DigiQ DX3 User manual

Rev. 1.0 for Version 1.1 Firmware
DigiQ®DX3 User Guide

1Safety Warnings ....................................................... 3
2BBQ Guru Limited Warranty
& Return/Repair Policy ........................................... 5
3DigiQ®DX3 Features ................................................ 6
4 Probes ........................................................................ 7
5Power Draft Fans ..................................................... 8
6Key Operation .......................................................... 8
7Powering Up ............................................................. 8
8The Display ............................................................... 9
9Setting The Setpoints ............................................. 11
10 Setup Menu .............................................................. 12
11 Smart Cook Adaptive Control Strategy .............. 16
12 Connections .............................................................. 17
13 Building a Proper Fire for Good Control ............. 18
14 Contact BBQ Guru ................................................... 18
15 Fan Damper .............................................................. 19
16 Stainless Steel Universal Bracket ......................... 20
17 Troubleshooting Guide .......................................... 21
Contents
2

3
WARNING: KEEP YOUR CONTROL DRY! Allowing the control to
get wet can cause damage to its electronics and/or make it operate
incorrectly, causing a hazardous condition.
WARNING: FIRE HAZARD, BURN HAZARD! Even quality electronics
can fail CAUSING THE FAN TO RUN CONSTANTLY, RESULTING IN
EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES! Power draft fans can get the pit
temperature higher than natural draft. Use extra caution in opening
the pit and determining fan placement. Always inspect the probe
wires for damage which can cause the fan to run constantly causing
the pit to become excessively hot.
WARNING: FIRE HAZARD, BURN HAZARD! FLAMES, SPARKS, AND
LIT EMBERS CAN EXIT ANY OPENING ON THE PIT CAUSING FIRE!
Keep the pit located a safe distance away from flammable objects
including buildings, walls, solvents, cars, fuel, wood piles, furniture,
etc. and use caution when opening the pit. An ember that has fallen
or is ejected from the pit can be blown by a light wind into a garage or
other structure, debris field, woods, or grass field and cause fire. Have
a fire extinguisher and water supply available near the pit. If the pit
is used on a wooden or combustible surface such as a wooden deck,
place the pit on a non-flammable pad intended for this purpose.
WARNING: FIRE HAZARD, BURN HAZARD! Even quality electronics
can fail and cause the temperature to read incorrectly. Use a
redundant dial thermometer as a backup temperature sensor
to verify the control’s reading of the pit temperature.
WARNING: SMOKE CAN COMBUST WHEN OXYGEN IS
INTRODUCED AND PRODUCE SEVERE BURNS! ALWAYS USE
CAUTION WHEN OPENING THE LID OR DOOR OF THE PIT.
1 Safety Warnings
Read and understand this user’s guide completely before
installing or using this product!
INSTALLATION/SAFETY INFORMATION:

4
WARNING: PIT FIRES CAN OCCUR WHEN LIQUIDS ARE SPILLED
OR WHEN SURFACES INSIDE THE PIT REACH THE IGNITION
TEMPERATURE OF FATS! Never pour or toss water directly onto a fat
fire. Reduce the temperature by cooling the fire in the firebox with a
water spray. Close the cooking chamber door and the firebox while it
is steaming to smother the fire. Repeat this procedure as necessary to
get the pit fire under control.
NOTE: Pit fires can be largely avoided if the pit is kept clean and free from
fat buildup during or between cooks. Changing drip trays during a cook
cycle helps keep flammable fats in the pit to a minimum. Keep cooking
temperatures low enough to avoid ignition.
WARNING: THERE ARE HOT SURFACES ON ALL PARTS OF THE PIT
BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER COOKING! Wear protective clothing
when tending the pit, attempting to extinguish a fire, or dumping
a firebox in a proper ash receptacle. Be ready to call your local fire
company in the case of an emergency situation.
CAUTION: Fire danger is always present even in the best conditions.
Continuously perform safety precaution procedures.
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD, HIGH VOLTAGE! The power supply for
this product is plugged into a 120 or 240 VAC Mains. THIS VOLTAGE
CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. KEEP THE POWER SUPPLY AWAY
FROM WATER AND OFF OF THE GROUND. NEVER TOUCH THE
POWER SUPPLY IF IT GETS WET.

To qualify, all returns and exchanges must be accompanied by the original receipt,
the original documentation, instruction manuals, parts and components (including
probes, controller, and accessories) and the original manufacturer packaging.
Failure to include such items may prevent or delay your refund or exchange.
For refund or exchange, items must be in a condition that permits us to resell them.
BBQ Guru will not accept the following items for return: (i): items that have been
personalized or customized; (ii): special order items, if not part of BBQ Guru retail
sales offering; (iii): items that have been used, altered or that show wear or damage;
(iv): gift cards; (v): services.
DigiQ DX3 controls and fans (2 year limited warranty) BBQ Guru warrants these
products to be free from defect in workmanship and materials for a period of 2
years from the date of original purchase. The warranty is not transferable.
Pit/Food probes, A/C adapters, and other accessories (90 day limited warranty)
BBQ Guru warrants these products to be free from defect in workmanship and
materials for a period of 90 days from the date of original purchase. The warranty is
not transferable.
Should the unit malfunction within the warranty period, you must get a Return
Material Authorization (RMA) number to return it to the factory by emailing a
description of your problem and your name, address, email, phone number, and
date of purchase to [email protected]. If defective, it will be
repaired or replaced (at the discretion of BBQ Guru) at no cost. There are no
user serviceable parts on this unit.
This warranty is void if the unit shows evidence of tampering or being subjected to
moisture, excessive heat, corrosion or other misuse including use of any component
with any product not manufactured by BBQ Guru. Components with wear or
damage due to misuse will not be covered under warranty.
If your control, probe, power pack, or fan is malfunctioning and is out of warranty,
we may be able to troubleshoot it by phone or email. If it is determined that your
part has been damaged in any way during use, we will recommend that you
purchase a new part. BBQ Guru shall not be responsible for any damage or losses,
however caused, which may be experienced as a result of the installation or use of
this product.
2 BBQ Guru Limited Warranty
& Return/Repair Policy
5
RETURN CRITERIA:

3 DigiQ® DX3 Features
• Smart Cook full-time adaptive control algorithm learns the pit for better
stability and accuracy
• Digital high intensity“Blaze Red” LED display
• Armored high-temperature pit and food probes
• Controls the pit and monitors the food temperature
• Open lid detect senses when the pit’s lid is open to minimize temperature
disturbance
• Exclusive low and slow Ramp mode lowers the pit temperature as food
temperatures approach the done setpoint so the food never overcooks
• Audible alarm option to sound for food done
• Adjustable deviation alarm sounds when the pit’s temperature goes too high
or too low by a settable value
• Adjustable beeper intensity setting
• Displays in degrees F or C
• 32 to 475 degrees F range with +/- 2 ° F accuracy (see page 10 on cook
temperature rounding)
• Runs on 100-240VAC (for worldwide use) or 12VDC for automotive supply use
6

The probes provided with the DigiQ DX3 are precision stainless steel thermo-
couples. The thermocouple wires have an armor braid with moisture and smoke
resistant Teflon insulation that is rated for steady-state temperatures up to 500
degrees F. The user can pass these thin wires under the lid of the pit or through
a small hole without creating a large gap which would allow air to get through
(air intrusion). Be careful not to kink these wires or let them come in contact with
flames. These probes are user-replaceable and are available at www.bbqguru.com;
we recommend having a spare set for unforeseen emergencies.
Important Note: Be sure to fully insert your probes into the control.
Push the plug into the receptacle until you feel and hear it snap in place.
If you do not plug the probes in securely, you may experience sporadic
temperature readings and the DigiQ DX3 will not control your pit
accurately. The temperature may also read low, causing your pit to
get excessively hot.
Important Note: The pit probe must be placed in the pit for proper
temperature regulation. If the pit probe is not located in the pit, proper
control will not take place. This can cause the fan to run constantly
causing your pit to become excessively hot.
Important Note: Some ceramic grills present a special-case situation
that can lead to early probe failure.
If you use a heat diffuser, run the probe cables over one of the ceramic legs. The
heat coming up through the gaps is intense and focused, and if the cable is exposed
to this heat, it begins to break down much more quickly than usual.
Even if you do not use a heat diffuser, any heat or flame event inside your pit can
send a blast of heat – even flames – up the inside of the pit, sometimes ruining a
probe instantly. In this case, we recommend placing a disposable pan inside the
pit to create a safe zone for your probes. This can be done with or without a heat
diffuser.
It is the insulation that makes ceramic cookers so versatile and makes special steps
necessary. Follow these steps and you can experience the 2-3 year probe life that is
common with other types of smokers.
If the food probe will not be used, it should be unplugged before applying power
to the DigiQ DX3 , not during operation. This will allow the DigiQ DX3 time to
configure its alarm operation to prevent false food alarms. The food probe can also
be left plugged in, but not inserted into the food.
4 Probes
4.1 Food Probe
7

8
All fans are equipped with an adjustable damper and an aluminum nozzle.
The slide damper can be completely closed to kill the fire or can be adjusted to a
small opening for cold smoking. This feature allows fine adjustments to be made
due to natural drafts that affect cooking temperature during the fan’s off cycle.
Testing on different settings is recommended. Open the damper fully for quick start
up or grilling at high temperatures. Close halfway for smaller cookers or low and
slow cooking. Close three-quarters of the way for cold smoking.
5 Power Draft Fans
FOOD Shows the food temperature when pressed
PIT Shows the pit temperature when pressed
UP Indexes the setpoint up
DOWN Indexes the setpoint down
FOOD + PIT Powers the unit on or off when both buttons are held
UP + DOWN Enters the setup menu when both buttons are held
KEY PRESS CHIRP
When the Beeper Intensity is set to above 0, any key press will cause an
acknowledge chirp. Setting the Beeper Intensity in the menu to 0 will disable
the chirp.
SILENCING THE BEEPER WITH ANY KEY PRESS
Any time the beeper is sounding, press any key to silence it and clear the alarm
condition. To turn the beeper off, set the Beeper Intensity in the menu to 0.
6 Key Operation
Upon applying power, the DigiQ DX3 will show to test the display and then
show the version number.
If there is a brief or sustained power interruption at any time while cooking,
the DigiQ DX3 will automatically restart and continue to control the pit at the
same settings that were originally set.
7Powering Up

9
8The Display
The DigiQ DX3’s three digit LED display has three status indicators.
FAN STATUS INDICATOR
The Fan Status Indicator and Fan Display Warble will help determine how the fire
is being controlled. When there is sufficient fuel in the pit, the fan will gently puff
the fire, feeding it little bursts of oxygen. When the fan is energized, the display will
blink about once per second (fan warble) and the Fan Status indicator will turn on.
When the pit starts to run out of fuel, the fan will run almost all of the time.
DETERMINING THE OUTPUT PERCENTAGE FROM THE FAN WARBLE
The Fan Warble is designed so that the output percentage of the fan can be
determined by counting how many display blinks (warbles) occur in a given cycle as
per the table below:
TIP: If the output percentage is around 80-100% for a long time, the pit may be
running out of charcoal. If the output percentage is around 10% for a long time and
the temperature is oscillating, close the fan damper adjustment slightly
for better control.
BLINK PATTERN OUTPUT %
None 0
... (1 Blink) g(Pause) g(1 Blink) g(Pause) ... 10
... (2 Blinks) g(Pause) g(2 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 20
... (3 Blinks) g(Pause) g(3 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 30
... (4 Blinks) g(Pause) g(4 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 40
... (5 Blinks) g(Pause) g(5 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 50
... (6 Blinks) g(Pause) g(6 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 60
... (7 Blinks) g(Pause) g(7 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 70
... (8 Blinks) g(Pause) g(8 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 80
... (9 Blinks) g(Pause) g(9 Blinks) g(Pause) ... 90
Continuously Blinking 100
Food temp is
displayed when
LED is on
Ramp status LED
ON = Ramp Enabled
BLINK = Ramp
Fan status LED on
& display blinks when
fan is energized

10
8.2 Food Done Message
8.4 Food or Pit Temperature Displays
When the food temperature reaches or exceeds the food
setpoint, the display will indicate that the food is done and
the beeper will sound.
If the temperature goes below 32°or above 475°F on the
food or pit probe, the display will show:
8.3 Over/Under Range Temperature
The DigiQ DX3 can display either the Food or Pit temperature. The default is Pit.
Press the Food button once to display food temperature, then press Pit to return.
To Display PIT Temperature To Display FOOD Temperature
(Showing FOODTemp)
Select PIT Display - PRESS:
FOODTemp LED Off
Shows PITTemp
(Showing PITTemp)
Select FOOD Display - PRESS:
FOODTemp LED On
Shows FOODTemp

11
9Setting the Setpoints
To display the pit setpoint temperature, tap the UP or DOWN key while displaying
the pit temperature. To set the pit setpoint simply press the UP or DOWN key.
To display the food setpoint temperature, tap the UP or DOWN key while displaying
the food temperature. To set the food setpoint simply press the UP or DOWN key.
From PITTemp Display
Press To Raise
Press qTo Lower
Reverts Back to Current PIT
Temp Display
PIT Setpoint Display
Blinks During Set
Confirmation of Setting
From FOODTemp Display
Press To Raise
Press qTo Lower
Reverts Back to Current FOOD
Temp Display
FOOD Setpoint Display
Blinks During Set
Confirmation of Setting

12
10 Setup Menu
Press the UP & DOWN keys simultaneously to enter the setup menu. The screens
below are shown in the order they appear as the UP + DOWN keys are pressed
again. When the F/C select is reached and the UP + DOWN keys are pressed
again, the setup menu loops, so the pit temperature will be displayed again.
and q
and q
and q
and q
and q
Press and q
From PIT or FOOD Display
Beeper Intensity (0-10)
Alarm Deviation Set Point
(20-125°F)
Open Lid Detect
Yes or No Select
Ramp Yes or No Select Press to Select Yes
Press qto Select No
Press to increase
Press qto decrease
Press to increase
Press qto decrease
Flashing
 
and q
Smark Cook Setting Press to increase
Press qto decrease
Flashing
 
Flashing
 
Press to Select Yes
Press qto Select No
Press to Select DEG F
Press qto Select DEG C
Temperature Select

13
10.1 Alarm Deviation Setpoint
If the temperature of the pit deviates above the setpoint by the alarm deviation
setpoint, the alarm will sound and the display will blink . If the temperature of
the pit deviates below the setpoint by the alarm deviation setpoint, the alarm will
sound and the display will blink .
The alarm will not sound when the control is first powered up and the pit is cold.
The alarm is only enabled once the temperature gets close to the pit temperature
setpoint. The alarm deviation is settable from 20 to 125 degrees F and the factory
default is 50 degrees F.
If the ramp feature is turned on and the pit is actively ramping, the only time that
the low alarm will become active is if the pit temperature drops 20 degrees below
the food setpoint temperature.
PitTemperature
Gives“Hi”Alarm
Pit
Setpoint
Gives“Lo”Alarm
Deviation Alarm Setpoint
Deviation Alarm Setpoint

14
10.2 Ramp Mode
When the ramp is set to (ramp yes), the low and slow ramp mode is enabled.
This mode is used for slow cooks so the food never overcooks. This feature will
gradually lower the pit temperature to the food setpoint temperature when the
food is within 30 degrees of being done. The controller will hold the pit temperature
slightly above the food setpoint as long as there is fuel.
The factory default setting is (ramp no), so ramp must be enabled to use
it. Note: when using this feature, the pit temperature can be started higher than
normal to reduce cook time and not overcook the food. If the food probe is not
plugged in and the ramp mode is turned on, the ramp LED will be on but no
ramping will take place.
Temperature
Time
PitTemperature
Food Temperature
Food/Pit Plot with Ramp Set to Yes
Time
Temperature
PitTemperature
Food Temperature
Food/Pit Plot with Ramp Set to No

The Beeper Intensity can be adjusted from 0-10. 0 is off, 1 is a
small, infrequent chirp and a 10 is a frequent, loud beep.
The factory default is 4. If you have multiple pits, this feature
is useful for distinguishing one pit from another, by giving
each one a unique beep duration.
10.3 Beeper Intensity
10.4 Open Lid Detect
15
This feature will allow quick recovery to the setpoint temperature after the lid
is opened. When the open lid is set to (open lid yes), open lid detect is
enabled. When the lid is opened, the temperature will drop. This can cause
the fan to over-fire the coals and cause overshoot when the lid is shut. This mode
detects when the pit’s lid is open and minimizes the fan running during that time.
Some overshoot will always be present when the pit’s lid is opened and
closed even if the fan is off, because it still introduces oxygen to the fire. The
factory default is , so disable this feature if there are problems with excess
air currents in the pit. To disable this feature, set it to (open lid no). To
prevent false alarms, the alarm will not sound when the temperature drops and
the lid is open.
OPEN LID DETECT – OVERSHOOT ELIMINATOR
When the open lid detect is enabled, the rate that the temperature rises in the
pit will be limited, preventing over-firing. This will make a typical startup to a
temperature of 250 degrees F take a minimum of 20 minutes and will help to
eliminate startup overshoot.

11 Smart Cook Adaptive
Control Strategy
16
The DigiQ DX3’s Smart Cook Adaptive Control Strategy is designed to operate with
a wide variety of pits by continually learning what the pit is doing and adapting
to many factors such as outside air temperature, amount of charcoal, damper
settings, etc. For the DigiQ DX3 to work properly and determine how to adapt, the
temperature inside the pit cannot oscillate up and down and the lid must stay
closed. If the lid is opened often, especially on startup, the control cannot be
expected to maintain setpoint. If the lid is left closed for approximately 10-20
minutes, the temperature will become stable after the control adapts. If the lid has
been shut for at least 20-30 minutes and the temperature is going up and down
significantly (+/- 10 degrees or more), the fan damper needs to be closed more. The
pit may run a few degrees high or low due to various conditions but the control will
bring it back to the setpoint. Pit temperatures of 20 degrees high or low rarely have
an effect on the quality of food.
SMART COOK SETTINGS:
The Smart Cook feature allows you to tailor the adaptive algorithm to suit your
specific pit even more. Accessing this feature is described in section 12 Menu Setup.
Setting 1: Default setting. This setting is ideal for small, medium and some large
ceramic cookers, traditional Weber kettles, and small cabinet smokers. On setting 1,
your fan will operate at 100% until your pit is 30 degrees away from your desired
cooking temperature. It will then begin to cycle the fan, until it reaches
your target temperature.
Setting 2: This setting is ideal for insulated pits that are very efficient like the
Monolith or Weber Summit. On setting 2, your fan will operate at 100% until your
pit is 40 degrees away from your desired cooking temperature. It will then
begin to cycle the fan at fewer intervals, until you reach your target temperature.
Setting 3: This setting is ideal for uninsulated or offset pits that are less
efficient than an average pit like the Weber Smokey Mountain or common
horizontal offset smokers that you see at your local hardware stores. On setting
3, your fan will operate at 100% until your pit is 20 degrees away from your
desired cooking temperature. It will then begin to cycle the fan at more frequent
intervals, until you reach your target temperature.
SNAP TO SET POINT
Air currents in your grill or smoker can make a sensitive and accurate instrument
like the DigiQ DX3 read actual temperatures rapidly (ie: 223, 224, 223, 225, 224, 226,
etc. when the pit temperature is set to 225°F). The DigiQ DX3 control is programmed
to snap to the pit setpoint temperature when the pit is within +/- 5 degrees of the
temperature set.

17
12 Connections
From left to right: Power Input, Fan Output, Pit Probe, Food Probe, per the diagram
below:
Wall Adaptor
Plug into AC wall
outlet
Food Temp Sensor
Place inside of food
Pit Temp Sensor
Clip inside of pit
Power Draft Fan

18
14 Contact BBQ Guru
BBQ Guru
359 Ivyland Road
Warminster, PA 18974
Website: www.bbqguru.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800-288-GURU (4878)
13 Building a Proper Fire for
Good Control
How you build the fire in your pit is critical for good control, especially at low
cooking temperatures. Stack the charcoal inside your pit so it’s shaped like a
pyramid, small at the top and large at the bottom. Light the fire by lighting a few
coals at the top. Do not over-fire the charcoal or light it at the bottom, because this
will only cause your pit to over-fire during startup. Some overshoot is normal; try
setting your cook temperature 15-20 degrees low when starting and raising it after
your food is on and the temperature has stabilized.
ELIMINATING LARGE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PIT TEMPERATURE
Normally the DigiQ DX3 will be able to adjust the airflow via the fan to deliver
precise control and no damper adjustment will be required. If the pit has become
over-fired or if the fire was built too big, large temperature swings (+/- 10 degrees
or more) may occur. To eliminate this, restrict the airflow by adjusting the fan
damper. Try closing the damper to half the current setting and the pit should
stabilize within 10-15 minutes after adjustment.
EXTINGUISHING THE PIT
If there is fuel left over from the cook, save this fuel by closing off any open
dampers, removing the fan, and plugging the fan adaptor opening with a kill plug.
This will put the fire out in approximately 30-45 minutes.

19
15 Fan Damper
With a fan-controlled firebox, you need to be able to adjust the amount of
air being blown into the firebox. In addition, natural draft may affect cooking
temperature when the fan is off. While arriving at final settings requires testing
and experimentation, as a general rule it is good to start with the slide damper
fully open on offset and large cabinet pits, halfway open on medium-size vertical
or cabinet pits, and one-third to half open on kettles, bullet, and ceramic pits. This
should support cooking from 225° F to 275°F.
The top damper functions differently with a fan-controlled system than with a
natural-draft system. Where the fan damper controls the amount of air flowing into
the pit, the top damper influences the amount of air flowing out. We recommend
keeping the top damper open as little as possible in order to retain heat and smoke
in the cooking chamber, consistent with reaching the desired cooking temperature.
Close the damper completely to extinguish the fire after cooking or remove the fan
and insert the silicone kill plug into the adaptor.
Your fan may look differently than pictured. The effect of the damper opening and closing remains the same.

20
16 Stainless Steel Universal Bracket
Shape and bend the bracket to suit your needs.