Hello
I moved my OBS inside my garage and vented it outside. It is working fairly well, I get a very small amount of smoke inside the garage. I did not glue the joints as I wanted to make sure everything worked before I glued them. I put a Y connector in line thinking I might add a small fan to help move the air. The problem I am having is I get the moisture dripping down the pipe on top of the smoker. If I glue the joints then it would drip back inside the smoker. I have the vent running straight up for 3 ft then vertical for 5 ft, I need the height to get it above my side walk. I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts on this.
Thank you
Mike
(http://www.interiorhobbies.com/mmIH/Images/img_4207.jpg)
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I'm not sure how you are going to fix the condensation problem, but maybe you could put an "S" in it with a drain at the bottom.
At least that would keep the moisture out of your smoker.
Maybe a larger diameter pipe ?
I was pondering the same thing this weekend when I was out in the shed but out of 6" round duct work and the thing I was going to do is put a pusher fan in the pipe right after the elbow in the horizontal piece. If its building moisture now wait till winter time you will have a gusher.
I am not sure if this is going to help and I am not sure what it is called but you know that thing that is placed on top of the smoke stack that rotates with the wind. It also rotates when you start a fire or a BBQ and creates an updraft that helps the smoke out. The only problem you may have that this "fan" has to be installed vertically and not horizontally which would mean another "s" connector.
Just a thought.
HR
I love your setup - bisquettes, grinder and slicer in the rack. I can't wait 'til I grow up!
You probably already know that the basic rules for an exhaust are maximum area, minimum run and minimum bends. Based on that, I wouldn't recommend any more bends.
The problem is that the moisture in the smoke (exhaust) from both the water bowl and food cools and condenses as it goes up the pipe. Then, of course, it runs back down. Here are my suggestions, all of which are absolutely untested. I'm afraid you'll have to experiment a bit.
- Reduce the amount of water in the bisquette catcher bowl. That should reduce the amount of steam somewhat but you may have to change it more often.
- Use a larger diameter pipe as OU812 suggested, but use the insulated pipe as used for wood and pellet stove exhausts. If you can reduce the condensation from cooling, you'll reduce the amount of moisture coming back to the tower.
- Also, an inline fan, as OU812 suggested, might help push the smoke and moisture outa' there. Or, the 'Y' idea might work there with a fan and the larger and insulated exhaust pipe.
Edit:
I forgot to mention that you'd probably want the vent full open for all of this.
Boy, oh boy, what we have to go through to get a decent smoke!
Some great suggestions there Arnie.
My thoughts are to use an exhaust fan in the pipe along with an exhaust hood (or a hood with a fan built in) instead of pipe direct on top of the smoker. You don't want to be pulling the smoke and heat out of the smoker. Plus the air space created by using a hood should help eliminate some of the moisture buildup in the exhaust piping.
Thanks HS. I've been giving it more thought and more wine ;D The more I think, the more I drink - or maybe it's vice-versa. :-\
The exhaust looks like 4 inch or so ABS pipe. I wouldn't have started with that. However, we now have a hole in the house with some pipe sticking out so let's go from there.
I think mounting a low priced range exhaust hood to the wall with a top exhaust connected to the pipe may do it. I don't know if any come with an exhaust that small but a reducer would do the trick. There's really no reason to put a pipe directly on top of the OBS and the condensation problem would likely be solved. Also, when the door is opened, the vent would suck the smoke out of the garage. I was thinking of sliding my OBS into the LR FP for winter. Then, I thought, what happens when I open the door? Oh-oh. The wife would not be happy. But, we all have to make some small sacrifices. :D
Hi Mike
I would be inclined to agree with using a larger vent. I used a 4" pipe for mine but I do use a range hood directly vented out the wall. The reason for condensation is when hot meets cold. It will certainly condensate more in the winter. The other thing I think that leads to the condensation is the relatively long vertical run, followed by a fairly long horizontal run. I think by the time the exhaust makes it's way up the pipe it is cooling enough to cause the condensation. As already mentioned possibly by insulating the pipe it would help. Using some form of fan/blower in conjunction with insulating should help as well. Just make sure you are not sucking all the heat out of the tower which was one of the problems I discovered in the first link below.
Here is a link to my original setup in my garage. It has some information about a number of things I discovered while setting this up this way.
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=4142.0
This was my next setup...
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=6075.0
This is my current setup in my garage.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/mmike/Fishing%20Photos/SmokersinGarage.jpg)
Mike
Couldn't agree more Arnie! A little wine or in my case, a few beers it becomes a bit more clear. :D
I would think you are about right on the 4" size. With a little checking I'm sure a person could adapt a range hood to work.
In fact, I know Mr Walleye has done that with his. Here's a link to it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/mmike/Fishing%20Photos/IMGP0366-s.jpg
I like the idea of using the fireplace because then the whole room would smell so good, yummy! A small sacrifice!
Guess Mike beat me to it! :D
Quote from: HawkeyeSmokes on September 14, 2009, 07:10:45 PM
I like the idea of using the fireplace because then the whole room would smell so good, yummy! A small sacrifice!
I tend to like gray but I'm not all that sure my wife would like it. :-\
Guess Mike beat me to it! :D
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas, tomorrow I am going to add the small fan to the Y to see if moving the air will help. I also like the idea of insulating the pipe to help keep it warmer. I will pick up the split foam insulation used on hot water pipes. I will post the results.
Mike
My thoughts on the hood is an piece of 18" trunk duct with the 6" round coming out the top. Just trying to make the exhaust out of stuff i have laying around.
Reading through this thread I was wondering if a computer fan at the Y would be effective enough to move the air but not extract too much heat from the Bradley?
It might 10.5
If I remember correctly I think someone else used a computer fan in their vent setup but I can't remember who. I thought there was a picture of it on the forum somewhere.
Mike
easyridinole used a computer fan on his setup, his was a nice short run of 4" pipe. I have a 2" computer fan that I am mounting to the end of the 2" cap, which will fit onto the Y. I am hoping just moving the air faster will help stop the condensation. I have another batch of jerky to do tonight so I can test it. Will post more pics too.
Mike
Good luck with the fan MR; I hope you don't suck all of the smoke out. ;) I'm curious to see the result. I've never done jerky before. Isn't it done kinda low temp.
The computer fans are DC so I can vary the voltage to speed it up or down. Yes jerky is done a lower temps I start at 140 while the smoke is running about 4 pucks, then I increase the temp by 10 degrees every hour to 180 . I cut the jerky thin less then 1/4 inch so it takes about 4 to 5 hours .
Mike
Hey Mike, one other thing to try if the fan moves to much air out, raise the pipe just a small amount off the top of the smoker. By creating an air gap, it would allow you to move more air through the pipe which should help. Just a thought.
Well I have an update to my vent problem. I installed a fan to a end cap and installed it on the Y, the Y allowed air to travel both directions. So it forced some smoke to come out of the generator. So I removed the Y and added the fan in line , just like a booster fan. That worked well before I installed the fan the inside of the pipe was wet, after the fan the inside of the pipe was dry. The moisture was now dripping out of the end of the pipe outside. It worked well with the voltage at 8volts, it did not cool down the smoker at all. I am going to get a different power supply and try it at a lower voltage. I am not sure how long the fan will last inside the pipe, I have it in the middle of the pipe so it should be little cooler. I will post some pictures in the AM.
Thanks
Mike
Here are some pics of the modified setup. I removed the Y and added 2 45's. To test it I used the fan installed in the end cap and just pressed it up against the 45. The last pic is the fan installed inside a coupler. Tonight I will install the fan and run some more test.
Mike
(http://www.interiorhobbies.com/mmIH/Images/img_4214.jpg)
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This may be a dumb idea but here goes. What about getting either a circular jello mold or an angel food cake pan then have the exhaust over the center of it with a small air gap? The condensation will come down the sides of the pipe and drip into the pan instead of going back into the smoker. You may have to make the center hole larger on the angel food pan.
So how did this work with the new mod?
Did the final result come out the way you expected?
Mike,
I see a lot of good ideas here. I thought insulation when reading your post but that has been covered. If it works that would be a simple fix. The S or short right angle lowered at the elbow with a drain hose is also a thought.
The fan might be the answer. It will create a venturi effect if installed at the Y but low flow should help reduce the pull on the Bradley. I would think a reducing ring below the Y to create the venturi will be needed to keep air flow from gong both ways. Another method would be to increase the pipe diameter above the Y. Adjusting the Bradley vent will allow you to lower the pull to "normal" and still clear out the exhaust pipe with dry air. However, pulling outside air will negate the benefits of insulation.
I am wondering if the moist hot air being hit by the sudden blast of cool air might create a thunderstorm in the piping. If there is not enough volume to push the droplets out, will it rain down the pipe? Be sure your tornado insurance is up to date!!!
During experimentation or if all else fails and there is room, a small bowl on the top rack will catch drips until the issue is settled. I have began to use a bowl to catch gunk that has collected due to the operator being too lazy to clean the vent properly.
I will be interested in your solution. I applaud your thought process and efforts.
Good luck and slow smoking,
Pachanga
The small computer fan installed inside the coupler is working perfectly. I helps to draw the smoke and moisture outside. I do have the fittings raised up off the smoker by a 1/4" so it does not draw all the air out of the smoker and cool it down.
Yesterday I smoked some Garlic Sausage for 10 hours and the outside temp was -22C, I am sure glad I have my smoker inside my garage ;D ;D ;D .
Mike
8 degrees F, snowing and wind blowing directly towards the doors I need to open for the smoker. No smoking for me tonight. bummer. Venting and turning the heat on looks more and more like a good idea every day!