I have used this for about two years, I leave it outside year round on my BBQ underneath the BBQ cover. It has always started up fine and gives out reasonable readings. Sometimes you do have to check a couple of different places to double check your results, but it is real handy to make sure your food is done. The battery lasted about 2 years and I just swapped it, BTW it is a CR2032 and to get to it you need to peel back the grey bottom plastic to get to a small phillips screw. Couldn't find that info anywhere. Looking forward to another 2 years of neglecting this thing outdoors while it continues to serve me.