WSM Lid thermometer

[ConorD]

So I have a 47" WSM with a PartyQ attached to the top grill as well a Tel-Tru BBQ Thermometer screwed into the top grate. I calibrate the PartyQ quite regularly and it reads the same at the Tel-Tru. The lid thermometer seems to always be way off. Right now both bought in systems read 200f and the lid says 150f.

Am I doing something wrong or is this just because one is measuring the metal temp at a lower level (i.e. where the meat will be) and the other is reading the air temp up above the meat?

I keep second guessing myself but am I right in thinking that the temp I should be concerned with is the ones at the grill level as this is where the meat is?

[derekmiller]

Hi Connor.
Yes only be worried about the temps at the grill. I use a Maverick to measure the grill temp, I only use the lid thermometer for "guidance" only. On my WSM, OTP and Genesis, all the lid thermometers read low, anything from 15-50 depending on what the pit temp is at. Tend to notice the higher the temp, the more accurate the Weber gauges become.
Derek.

[ConorD]

Yeah I cranked up the temp to 250 after I took the meat off this morning and the lid is only about 20f out now (as opposed to closer 40 when running at 200f).