Inkbird Troubleshooting

[Jhedrick83]

I have an INT-4XS And I was just getting ready to start a brew day. When I insert the probe into the unit and turn it on, the unit only will flash “Lo” And not provide any temperature readings on screen or through the app. It’s plugged into the wall and has been for the last hour and 15 minutes. So it’s not a dead/low battery. Thoughts?

 

[day_trippr]

Classically, a "Lo" sensor reading on a BBQ controller probe meant the sensor was either Open or Shorted - I can't remember which - while "Hi" indicated the opposite, whichever that was. When I was really into BBQ and smoking meat I was always reading of sensor failures due to moisture ingress, and the failures would throw either a Lo or a Hi instead of an actual temperature.

If you leave the sensor unplugged does the display still show "Lo"? That'd be a hint I think.
Do you have more than one probe you could try?

Cheers!

 

[Jhedrick83]

The Lo goes away after just a couple seconds and the screen is blank. I tried a brand new probe and I tried all four probe ports on the display unit.

 

[day_trippr]

Sounds like the probe is being recognized but the controller doesn't know what to do with it.
I would contact Inkbird support then. There may be some way to do a factory reset that might bring it back together...

Cheers!

 

[Jhedrick83]

I contacted them right away as the ol google machine didn’t seem to help. Hopefully they will get back to me soon. Brutal day today got canceled since I didn’t have a working thermometer. I’d rather not have to just go buy one if it’s a simple as a reset. However, really hoping to brew tomorrow.

 

[Jhedrick83]

After a series of questions from Customer Service, they emailed me back this morning asking me to charge the unit using a computer connected to the USB rather than a wall adapter. Seems like an odd request but I'll give it a shot.

I'm not an electrical engineer or electrician but why would that make the unit charge where the wall adapter would not?

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Faulty wall adapter converting 120V to 5V. USB ports are normally 5V.

 

[Jhedrick83]

I get that but I tried 3 different wall adapters before even emailing them.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I get that but I tried 3 different wall adapters before even emailing them.

That may not be good enough. Did the 3 different wall warts match (or exceed) the amps of the original unit? What about the output volts of the 3 different wall warts?

Also, plug orientation the same? Positive/negative in the tip.

 

[Jhedrick83]

The plugs are all 5v 1 amp. Unfortunately, 24 hours plugged into a desktop USB port did nothing either. Yes, the computer was on.