ThermoWorks’ Billows temperature control fan is compatible with their Signals thermometer.
It’s essentially a fan that you attach to your charcoal or wood-fired smoker to adjust the airflow and maintain a consistent temperature over the course of a lengthy cook without having to tend to your smoker.
Billows is an excellent value at $69 if you already possess the Signals thermometer, since a standalone barbecue temperature controller may cost up to $350.
We put the Billows to the test for this review to see how effectively it regulated the temperature on our Weber Smokey Mountain throughout a 10+ hour brisket cook.
ThermoWorks provided me with a complimentary Billows in exchange for an honest evaluation. My views and opinions are all my own.
Contents
Billows Overview and First Impressions
Update Since our first review, ThermoWorks has launched a new version of their App, which now adds a lid opening function that prevents the fan from running when the lid is detected to be open, as well as improved graphing capabilities and the option to store cook data. This resolves the few Signals difficulties we had.
The first thing to keep in mind is that Billows will only operate with the Signals thermometer.
It is incompatible with the popular Smoke thermometer as well as any other third-party devices.
Signals gear was created specifically to control Billows. Billows cannot be controlled by Smokes gear.
ThermoWorks
While this is unfortunate for those who have already purchased a Smoke, it is acceptable given the pricing of comparable items from other vendors.
If you want more information on only the thermometer, we have a full Signals review you can read.
Now that it’s out of the way, let’s go back to the Billows.
As we would expect from a ThermoWorks product, the primary fan attachment device is lovely and sturdy. It’s composed of plastic, yet it feels sturdy and remains cool to the touch when cooking.
The connecting procedure is simple. Simply use the provided thermal tape to shut all but one intake vent on your smoker, and then attach the Billows to your smoker using the innovative spring mechanism.
According to our study, the Billows is associated with the majority of popular smokers, including:
- Weber Kettle (with some setup see video)
- Primo XL
- Akorn Kamado
The billows utilizes the ambient temperature sensor that came with your Signals, and you can measure food using up to three different channels.
What I liked:
- If you already possess Signals, this is a fantastic deal. The addition of thermostatic control for $59 is a steal. The fan has a capacity of 46 CFM and was quite accurate throughout testing.
- Setup is simple. The whole setup procedure was quite straightforward for me.
- Durable construction The item is composed of heat-resistant polycarbonate and feels really sturdy. Although it claims to be waterproof, I would be hesitant to use it in strong rain.
What I didn’t like:
- It makes smoking much too simple. Okay, this isn’t a major issue, but I do miss tinkering with the vents to attempt to get my temperature just right.
If you currently own a Signals or want to purchase one, the Billows is a no-brainer.
I had no idea how useful a temperature controller would be. Once everything was in place, I forgot I had a smoker going at all.
At the conclusion of this review, we’ll provide a more complete comparison with other popular controllers.
Check the Thermoworks website for the most recent pricing.
What comes in the box
You also receive a few wires for connecting the Billows to your Signals, as well as some heat resistant tape to patch up any unprotected spots surrounding the fan.
Whats included:
- Fan unit (with replaceable yellow fan protecting cover)
- 6 USB-C to USB-C cable
- Fan adapter
- Flue tape
The USB-C cable attaches to the fan’s bottom before plugging into the adaptor.
The adapter’s other port connects to your power source through the adaptor and cable used to charge your Signals, and the adapter then plugs into the Signals’ USB-C port.
If you have a Kamado grill, you will need to buy an extra $5.99 mounting plate.
Using the Billows fan controller
To put the billows to the test, I cooked a small brisket on my 18 Weber Smokey Mountain.
This smoker already has quite excellent temperature stability, however I normally need to change it every couple hours to have a beautiful consistent temperature.
The chef was working on a calm day with no breeze. I want to do more testing to evaluate how well the Billows performs in more harsh situations.
Installation
The installation may differ somewhat based on your smoking setup, but I’ll walk you through it so you can see how it works.
I followed the manufacturer’s directions and closed up the air intake holes I wouldn’t be utilizing (there are two more intake dampers I also closed).
To begin, leave the exhaust damper slightly open; I never had to modify it.
It’s as simple as squeezing several clips together and inserting them through the vent hole to attach the billows.
Make sure the fan and USB-C connection are pointed down. You may also wish to put in the USB-C cable first; otherwise, plugging it in may be difficult.
This secures the fan in place. There’s some high-temperature foam on the fan’s edge to assist you obtain a good seal.
Before using it, be sure to remove the yellow plug!
Setup
One thing to keep in mind is that you will most likely need to upgrade the firmware on your Signals to the most recent version.
I overlooked this step, and it took me a long to figure out why the Billows weren’t functioning.
Fortunately, this procedure is simple and clearly detailed on the ThermoWorks website.
Billows is easy to use after the firmware has been updated:
- Position your Signals near your Smoker
- Connect the Signals power cord to the fan adapter’s Power side.
- Connect the USB-C cable that comes with the Billows to the adapter’s Fan port.
- Finally, plug the adapter into your Signals
Because both the USB-C cable and the temperature probes must reach, you’ll need to arrange your Signals quite near together. Because the fan cannot operate without being connected in, you may need to use an extension cord to power the Signals.
The whole arrangement should look like this (I would prefer putting the Signals on a table, since this was just for a shot).
Finally, connect the ambient pit probe that came with your Signals to port number 4.
Make sure you connect it to the bottom port, which is used to control Billows.
All you have to do now is turn on your Signals, and the fan will begin to blow automatically.
The cook
I utilized the minion technique setup, which is also the manufacturer’s suggested way.
I filled the charcoal chamber with Kingsford charcoal briquettes, leaving a tiny well in the center, and then poured half a charcoal chimney over the top of the burning briquettes.
I activated my Signals and set the pit temperature to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The set alarm function is used to control the Billows.
Once you’ve established your objective, the alarm will ring if the temperature rises or falls by 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
When I lifted the lid, the alarm went off, but it was quickly muted by hitting the VOL button.
The fan symbol in the lower right of the image below indicates that the Billows is linked.
The billows fan began to spin, and the inside temperature quickly rose to 250F.
This was an unexpected bonus, since my Weber generally takes a long time to heat up.
The billows maintained the temperature lovely and steady all day; I even went to the shop for a few hours and the temperature was consistently between 240 and 260F.
The fan does not have a changeable speed. It automatically turns off and on to maintain the temperature you’ve specified.
After 6 hours, my pit temperature graph looked like this.
I opened the lid, which created the two large dips.
ThermoWorks has said that they are striving to improve the software so that it does not record these large surges and dips since the impact on your smoker is minimal.
– 10 degrees Fahrenheit below my ideal temperature. As can be seen, the temperature remained lovely and constant, nearly usually staying between +.
You may adjust the intended temperature, and the Billows will react instantly.
My brisket didn’t finish until after 10 p.m., and the Billows did an excellent job of maintaining the temperature when the charcoal supply ran out.
I would normally have had to continually opening the vents to provide extra oxygen.
How the Billows compares to the competition
If you already own a Signals and want to purchase a fan controller, I wouldn’t bother looking at the competitors. At $59, it’s a bargain.
The FireBoard 2 and the Flame Boss 500 are two of the most popular alternatives.
If you want to examine all of your choices, we also offer a full breakdown of some of the finest temperature controls.
FireBoard 2 Drive + Blower vs ThermoWorks Signals + Billows
The FireBoard 2 Drive is ThermoWorks’ most apparent rival.
The FireBoard 2, like the Signals, is supplied as a stand-alone thermometer with an optional blower.
The FireBoard blower has a CFM rating of 20, but the Billows has a CFM rating of 46.
The FireBoard does have a few advantages though.
The main unit can accommodate up to six channels, which is two more than the Signals. This is great if you need to monitor a large number of objects at once, but it is much more than I ever need.
The app experience has improved somewhat, and you may now get email or SMS notifications when your alarms are activated.
You may also specify criteria for your alarms, such as having it only activate after a particular length of time. This is a fantastic feature that prevents your alarm from going off every time you open your smoker lid.
Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are also supported by the FireBoard.
The Signals’ main screen is somewhat superior, displaying all of the information on a single huge LCD panel, but the FireBoard 2 has a longer battery life.
Get thelatest priceon the Fireboard website.
Should you buy the Billows?
Based on my tests, I would suggest the Billows to anybody interested in adding automated temperature control to their charcoal or wood smoker.
While you are obligated to use the Signals thermometer, this is not always a negative thing since it is one of the better alternatives accessible.
Billows and Signals are available for purchase on the ThermoWorks website.
