Thermoworks Signals vs Fireboard 2 Drive side by side on Char-Griller 980

Installed both products on Char-Griller 980. Thermoworks signals and billows fans vs Fireboard Drive 2 and stock fan. Comparing the ThermoWorks Signals and Fireboard drive base unit, usability, function and app. Both units are amazing. You can't go wrong either way. It all comes down to what smoker you have and what features are important. Check out the Char-Griller gravity fed charcoal smoker!
Here's a link to the Dual Billows fans and Thermoworks Signals:
• Chargriller 980 with D...
Here's a link to the 980 vs GMG Pellet grill:
• Char-Griller 980 vs Gr...
The Char-Griller 980 gravity fed is amazing charcoal gravity fed smoker. I like to tinker - so I decided to lean into it. I could have used it bone stock - but... well... I just want to tinker!
Barrel Plug - www.amazon.com...
Molex Connector -www.amazon.com...

[@tonyflo04]

I’ve been using my FB2Drive on my Masterbuilt 1050 for 2 years now, replaced the stock controller, and it blew away the stock controller. Not to mention the stock temp probe is installed on the opposite side from the hopper, and I installed the probe on the cooking grate. Another feature i like in the FB app is the ability to set the fan speed and PID version, i set it to 100% to get to temp, then 40% once at temp and it cruises along at the set temp for the life of the cook. The drive programs is a fun feature as is the cook analysis to predict when you’ll be done.

[@crashcopter6000]

Agreed - it's awesome!

[@JGrizzel]

Can you use this to maintain a temperature below the Chargeiller limitation of 200? Looking for a hack to do Beef Jerky, around 165-180(max).

[@crashcopter6000]

According to what I could find online, the lowest setting on the fireboard 2 drive is 180. I did find some posts about people smoking with it at 150 though. The signals lowest setting is supposedly 32 - but I can't confirm that for sure. I can tell you for sure that holding temps under 180 is challenging at best on the Chargrilled 980. It will hit 180 sitting in the sun during spring, summer or fall.

[@jaudjfmfglo]

I just added a billows to my 980. I impulse bought the signals and billow when they were on sale and found your videos after the fact, otherwise I may have gotten the fireboard. At what temps did you start seeing the issues with pulse mode with a single billows? I did a test run and had no issues getting to 350F, like in your other video.

[@crashcopter6000]

Up to 350 seems pretty solid. 400 too 500 when trying to bake or do pizza seemed to be more of a challenge.. Thermoworks is great stuff though. I still have mine and use it often on other smokers.

[@christodoulosstavri4736]

Hi there and thank you for the video. What do you mean by the pulse mode and why it doesn't matter for the kamados?

[@crashcopter6000]

You bet - hope it helped. At 40 degrees below the set temp the fan pulses on and off. In something efficient like a Kamado it's a good thing because you don't need a lot of air movement and it helps keep from overshooting temps. The 980 is far from efficient. With a single fan it just can't keep up at higher temps when the fan starts pulsing. I added a second fan and it helps a lot. Check out the video starting at about 45 seconds. You can see the smoke flow increase then slow way down as the fan cycles (pulses) on and off. I'm probably not explaining it well... Let me know if you have other questions!

[@JamesForsythe-pr7jt]

How is the FireBoard 2 powered? Is it powered by batteries or by a 110V adapter?

[@crashcopter6000]

It has an internal battery that will run a fan for 3 or 4 hours but it limits fan speed (65% I think). It runs off a 110V adapter.

[@sfiv1987]

Im confused. So i bought the 2 item's you posted. The cable wire and the molex. So i still want to use the stock controller and switch between the fireboard. So how many molex connectors am i using total? I know one for sure with the cable wire with the red and black. I know this is very simple. I just wish there was clearer instructions

[@crashcopter6000]

Hi DV. Three connectors total. I put a female connector on the fireboard drive cable. I replaced the connector on the original 980 controller with a female connector. I replaced the connector on the fan cable with a male connector. That way, the fan cable can plug into the original controller, or the fireboard drive cable.

[@sfiv1987]

​@crashcopter6000 when you replaced the original connectors with the new ones. We're you able to reuse the factory crimped molex? If so, how did you pull it out? If not. I assume you cut it and reconnect it a new molex and crimped it?

[@crashcopter6000]

@@sfiv1987 I used all new connectors. I cut the old connectors off right at the insertion point. There was plenty of wire.

[@TerryBollea1]

So if I get a 980 is it consistantly 10 degrees over from what the actual temp is? For example, should I run it at 260 if I want it at 250? Or is it all over the place?

[@crashcopter6000]

Mine was kind of all over the place - but my son bought one about a year after mine. His is still totally stock and working great. It's consistently about 20 degrees off so he just ups his set temps a bit. It takes a couple cooks for it to settle in. Then give it at least 45 minutes to stabilize each time you light it. Hopefully the newer controllers are more stable. You'll definitely want some kind of secondary temp sensor to validate your settings. Even a couple inexpensive oven thermometers from the grocery store would help. Just be patient with it and take your time learning to use it. It's absolutely not a pellet smoker. If you try to treat it like one you'll be frustrated early on... If you take your time and learn to cook with it you'll be shocked at the quality of the food. It really is that much better!! Good luck to you!

[@TerryBollea1]

@@crashcopter6000 anything's better then the analog electric Masterbuilt I currently have.

[@crashcopter6000]

@@TerryBollea1 Yeah - it's like that sometimes. If you decide to pull the trigger on the 980, let me know how it goes!

[@TerryBollea1]

@@crashcopter6000 itll be a Christmas prez from my lady. She loves what Ive done with the cheapy electric, she asked me what I wanted this year. Im angling towards this, cause I can run it like an offset, without worrying about reloading so much and ma fire going out.

[@TerryBollea1]

@@crashcopter6000 and no 20 degree temp swings like I currently battle with now🤦

[@steveh3734]

Lol... "There are many like it but this one is mine"... If that was a "Full Metal Jacket" reference, we'll played, great movie....

[@crashcopter6000]

Yes sir ~ thanks for noticing!

[@NurseWizzle]

Do you have any specific recommendations on Amazon for what I'd need to purchase for the Fireboard setup?

[@crashcopter6000]

Morning Chris. Are you installing it on a 980? I added links to the barrel plug and connectors I used in the description.

[@crashcopter6000]

Let me know how it turns out!

[@NurseWizzle]

@@crashcopter6000 ok, after weeks of this sitting in my living room I'm ready to tackle this thing. I have it all pretty much assembled except the wiring part. Is it going to make sense to me how to connect the Fireboard up to this? I have the barrel plug and the molex connector.

[@crashcopter6000]

@@NurseWizzle Hi Christopher ~ that's awesome!! I think it will make sense. Just make sure you're connecting black to black, red to red and yellow to yellow. If you have questions, please ask!!

[@NurseWizzle]

@@crashcopter6000 so funny story, after weeks of this laying in my living room, we misplaced the barrel connectors. After hours of looking we finally found them. If I'm understanding this correctly, the only thing that I'm changing with the Fireboard wiring is where the stock controller connects, I'm connecting the barrel connector to that. Everything else downstream of that (like where the fan wiring connects by the hopper) all gets hooked up like normal right?

[@marktomsic670]

I've had nothing but trouble with my Fireboard. I purchased the one with the K type thermistors so maybe that's where I went wrong. Did not have a good experience with their customer service. Just purchased the signals. So we'll see. Thanks for the video.

[@crashcopter6000]

Well that's frustrating... Sorry to hear that. I think you'll like the signals. Mine has been bulletproof. The one thing I wish it had was programmable cooks. I just threw a brisket on with the Fireboard. It's gonna smoke at 200 for 3 hours, then kick up to 225 automatically - while I'm sleeping 🙂. I think you'll really like the Signals AP. I find it easier to use. Their software is easy to use. Things seem to be where you expect them to be if that makes sense. Good luck to you!

[@wazewaze8185]

Signals is amazing. Just dont leave it out in the rain. Im having to rage buy another one

[@Anteater23]

@@wazewaze8185It’s supposed to be IP66

[@BrendaKavanagh-l2r]

i dont believe you.

[@ArkhamNorth]

​@@wazewaze8185The Fireboard is worse in the rain. So many complaints from users, that's why I've held off. Thermoworks has nailed weather resistance.

[@glxbt1987]

See, you like the look of the billows because it’s yellow. I like the red better.

[@crashcopter6000]

Exactly. I'm colorblind - so bright colors stand out and appeal to me more.

[@geraldsahd3413]

Seems you’ve overly complicated this smokers

[@crashcopter6000]

I think I see what you're saying. I do like to experiment. I many ways it's less complicated... Connectivity is 100% reliable, no error codes. It just works when you need it to. Thanks for commenting!

[@sfiv1987]

I hate hearing you swallowing your saliva but other than that. Great video but please don't record you swallowing your saliva

[@crashcopter6000]

Thanks for the sincere feedback!

[@sfiv1987]

Does the fireboard still uses the factory internal chamber temperature probe? I didn't see any connection to the fireboard besides the red and black wires

[@crashcopter6000]

@@sfiv1987 It comes with an ambient probe. It has to be in channel 1 to use the drive function.

[@sfiv1987]

@@crashcopter6000 so the original char griller internal temp probe doesn't work anymore correct?

[@crashcopter6000]

@@sfiv1987 Correct. The Fireboard doesn't use the original Char-Griller internal temp probe. But, when you plug the fan wiring harness back into the original controller it still works.