr would be helpful to get the pieces.

I did this to add a fan to my pbc separate from the intake, but that’s only one steel layer so much easier.
Comment
Tooslim

Club Member

Joined: Mar 2016

Posts: 4

Location: Portland, Oregon
#13

February 9, 2018, 12:39 PM

Interesting. So apparently running probe cables under the lid causes considerable smoke leakage?
Comment
1 - 2

2 comments

#13.1

DWCowles commented

February 9, 2018, 12:48 PM

Editing a comment

Not really but on a stickburner the lid is heavy which can cause damage to the probe cable.

#13.2

Huskee commented

February 10, 2018, 06:49 PM

Editing a comment

No. And if you set your lid down gently therell be no damage. That's how I do it. Admittedly I'm in the minority but I refuse to drill a hole for "convenience" & my smoker's old enough a probe port wasn't an option at the time. To me it's more convenient to run the wires as I please as long as I'm gentle with the lid.
Tooslim

Club Member

Joined: Mar 2016

Posts: 4

Location: Portland, Oregon
#14

February 10, 2018, 01:22 AM

Allrighty then! My new RD Special is coming with a prob port. (15 dollar upgrade-kind of a no brainer actually).
Thank you all for your informed thoughts.
Comment
DWCowles

Founding Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 9703

Location: Smiths Grove, Ky

Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
#15

February 10, 2018, 08:46 AM

Actually it wouldn't hurt to have 2 probe ports maybe 3.
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