Hi folks. A few months ago I bought the Auber Dual-Probe PID Controller for Bradley Smoker http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=380 for my Masterbuilt 40" Electric smoker. This thing works like a charm and through the 3 smokes I've used it for it has kept temps within +/- 2F which I think is pretty remarkable!
So of course, I see the utility in this little box and want to see how well it would work on my 18.5" WSM. I bought the Snap-on Blower for Charcoal Smoker 6.5CFM with the 110v adapter http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_27&products_id=400 and attached it per instructions.
This little thing is cute! No bigger than a pack of 100mm cigarettes. Last night I did a pastrami (Yo chef Willie!) and hooked this thing up without any adjustments to the PID. I set the temp to 250 and sat back and had a beer while watching the temp rise slowly. I used the snake method for the charcoal, lighting the one end that I had positioned close to the opening of the blower, thinking it would get things moving a little quicker. Here's what I observed:
When the blower is running at full speed, it actually drops the temp in the smoker below the target quite a bit. Like 30-60F below at the grate. Then when the temp gets close to the target the PID shuts off the blower, and the temp rises, FAST. The temp might be 220 at that point, the PID shuts off the blower, and the temp will rise past 250 and settle around 280 or higher, and then drift back to the target 250, where the PID starts it's magic and pulses for a while, then 2-3 degrees below target, turns on full time again and the temp drops back to well below the target (see 30-60F above) and then repeats. Shuts off, temp shoots way up past target, settles, PID turns on full time, etc...
I really want to like this little bugger and as soon as I figure out it's mysteries I think it will be a great way to ignore the smoker while I do other things like lawn darts and chasing kids out of the trees. Anybody have any insight with these things? I'll be calling Kane at Auber and chewing his ear to see if he has any ideas too.
The one thing I want to avoid is having to "learn" this thing for the electric and the charcoal if I can help it. That would be a PITA because I'd really like to use the PID on both depending on the type of cook I'm doing and I don't think there's a "save" for more than one learned profile.
Do you CyberQ, HeaterMeter, PitMaster users experience this with your charcoal smokers too?
Thanks in advance!
So of course, I see the utility in this little box and want to see how well it would work on my 18.5" WSM. I bought the Snap-on Blower for Charcoal Smoker 6.5CFM with the 110v adapter http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_27&products_id=400 and attached it per instructions.
This little thing is cute! No bigger than a pack of 100mm cigarettes. Last night I did a pastrami (Yo chef Willie!) and hooked this thing up without any adjustments to the PID. I set the temp to 250 and sat back and had a beer while watching the temp rise slowly. I used the snake method for the charcoal, lighting the one end that I had positioned close to the opening of the blower, thinking it would get things moving a little quicker. Here's what I observed:
When the blower is running at full speed, it actually drops the temp in the smoker below the target quite a bit. Like 30-60F below at the grate. Then when the temp gets close to the target the PID shuts off the blower, and the temp rises, FAST. The temp might be 220 at that point, the PID shuts off the blower, and the temp will rise past 250 and settle around 280 or higher, and then drift back to the target 250, where the PID starts it's magic and pulses for a while, then 2-3 degrees below target, turns on full time again and the temp drops back to well below the target (see 30-60F above) and then repeats. Shuts off, temp shoots way up past target, settles, PID turns on full time, etc...
I really want to like this little bugger and as soon as I figure out it's mysteries I think it will be a great way to ignore the smoker while I do other things like lawn darts and chasing kids out of the trees. Anybody have any insight with these things? I'll be calling Kane at Auber and chewing his ear to see if he has any ideas too.
The one thing I want to avoid is having to "learn" this thing for the electric and the charcoal if I can help it. That would be a PITA because I'd really like to use the PID on both depending on the type of cook I'm doing and I don't think there's a "save" for more than one learned profile.
Do you CyberQ, HeaterMeter, PitMaster users experience this with your charcoal smokers too?
Thanks in advance!
