Hey guys. The selector knob on my grill snapped off, I want to try to repair it because replacing the entire controller is $500, and I'd rather just spend that on a new grill if I can't fix it. The piece circled in red is what broke, and it will need to be removed and replaced.
My question is: can I replace this with a generic knob purchased from... I don't even know, radio shack? Online? The mobo has the code SW8 next to the knob, I thought that might be a part number, tried googling but didn't get any results. I have a little experience with soldering but I haven't done it in a long time and I would need to buy an iron.
Forgot to mention, the knob can be turned both ways to scroll up and down the menus, but can also be clicked in like an analog stick on a game controller to make selections.
Its just a common SMD rotary encoder, you can snip off the pins and desolder the remains and then solder the new in.
Even a shitty iron should do the job
Okay that's good news. Would you mind going into a little more detail? Or maybe point me to a beginners guide that could help with this sort of thing?
Is there a retail store where I can buy the part, or am I going to need to get it online? I live in a decent sized city so if there's a retail chain that sells this kind of stuff we probably have one.
What tool is best for snipping the pins? I have some tools but not really anything for working on stuff this tiny.
Personally I would cut the 5 signal pins with a boxcutter (pushing from the top), then the 4 edge support posts with electronics side cutters, then with soldering iron heat up the 2 side supports alternatively while pushing sideways until the whole thing detaches.
Then with the iron heat up the pads to remove the cut pieces and excess solder.
Then it's just a matter of putting new one in and soldering.
A store that sells electronic components could have it but just search "smd rotary encoder" online
Post last brisket
Imagine needing a rotary encoder to be able to grill
He doesnt need it, the D2 has wifi and bluetooth connectivity
Oh thank god
I know you are being facetious, but it actually IS a godsend.
This is for a pellet smoker, its not a standard grill.
Being able to open an app and see your temperatures in the middle of a 20 hour smoke, or have an alarm go off if anything happens to not ruin your 15lb brisket is rather useful.
Get with the times old man, smoking has never been easier to get insanely good results. You dont have to dedicate your life to the hobby of BBQ to get real kick ass BBQ anymore.
Op says grill.
Im fully aware of the benefits of technology.
The internet is gay.
"Traeger"
"Rollerblade"
OP update. I managed to get the thing off the board. Made a bit of a mess of it but I think the board is okay, as long as the heat didn't fry any of the other components. Which maybe it did.
Also burnt my thumb a little.
its a smoker
on closer inspection I might have fricked it. The top center and bottom left/right copper pads came off when I pulled the encoder off. I tried just putting some solder in the holes but it wouldn't stick, I guess I need to cut some copper and get it to stick in the holes underneath the new encoder when I get it. I'm not confident it's gonna work at this point but I guess I'll still try it and find out.
And yeah I know I burned the board in a couple spots. Haven't touched an iron in 10+ years. It's probably fricked but it was fricked before I did anything to it anyways.
Grill isn't connecting to wifi. I think it's because it used to be my dad's and it was registered to his network, and I can't reset the wifi settings without using the grill menu/broken knob
If you ripped the pads off, it's officially a clusterfrick. Get a new grill.
you're in over your head now that you've torn off those pads
should have done some practice runs on a scrap circuit board first
3 ripped pads is beyond your skill level at this point
Call traeger and try to get them to send you a new unit
Or find a replacement like a smoke daddy or something.
>registered to his network
Rename your wifi and change the passcode to his.
SW8 refers to the PCB, its switch #8 on the board
If you want a part number, unsolder the switch itself and look under it.
Buy a basic $5 soldering iron and some soldering wick and suck up all the solder.
It really should be as easy as replacing it.
Youll need to measure and figure out the right switch,which shouldnt be too hard once you pull it off.
>The mobo has the code SW8 next to the knob
Oh, one of the ol' SW8s. Yeah, you can get those anywhere.
Just pull the thing out of the old one, throw around a little solder and BOOM you're done.
Boards generally don't have parts numbers on them, the SW8 is short for "Switch 8". See the buttons on the bottom? They're labeled "SW1", SW2", etc.
The part number will be on the switch itself, on the underside, you'll have to de-solder it to find it.
Parts like this are usually not sold retail, you'll need to go to Mouser or other online sites to find it - IF Traeger used an off the shelf part, and didn't have them custom made for this application.
If you don't know how to solder, this is probably going to be a clusterfrick project.
I soldered in electronics class in high school but I haven't since then in like 2011. Obviously it's not a skill I have much experience with, but the only other option to fix this would be to buy a new controller and that isn't worth the cost, so I thought I'd at least give it a shot.
Yeah... I got a new knob and some copper tape off Amazon coming tomorrow. I'll give it a try but if I can't get it to work I'll just get a new one. I wonder if I can get some money for it on craigslist. It's like a $1,300 grill, just needs the $500 part to work.
Copper tape is a waste of time. I don't think you understand how boards work, and I'm not going to even try to explain to you how to trace the circuits from the missing pads and solder in jumpers.
Get. A. New. Grill. This one is done. Your journey here ended when those pads came off.
The controller shouldnt be $500, get an aftermarket one
Just get thin wire to connect to the traces that lead to the ripped up pads
>grill
>controller
worst timeline