{"id":1446,"date":"2020-08-25T10:46:05","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T14:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pelletgrillreviews.com\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2020-12-02T09:44:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T14:44:24","slug":"pid-controllers-in-pellet-grills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pelletgrillreviews.com\/pid-controllers-in-pellet-grills\/","title":{"rendered":"Explaining PID Controllers and Which Pellet Grills Have Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
PID controllers were once only on the most expensive and most technologically advanced pellet grills. But more and more grill manufacturers are using them now and many mid- to high-priced models use a PID controller. Manufacturers may still sell a few of their models with a conventional controller, much like many auto manufacturers still produce some cars without cruise control, but several companies now outfit their models with some version of a PID controller. Before we detail which grills have PID controllers, let\u2019s discuss the basics of pellet grill temperature controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All temperature controllers in a pellet grill function in basically the same way. You input a Set Point (SP) which is your desired temperature. The controller is connected to a sensor inside the cooking chamber, the RTD, which stands for Resistance Temperature Detector, but think of it as the thermometer in your grill. If the Actual Temperature (AT) as measured by the RTD is less than the Set Point, the controller controls the fuel system to raise the temperature. It does this by turning on the auger, which delivers pellets to the fire, or by speeding up or slowing down the auger, which increases or decreases the rate at which pellets are fed in to the fire. When the SP is reached, the controller either stops feeding fuel, or feeds at a rate to maintain that temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both PID controllers and conventional controllers operate on this basic principal. More wood = higher temperature. No wood = lower temperature. The fans, by the way, are just the necessary secondary fuel for combustion. They kick on and off with the pellets, in order to maintain combustion and are usually not a factor in controlling temperature, but rather in maintaining the combustion of the pellets. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMake<\/th> Models w\/PID Controller<\/th> Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Camp Chef<\/td> Woodwind & SmokePro<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> Green Mountain Grills<\/td> Almost all<\/td> Davy Crockett is non-PID<\/td><\/tr> Grilla Grills<\/td> All, plus Alpha*<\/td> Alpha can switch from PID to time controlled<\/td><\/tr> Memphis Grills<\/td> All<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> Pit Boss<\/td> Platinum Series only<\/td> Others use conventional controller<\/td><\/tr> Recteq<\/td> All <\/td> New Bullseye uses PID as well<\/td><\/tr> Traeger<\/td> All, except Ranger\/Tailgater<\/td> Traeger uses D2 Drive, with PID plus variable speed fans<\/td><\/tr> Weber<\/td> Both pellet grills<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> Z Grills<\/td> Unclear<\/td> Some listings claim PID, others simply refer to upgrade that fixes temperature issues<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n PELLET GRILL TEMPERATURE CONTROLLERS: THE BRAINS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Constant Monitoring and Adjustments.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n