If you're replacing or reprogramming a CV control on a Southern Pride smoker, three settings have to be right before that control will hold temperature the way it should: Calibration Offset (CAL), Thermocouple type (TC), and Hysteresis (HYS). Get one of these wrong and you'll chase phantom temp swings that have nothing to do with the smoker itself.
Here are the correct settings and how to get to each one.
Correct Settings
- CAL = -5°
- TC = H
- HYS = 5°
1. Calibration Offset (CAL)
With the control off, press the up and down buttons at the same time and hold for 5 seconds. CAL and the current setting will alternate flashing in the LED. Use the down button to change the setting to -5°.
Once it's set correctly, let go of the button and wait 5 seconds. The new setting will flash in the LED and the control will return to off.
2. Thermocouple (TC)
With the control off, press and hold the down button for 10 seconds. TC and the current setting will alternate flashing in the LED. Press up or down to change the setting if needed.
Let go of the button once it's correct and wait 5 seconds. The new setting will flash, then the control goes back to off.
The correct TC setting for this procedure is H. If you're programming a control that's going out through the parts department, check the sale order first — some jobs call for a different thermocouple type, and the control needs to match what's actually going into the smoker.
3. Hysteresis (HYS)
With the control off, press and hold the down button for 20 seconds. HYS and the current setting will alternate flashing in the LED. Press up or down to change the setting if needed.
The correct setting is 5°. Let go of the button, wait 5 seconds for the new value to flash, and the control will go back to off.
Why This Matters
These three settings work together. CAL corrects the control's read against actual pit temperature. TC tells the control what kind of thermocouple it's reading. HYS sets how far the temp has to drift before the burner cycles back on. If any one of them is off, the pit can run hot, run cold, or cycle more than it should — and it'll look like a mechanical problem when it's really just a programming issue.
Before you start troubleshooting a temperature complaint on a CV-equipped unit, check these three settings first. It takes a few minutes and rules out the most common cause of