[quote name='Nova5' date='Sep 26 2007, 08:29 AM' post='15550']
"Or HE is the defective unit"

Hee hee! I hear ya! Been there done that too many times! Anyway, it sounds like a great unit, sure beats having to ruin some of these expensive cuts of meat!

Mike

Nova,

The ET-73 is a great unit, and has been improved over the past year. It is now using (I believe) the special oven probe from the OT-3 model that I have, This probe can withstand heat up to 400 degrees.

Note that you can only (in reality) use the probes for measuring the meat temp and grate temp when doing low and slow Q'ing, where the temp will not go over 400 degrees. If used on the grate of the grill when grilling, the probes will be destroyed.

Here is a link on discussion of caring and using digital probes.

http://www.bbqsource-forums.com/invboard/i...post&p=8363

Also, you have to think of the probe as a expendable item, that needs to be replace once a year @$12 (like using up charcoal or wood chips). The low cost that Maverick charge for a replacement probe in not that high.

I protect the wires by covering in aluminum foils to keep the moisture out. I leave the foil on and have never taken them off. Since doing all the precaution of not getting them wet, and protecting from excessive heat, I have not had to replace one in two years.