I would highly recommend this controller for a Traeger, it is plug and play. It will work with other pellet smokers too, for any questions you can e-mail Billy at Bmerrill1@suddenlink.net Billy also has a facebook page if you want to check that out click here.
Feb 07 2015
I changed the date above the post so it stays in the front for a while.
I changed the date above the post so it stays in the front for a while.
We had a nice day Saturday, 43 deg. F. The ice was all
melted on my patio so I could get to my smoke deck and install my new Savannah
Stoker v.3 controller on my Traeger 07E pellet smoker. The SS controller is a
PID device to control pellet smokers. It is a type of controller that most all
manufactures are going to now. It comes with the correct plugs for the Traeger
so is a simple job to change out. It is just a matter of removing the old one
unplugging it and installing the new one.
It comes with a new RTD, real temperature device, you need
to install and that is a matter of removing the old one, one screw holding it.
That is only about a 10 minute job. I got the old controller removed and the
new RTD installed. I had just a little trouble getting the new controller
installed; the one plug was too short to access through the opening. I had to reach under the pellet bin and hold
the plug with one hand and reach through the opening to plug the new one in. If
the 4 plugs are long enough to access through the hole it is a snap to install.
I had cleaned out my smoker and when I got the new
controller installed I was ready to try it out. I had a ½ pound of smoked
sausage and a pound of jowl bacon from my butchers I want to do for some bean
soup Sunday. I fired it up and let get to the set temp of 225 deg. F. I had my
Maverick probe placed at grill level in the middle front of the grate to double
check the temps.
I did the sausage for one hour at 225 deg. then removed. I
let the bacon go another hour at 325 deg. F. It worked like a charm and most of
the time was within 5 deg. of the set temperature. The lowest I saw at 225 deg.
was 10 under and 11 over the set temperature over an hour. I was getting some
nice smoke too. When I went to set temperature of 325 deg. it was there in 15
minutes. I was getting about the same fluctuation of +- 10 deg. whenever it
went over or under it didn’t stay there long and quickly corrected.
I was amazed at how close the RTD and my Maverick probe, at
grill level were. With my old Traeger 180 I always ran about 25 deg. hotter at
grill level. With my Ortech I was 25 to 50 deg. hotter. After I went to 325
deg. with my SS controller I did see the grill level at 15 deg. hotter.
I don’t have a nice chart to show you like Savannah Smoker
did but I recorded the different temps by taking photos and the times are in
the photos metadata.
RTD = real temperature ST=
set temperature MPT= Maverick temp grill level
RTD ST MPT
6:00 224 225 223
6:15 226 225 225
6:30 225 225 226
6:45 236 225 235
7:00 215 225 217
Wen to 325 deg.
7:15 328 325 338
7:50 328 325 343
After my first cook I am more than happy with the way this
controller is running. Most of the time it is running about dead on set temp. I
can live with the small +- swings I got and I think you need some ups and downs
to get better smoke. I left the fan set on speed 3 for this cook. I plan on
some ribs for my next cook and will try fan speed 2 for the 3 hours of smoke
setting at 180 deg.
New controller
Removing the old
New RTD installed
Installing the new
Ready to cook
6:00 PM meat added
6:30
7:00 removed sausage
7:15
7:50
8:00 bacon done and shut down
took about 25 minutes to cool and shut down
Do you feel it's worth the extra cost of the Savannah? I'm looking to upgrade to what you originally had. I currently have the 3 position controller.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel it's worth the extra cost of the Savannah? I'm looking to upgrade to what you originally had. I currently have the 3 position controller.
ReplyDeleteSo far after 4 or 5 cooks with the Savannah I am more than happy with it. The Traeger 180 will work OK but I had to learn it's quirks and cooked by my Maverick temp probe at grill level. In my Traeger 07E the grill level temps ran 25 deg and more sometimes than the controller read.
ReplyDeleteWith the Savannah so far I am running about 10 deg. hotter at grill level so I would not be afraid to cook with the readings on the controller.
I like the auto shutdown on the Savannah too.
Cost wise I think the Treager 180 controller wilol run you about $100 vs. the Savannah at $160 US.
How does it hold the heat when smoking? I did some jerky today on my Traeger and it ran about 190f on 'smoke'. Was really hoping it would hold about 160f but maybe that's unrealistic. I'm new to this so not sure what to expect.
ReplyDeleteDan if you have the Savannah Stoker then you need to direct questions to Billy Merril, I am new at this to and learning like you. Don
DeleteDan just another thought, 160 I think is rather low, at 150 you can get a flame out. Lately I have not run mine below 190 deg. for smoking. If you want to do some low heat smoking look into the Amazin tube smoker. You can use it in your Traeger. Don
DeleteDan and anyone else who has the Savannah Stoker you can always e-mail Billy Merrill at Bmerrill1@suddenlink.net and explain your problem to him. I was having some issues with mine and he sent me parameters to try. I am happy now, from 80 to 225 deg it holds within 10 deg +- and this gives me good smoke . from 230 up it holds 5 deg. +-. My grill level temps run 25 to 30 deg. hotter and I cook by that. Don
DeleteCorrection on above statement, it should be 180 deg. to 225 deg. not 80. Don
DeleteHow is this better than the Igrill 2?
ReplyDeleteNot sure what you are asking, the post was about the controller. I don't know much about the Igrill2 but looks like it is just a temperature viewing the device. I am using the Maverick here and can keep watch on meat and pit temps anywhere on my property. The Igrill2 looks like it is blue tooth and may have further range than my Maverick. Hope this helps you! Don
Deletecan you please post the manual I've lost mine
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStumps Smoker - this is also an insulated vertical smoker with a gravity fed charcoal system. They start around $1600. best pellet smoker under 500
ReplyDelete