Setup Guide: Giant Grill Gauge (GGG)Updated 8 hours ago

Your Giant Grill Gauge takes about 10 to 15 minutes to set up, most of it fitting the mount to your grill. Do these in order. It is tempting to wing it, but the order matters, especially for the mount.

What's in the box

The Giant Grill Gauge (the display with the buttons)
Your Heat Shield or Heat Deflector mount
Mounting hardware: sensor tube, spring clip, and adjustable collar
Two CR2450 coin cell batteries

You will also need a Phillips screwdriver, the free Combustion app, and possibly a wrench to remove your grill's old thermometer.

Before you start: check the fit

The Gauge replaces the dome thermometer on most grills and smokers. GGG: Compatible Grills and Smokers lists the grills we have confirmed and which mount each one needs. If yours is not on the list, that usually means untested, not incompatible. Will It Fit? Fitment Guide for the Giant Grill Gauge has printable templates and every measurement.

‼️ Never drill a ceramic grill ‼️

Ceramic cracks, and the crack keeps going. If your kamado has no existing thermometer hole, contact us first (see the end of this guide).

1. Power it on

Remove the battery door on the back of the Gauge with a Phillips screwdriver.
Insert the two CR2450 batteries with the plus (+) side facing up.
Put the door back on, holding it flush while you thread the screw in.
Press the yellow power button on the back. The display turns on.

The Gauge does not charge. It runs on these coin cells, and replacements are a common size you can buy anywhere.

2. Update the firmware

Download the Combustion Inc app for iOS or Android, and turn on Bluetooth.
Keep your phone within a few inches of the Gauge while it updates.
In the app, go to Settings, then Update Devices, and tap Update.
When the Gauge shows "Up-to-date" in the list, move on.

Update one tool at a time. Leave any other Combustion tools off or in standby while the Gauge updates. If an update stalls, see Firmware Updates: Complete Guide.

3. Assemble the mount

Look at how the spring clip and collar sit on the sensor tube before you take them off. The flat side of the clip always faces up, away from the collar.
Remove the collar and spring clip from the sensor tube.
Push the sensor tube into the center hole of the Heat Shield or Heat Deflector, and press firmly until the plastic end is seated in the silicone housing. You should feel moderate resistance, and the end should sit slightly above the face of the housing.

If the sensor tube is not fully seated, the Gauge cannot make a connection and no temperature appears.

4. Fit the mount to your grill

Set the Gauge display aside for now. You will attach it last.

Remove the old thermometer

Open the lid and unscrew the nut holding your grill's thermometer in place. It is usually a wing nut you can turn by hand, but years of residue often mean you need to scrub it and use a wrench.
If your old thermometer has a bezel, remove that too.

Check it sits right

Put the mount assembly into the old thermometer hole from the outside of the lid.
All three feet of the mount need to touch the lid. If they do not, you risk bending the sensor tube.

Lock it in place

Hold the mount against the lid from the outside, pressing on the gold sensor tube.
From inside the lid, squeeze the spring clip and slide it onto the tube, flat side up toward the lid. Make sure the tube passes through both holes in the clip.
Press the clip firmly against the inside of the lid until its flat face sits flush, then let go. The mount should feel secure. If it moves easily, press the clip against the lid again and recheck.
Slide the collar up until it touches the bottom of the clip. Do not squeeze the clip again while you do this, or you release the tension you just set. The collar stops the clip from loosening over time. It is not there to compress the spring.
Tighten the fastener finger-tight. It should be very snug, but do not use a tool and do not overtighten.

5. Attach the Gauge

Turn the Gauge on if it has gone to sleep.
Rotate the Gauge so the buttons are at the bottom, then set it onto the mount. It is held on by magnets.
It should sit centered on the silicone disc without wobbling. If it is off center, slide it until you feel the sensor tube snap into the back of the Gauge.
When it is connected, the large numbers show the temperature inside your grill.

If the number does not update, check the Gauge is sitting squarely over the contact rings. If it is and the number still does not update, make sure the pins and contact rings are clean, dry, and free of buildup.

You are ready to cook. The rest of this guide is optional.

6. Link your Predictive Thermometer (optional)

Take the thermometer out of its charger to turn it on.
Hold it next to the Gauge for a few seconds.
When a temperature appears in the small digits at the bottom of the screen, they are linked.

Repeat for each thermometer. Each Gauge links up to 4 Predictive Thermometers, plus its own mount. Giant Grill Gauge (GGG): Button Controls & Commands shows how to switch between them on the Gauge.

7. Connect it to WiFi (optional)

This lets you watch your cook from anywhere with internet. You need a free Combustion account first (in the app: Settings, then Combustion Account).

With the app open and the Gauge on its mount, make sure the Gauge is showing a temperature.
In the app, go to Settings, then WiFi Devices.
Select your Gauge, then choose Join Network.
Pick your network and enter the password. If it is not listed, choose Other and type the name.
You are done when the Gauge shows its signal strength.

Use a 2.4 GHz network. The Gauge does not use 5 GHz. Hotel, office, and guest networks with a sign-in page will not work. MeatNet™ Cloud: Setup and Remote Monitoring covers the rest.

The Gauge is a full WiFi tool, so you do not also need a WiFi Booster or WiFi Display to get online.

8. If you have other Combustion tools

Booster or Display: link everything together in one go. See How to Link All Tools (Multi-Node MeatNet™): The Cuddle Pile.
Combustion Engine: the Gauge is the preferred device for the Engine to read from. See Getting started with your Combustion Engine.

Things that look wrong on a new Gauge but are normal

A gap around the sensor tube. Grill thermometer holes are often wider than the tube. A little play will not stop your grill holding temperature.
An air gap under the Heat Shield. It sits on three small feet on purpose. The gap keeps the electronics cool.
A slight rock on a curved lid. Common on kamados. Make sure the sensor tube is seated and the collar is snug.
The Gauge reads hotter than your thermometer's ambient reading. The Gauge reads the air at the lid, and the thermometer reads the air next to your food. A difference of 50 to 100°F is expected.

Still have a question?

Giant Grill Gauge (GGG): Troubleshooting Guide covers a blank screen, dashes or "no data", and readings that look wrong. Quick FAQs: Giant Grill Gauge covers heat limits, weather, and batteries.

If your Gauge will not show a temperature, will not fit your grill, or your kamado has no thermometer hole, email [email protected]. Tell us your grill make and model, which mount you have, and which step you got stuck on. Photos of the mount from the side help a lot.

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