Need everyones help on a PID problem

Wildcat · February 09, 2008, 04:38:14 PM

Thanks guys. While tuning, the more you drink the less you care. ;D

Pat - I went to their web site and saw those. Thanks for the info.

iceman · February 09, 2008, 07:47:05 PM

Update Wildcat;
Used 3 of the same probes you have as a test and had no issue with grounding problems. I even stuck them in a glass of water in the smoker and got good results. Touched the walls of the smoker and no swings in readings. I am sure you have a bum probe. Temp swings of 2 degrees average on all probes. Maverick is reading 5 degrees lower than PID. Did a claculation on bar pressure and elevation and found out the Mav was at fault. I checked with 2 of my fluke meters to verify and the PID was right on. Sorry for all the crap you had to go thru. I'll order you a wire probe Monday and mail it to you. Just don't let the end of the wire touch anything like pensrock said.

Wildcat · February 12, 2008, 05:02:56 AM

Pat - I answered this before, but it got deleted with the forum problems. Luckily I also sent you an e-mail with the same info.

No need to apologize for the probe. It made me jump in there and I learned a lot from it. It had its good side. I thank you for your help. No need to order the new probe. I went on line and ordered the 383 myself. You have put enough into this already. Thank-you my half frozen friend.

In case you did not get my e-mail, I need another case or two of sauce (half regular and half mild) when you get a chance.

Rick

iceman · February 12, 2008, 09:25:39 AM

Got the e-mail Wildcat. Sauce will be out to you by the weekend when I get back. Might be in tonight for a day so I'll try to hit the chat room if it's back up and running. Hoping to pull a three day weekend and get a batch of Italian sausage made up while the weather is half decent for us.

Wildcat · February 12, 2008, 01:52:41 PM

Thanks Ice. There is no rush on the sauce. I still have a couble of jars left.

Wildcat · February 15, 2008, 03:01:08 PM

Got the new probe from ThermoWorks. Really liked the little surprise gift they put in with it. :)

iceman · February 15, 2008, 03:27:47 PM

Quote from: Wildcat on February 15, 2008, 03:01:08 PM
Got the new probe from ThermoWorks. Really liked the little surprise gift they put in with it. :)

Ann keeps telling me "That's an expensive way to buy jelly beans". ;D

Wildcat · March 09, 2008, 02:04:14 PM

Finally getting to try out the new probe tonight. Reset the temp variance (Pb) for 0. Also set the (t) to 0. Picked up a brisket at Sam's this evening. Put it in the smoker about 15 minutes ago. Will see how she behaves and let you know.

Wildcat · March 09, 2008, 02:52:45 PM

Had to set the Pb back to -14.0 to match the ET-73. ET-73 is one degree off based on boiling water test, so I guess my particular PID is off but at least it can be programed. Had temp swing of 10 degrees (+5/-5), so I am doing an autotune. Will post final outcome later.

Mr Walleye · March 09, 2008, 05:09:44 PM

How are ya making out WildCat?

I'm not sure but I wonder if a person should set the offset (Pb) to "0" for the auto tune. I don't know if it makes any difference or not but it makes sense that you would get it holding a steady temp, then adjust the offset to match the temp that is hitting your product.

Mike

Wildcat · March 09, 2008, 05:27:05 PM

It does not seem to matter what I put the Pb setting at when doing the autotune. After the autotune, the Pb gets automatically set where the PID wants it. I then need to go back and reset the Pb.

What is really strange is that after the autotune, the temp spread was 4 degrees (2 degrees either side of the set temp), and the PID temp was matching the ET-73, which is fine in my book. After a couple of hours the PID was about 5 degrees different than the ET-73 and the temp spread was back at the 10 degree spread. No weird fast jumping around like the other probe did, so at least that is fixed.

I readjusted the Pb to again match the Maverick and did another autotune then again set the Pb to 0. I will watch and see what happens.

Mr Walleye · March 09, 2008, 05:32:06 PM

Keep us posted Wildcat. I'm always interested in better understanding these babies.

Mike

Wildcat · March 09, 2008, 05:49:35 PM

It just dawned on me that regarding the temp difference between the PID and the ET-73 changing is that I may need to replace the batteries in the ET-73 or the ET-73 may be going bad. Does not explain the temp swing changing though. The autotune just completed and I reset the t to 0. The autotune had changed it to 120.

Mr Walleye · March 09, 2008, 06:01:01 PM

I didn't realize until recently that the auto tune function also changed the cycle rate (t). I was going through the settings on my own and realized the auto tune had changed it to 9.

Mike

Wildcat · March 09, 2008, 07:36:25 PM

After another auto tune and Pb adjustment, the Maverick and PID are again in sinc, the temp spread is 3 below target and 2 above. This is acceptable if it will continue. This time I did not change the t to 0 afterwards, but rather left it at the 3 it set itself to. I also had to adjust the Pb another few degrees.

I am begining to think that as the meat temp rises, the autotune needs to be re-done. It has been stable for awhile now and the meat temp has stalled. I will see what happens when the meat temp rises again. This does not make sense to me, but it does seem to be taking place.