Announcement: FireBoard Pulse Now Supports Drive Fan Control!

We’re thrilled to announce a major upgrade to our soon-to-be-released FireBoard Pulse wireless temperature probe. In response to overwhelming user demand, we’ve added Drive fan control functionality to help you maintain consistent grill temperatures with minimal effort.

At FireBoard, we pride ourselves on listening to our community. Many of you have been asking for an automatic fan control feature since we announced the Pulse, and we heard you loud and clear. We’ve since updated the FireBoard Pulse to include this capability.

How it works

The FireBoard Pulse can now use its external ambient temperature sensor to control a grill fan automatically. Users will be able to select the Pulse as the fan controller, using the FireBoard 2 UI. Just like any Drive-enabled device, when the temperature drops below your set target, the fan activates to increase airflow and stoke the fire. Once the target temperature is reached, the fan stops. This efficient system helps maintain a consistent cooking environment without constant manual adjustments.

Wait, but do ambient sensors on wireless probes even work…?

Yes, with some important caveats. This has become a hot topic with the recent buzz around next-gen wireless probes like the Pulse hitting the market, so we want to address it clearly.

You may observe some temperature fluctuations when using a wireless probe’s ambient sensor for two major reasons:

1. Heat Sink: The heat sink effect in grilling occurs when cold meat is introduced to a hot grill, causing a temporary drop in ambient temperature as the meat absorbs heat. This phenomenon can lead to misleading temperature readings from ambient probes, especially those placed close to the meat.
2. Natural Grill Dynamics: Even the most well-built grills have inherent temperature variations due to uneven airflow and heat distribution. Hot and cold spots are common in most grilling setups, so even a wired probe will read differently depending on where it’s placed in the grill or smoker.

Well, is it accurate enough to run the Drive fan?

Yes.

(Next week, we’ll be sharing a deep-dive breakdown of our testing methodology with sessions comparing typical wired ambient probes vs. Pulse ambient sensors placed in various positions with our findings.)

For now, know that the Pulse’s ambient sensor consistently reads within 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit of a grill’s “true” ambient temperature – roughly comparable to the typical ambient temperature variance you would see from a wired probe placed outside of the heat sink-affected radius. It’s as functional as any ambient probe, that is to say: take its readings with a grain of salt and an understanding of the variables at play.

At the end of the day, what really matters is the internal temperature of your meat – the ambient temperature acts as a data point to help get you there, rather than being the single source of truth for your cook’s status.

If that’s true, then why wasn’t this enabled from the start?

We had always intended for this feature to make its way to the Pulse eventually, but we’ve received such a massive influx of requests for it since the announcement that we couldn’t ignore it. It’s easily the number one most common question we’ve received.

We designed the Pulse and our other cloud-based technology to be flexible for our user’s needs. And if our users say “We need this!”, we should listen. At the same time, we want to be direct about the science behind attaching an ambient sensor to a wireless probe. So, after internal deliberation, enabling this functionality made the most sense.

Update on production and shipping

Production is in full swing at FireBoard HQ and we’re excited to begin sending out the first batches. We’re on track to begin shipping at the end of August, continuing at a steady pace into September. Keep an eye out for more updates as pre-orders open for the general public in the coming days.

As always, we welcome your feedback and look forward to seeing the amazing meals you create with your newly upgraded FireBoard Pulses.

Happy grilling!