The New Pitts & Spitts Controller Just Arrived and WOW
Installing the All-In-One Touchscreen Controller
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Introduction
From One Pit Probe to Four Meat Probes, Plus Built-In Wi-Fi
What's up BBQ fans! Today's an exciting day. We're swapping the standard controller on my Pitts & Spitts Maverick 2000 for the brand-new all-in-one touchscreen controller. Pitts & Spitts spent three years developing it, and it's finally out.
When I bought the Maverick, I ordered it with this controller. They shipped the standard controller and wireless module so I could start cooking and filming, and now it's time to upgrade. Here's how the install went and what you get.
What's New
Four meat probes instead of one
Built-in Wi-Fi. The antenna mounts on the front, so the old side-mounted wireless module goes away.
Full touchscreen, so you can run everything without the app
Works on all models. Settings cover the 850, 1250 and 2000.
The programmable controller is one of the reasons I went with a Pitts & Spitts in the first place, along with the smoke cage and all that stainless steel.
Tools You'll Need
Phillips screwdriver
A small flathead screwdriver (a short one makes the angles easier)
Side cutters for the zip ties
A few zip ties
The Install
Unplug the power. Always first.
Drop the bottom plate. There are two screws on the back and two on the front of the controller housing.
Take a picture of the wiring before you unplug anything. Trust me.
Cut the zip tie holding the cables so you can get at the connectors.
Unplug the old controller. Each connector has a small lock. A little flathead screwdriver pops it. Match the connectors by color as you go.
Unplug the old wireless module. It's the telephone-style cable. You won't need it or its side-mounted antenna anymore. I'll put a plug in that hole to keep it clean.
Connect the new controller from the bottom. The plugs only go in one way, so you can't really mess that part up.
Connect the pit probe. There's a second screw terminal inside, which suggests you might be able to run two pit probes and balance them out. I've emailed Pitts & Spitts to confirm.
Mount it and screw it in snug. Don't over-tighten. You're going into a circuit board.
Screw on the Wi-Fi antenna on the front.
Zip-tie the cables back out of the way.
Reinstall the bottom plate. The square opening lines up with the pellet dump chute. Again, snug, not tight. You'll strip the sheet metal.
Setting It Up
On the touchscreen, go to Configure, then Settings, then Connections, and join your Wi-Fi.
Pro tip: the controller needs a dedicated 2.4 GHz network, not a mixed 2.4/5 GHz one.
For the app, you need to use the Grill Pro app with the new controller. I deleted the old one. In Grill Pro, tap the gear, choose Set Up Grill, scan for devices (allow Bluetooth), and rename your grill.
Under advanced settings you can pick the grill mode, including a meat locker mode and different program versions. They suggest starting with Original. Smoke mode is enabled from the grill.
Touring the Features
Probes: I plugged in all four new probes and each one showed up on the screen and in the app
Fan controls and a smart timer, so you can set how long it runs and at what temperature
Auger prime: run the auger to prime it faster if you run out of pellets
Stopwatch for time elapsed
Chart to track the cook visually
Open flame mode. More on that in another video.
A heads up: the screen was hard to see on camera in the bright sun, but it's easy to read in person.
Final Thoughts
Install took a Phillips, a flathead, a pair of side cutters and a bit of patience. Four probes and built-in Wi-Fi are a big upgrade, and I'm excited to put it through the paces on some real cooks.
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Thanks For Watching
Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or a novice, these tips will enhance your cooking skills and leave your family and friends raving about your delicious, smoky creations. Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more step-by-step videos, and let's together become the barbecue heroes we were meant to be!
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