Tip Top Temp Attachable Grill Temperature Regulator TTT-01

I'm a recent convert to Kamado cookers and I am really enjoying smoking meats. Admittedly I've only dipped my toe in the water and am using an Akorn to learn the ropes and see what this is all about. I'm floored by the taste of food that I've prepared but one of the first things I learned for low and slow is how hard it is or can be to manage temperature over long periods of time, depending on what you're cooking that can be 3-12 hours. First lesson, remote temperature probe... but that just tells you when temp is drifting, You still have to go adjust it. Next battle, automation. I purchased a high end computer controlled fan with an Akorn adapter. Wonderful product but complicated. I saw this and read the pretty good reviews and given the cost (it was < $35 a few weeks ago) I figured nothing to lose. It is a model of simplicity.to use. It looks a little intimidating but nothing is further from reality. Get the pie plate springs and after that nothing to it. Keep the valve open until you hit your temperature. Once you're there just a little twist of the knob until its closed and it will maintain the temperature at that spot within a few degrees. Simple, no cords, no buttons, no electric, no hoses, no adapters and its cheap. My controller is going to remain in the box. This is my go-to.

I have used the Tip Top Temp twice, once to smoke a pork shoulder and once for a brisket. It's rather a simple device to operate. The instructions tell you what setting to put the device at for a specific smoker temperature with respect to the ambient Temp. I found the instructions to be more of, shall we say, guidelines. For a 225 degree Fahrenheit temperature, the setting is around three, and you will have to adjust it to dial it in. The instructions do say to close all vents except the top vent where the devices rests. At first I was in denial that this could be what they really meant, but, yes, it did work best with all but one vent closed. Once dialed in it does pretty well at maintaining the temperature. Sometimes I would get temperature drifts, and I would have to readjust the setting (I believe this has more to do with my fuel distribution, rather than the ambient temperature drifting). When I smoked the brisket, I slept for 6-7 hours before my temperature alarms went off on my iGrill. That right there made it worth it.You can see from the photo that I included, that once I put the lid on the smokers, with the Tip Top Temp, the temperature came right down, and maintained a steady temp.I wish it was slightly bigger. On a the silver line of Weber grills, this would probably be just the right size to completely cover the top vent (and the vent handle). However, on the Performer series, you have to place the device to the side of the handle (and by handle I mean the bent part of the vent that you grab to adjust the vent), as the Performer has a plastic addition to the handle. This makes it a bit tricky to get a good seal with the red silicone band.

I am not overly enthused with set up on this device. Dont get me wrong it works. But when placed on my weber 22 inch grill cover the rubber ring slides. I tried countless times to place properly but during smoking a brisket this rubber ring was fail.It would slide or smoke would leak out that I noticed when watching. Now I needed to get plumbers putty to make a ring and press tip top on putty for complete seal and to hold the tip top in place. You live and learn!

The TTT fell way short of expectation. The valve woudn't stay open to the desired location. I would set the dial on 2or 3 and come back a few minutes later and it would be open to 7 or 8.

It kind of does the job but I have a standard 22" Weber kettle grill & this thing is too big. The rubber band has no contact with the vent. Kind of a disappointment because I can see how good it could be if it did actually fit.

So far so good. I'm running a 22" Weber Kettle. I'm on my second run with the TTT, and it does what it supposed to do. Once the temp gets where its supposed to be it stays there. I added the spaghettio's can, and I'm using these magnets Round Magnets For Refrigerator By JACK CHLOE, 35Pcs 10MM x 3MM Stainless Steel Craft Magnet, Durable Mini Magnets For Multi-Use, Approximately 2/5" x 1/7". I've added a picture of the underside showing how I set the magnets, there are three stacks of 9 magnets, one will be opposite the handle of the damper, and one on each side. It stays put, sits down well and the gasket does the rest. In Eastern Oregon the wind rarely stops, and having this thing with the can on top has made my temp stay right where I put it, where as before I was constantly fiddling with the damper trying to keep up with the changing breeze.My only issues are the issues I've had even without it, that's being new to the whole low&slow smoking meats thing. My weber kettle is only about a month old, so I have to open the bottom vent just a bit because it's pretty well sealed. I will add a nomex gasket soon and it will help a bit more I think. Like I said, so far so good.