I have read all the posts about adding another element to my OBS, bit still not sure if it's something I can do without screwing it up. Is there a kit available with instructions? or do I need to buy all the pieces separate?
Not a kit that I know of. For mine, I just bought the element from Yard & Pool, some high temp wire and ring terminals from a local appliance repair store. Oh, I needed a couple of 4MM course hex nuts for the new element.
It's a very simple modification. The most difficult part was making the hole in thin stainless steel. I would suggest that you purchase an new reflector shield as a backup.
Depending on which model you have, the following two links list all the parts and tools you will need, and detailed step by step instructions.
Additional Heating Element Modification (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=572)
Additional Heating Element for OBS with On/Off Control (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=578)
The On/Off switch is not needed.
You may have problems trying to purchase the high temperature wire from an appliance store. I had to get mine from
Allied Kenco (http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/773)
When I placed my order the smallest gauge was 12, now I see they have 14 gauge. Besides the extra hex nuts, get a few extra spade connectors as backups.
I just did mine and it was easy. Some tips:
1) I bought my wire and connectors (both ring and female) from Allied Kenco since it was difficult to find it locally. I would recommend you buy extra wire (I bought 15 ft) and definitely extra rings and female connectors. Its cheap insurance.
2) when running the wires for the extra element, run it through the ceremic insulator before crimping on the ring connector. I didn't and the ring didn't fit through the hole in the insulator so I had to cut it off and redo.
3) When measuring the wire make it a little longer in case you have to do a redo (see #2 above)
3) As stated in the directions: measure twice cut (or Drill) once.
4) Take pictures before you disconnect anything in case you forget where things go.
5) When drilling the reflector plate, start with a small pilot hole. I did a small pilot and then used a step drill and measured after each step until I had the size I wanted.
6) If you follow the directions, the hardest part is drilling the reflector due to its thinness. You are not drilling, cutting or modifying the smoker box. So there is nothing that you can screw up that is not relatively cheap and easy to replace. Just follow the directions, take it slow and think through what you are doing and it is a piece of cake even for a novice like me. The guys (Mike and Habs) did a great job with the instructions. The performance increase is well worth the effort.
Is this something that is necessary? Why did you do this in the first place? I just got my OBS for Christmas and am smoking chicken tonight. Seems fine, but don't really know what I'm doing?
Ii did it to speed up the temp recovery time. A lot of posts complained about the lag time to get temps up once the door was opened and getting the temp up when a lot of meat was being cooked.
Quote from: Dachar on December 30, 2009, 08:11:53 PM
Is this something that is necessary? Why did you do this in the first place? I just got my OBS for Christmas and am smoking chicken tonight. Seems fine, but don't really know what I'm doing?
It's not necessary.
With any of the 4 rack smokers your better off those with the DBS6 as they both use the same heating element.
A lot of people use their smokers with out it.
I have the 6 rack and live in a cold climate and the extra element works for me.
And GusRobin is spot on!
Hi Dachar;
Welcome to the forum.
Any modification of any Bradley is not necessary, but are enhancements.
I had my OBS for more then 4 years before adding the second element. I find the extra element brings you cabinet temperature up to your set temperature much faster. This makes for more consistent smoking/cooking times, and reduces the overall time it takes to finish.
I am not allowed around power tools! So this is really not an option for me!
I have an OBS, 4 racks, and don't feel I have an issue with recovery times. Smoker cabinet temps are controlled with a Ranco controller, and the slide on the OBS is all the way up. Inernal meat temps are monitored with a Maverick ET-71. Even if cabinet temp drops for a short period for opening the door (question: WHY are you opening the door, anyway? Not having to open the door is a huge plus for the OBS over my old SMI 20 lb smoker, which is actually a much better constructed and insulated cabinet), the meat temp does not drop much at all. The cabinet temp comes back up in short order, and I am going for a certain internal temperature in the meat, so the extra time for recovery is pretty much immaterial, no?
Some people just need a project!
Quote from: anderson5420 on December 31, 2009, 07:14:31 AM
Some people just need a project!
I can't argue with you there! I always have to play. ;) :D
Seriously though, I constantly will do 6 racks of ribs at a time in my DBS or other similar sized loads. Even without opening the cabinet with this size of load it will take 3 to 4 hours to get to my target temp. Add to that the requirement to open the cabinet to empty the water bowl of spent pucks, rotate racks, and you are constantly in a recovery state as far as temps go. Throw my ambient winter temps (-20 to -40) into the mix and the problem is amplified. I do have my DBS in my heated garage (vented) to eliminate the weather though.
Can you get along with out the 2nd element mod? For sure you can, just add time to your smoke based on all the variables. You can also get along fine without a Ranco controller, PID, circulation fan or any of the other mods. These mods just simply make things easier and are certainly not a requirement, to each their own so to speak.
I'm always trying to build a better mouse trap! ::)
Mike
I would agree that you should not open the door much. But it is necessary at times. Rotating racks of jerky adding water or taking it out, basting, foililng, or any other reason. Also for those of us that live in the north -10C (10F) in my garage. When I open the door on my 6BDS I loose 50 degrees or more if I am rotating racks, it takes a long time to recover the heat. I am looking at the mod and will probably do it in the near future.
Klondikesmoker
Well put Mike.
Since I've added the extra element to my DBS6, the recovery times are very short. My feelings are that the 6 rack benefits more from this mod than the 4 rack because of the cabinet size.
Klondikesmoker, you won't be disappointed if you decide to do it. If you have any questions, Mike is a great resource on it.
Here's a link to his post on the mod if you haven't seen it. http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=572
Hawkeye
Yes I have seen the link. That is what has convinced me that I should do the mod. With those instructions even I can do it, I think.
Just have to order the parts from Bradley
Klondikesmoker
Quote from: Klondikesmoker on December 31, 2009, 08:55:41 AM
Just have to order the parts from Bradley
Klondikesmoker,
Don't know who is cheaper but I ordered my Bradley parts from Yard and Pool; I had problems finding high temp appliance wire and connectors locally so I ordered it from Allied Kenco on line.
Yard and pool is in the US, I am in Canada and Bradley is in the next province over.
I will check the local electrical shop for wire and connectors.
KS
make sure you check what they call high temp. A couple stores here had "high temp" but when I read the specs they were limited to 167 F. I think the key is to ask for "high temp appliance" wiire and connectors. At least that was my experience. good luck
I started this post because I have never been able to even reach the temps most of you guys write about. I use the auber and the et-73, but always seem to be in the lower temp range no matter what. I don't believe I have ever been over 225 degrees, I can hold 200 steady as a rock, but after that its a waiting game.
Quote from: schneep on December 31, 2009, 10:18:50 AM
I started this post because I have never been able to even reach the temps most of you guys write about. I use the auber and the et-73, but always seem to be in the lower temp range no matter what. I don't believe I have ever been over 225 degrees, I can hold 200 steady as a rock, but after that its a waiting game.
Are you able to reach a higher temp with no meat in the smoker? If not you may have a problem with your smoker. Do you have the vent open? Plugs all properly seated? If no one here can give you a suggestion to fix, I would call Bradley and discuss before I mod. You should be getting higher temps, especially empty
Quote from: anderson5420 on December 31, 2009, 07:14:31 AM
Some people just need a project!
Some people recognize the benefits of a project, and take advantage of it; such as adding a heating control device; which is something not needed. Adding an extra element is one of those type of projects
I open the door, as other have mentioned, to load, change water, rotate racks. Also as Mike mentioned, your cabinet temperature reaches the initial set temperature in minutes, not hours. I've used the OBS without the second element for over 5 years, I miscalculated the time earlier, and I see an huge improvement of recovery times especially after first loading the meat, and the total time it takes to do a full load is reduce significantly.
Like I said earlier it is not necessary, but if someone feel they can do this project, which can be done without power tools, I highly recommend it. Fortunately I can use power tool, though not all that well. :)
Mike;
Keep building those mouse traps!! I have a lot of mice to catch.
Everything seems to be working, all plugs secure, vent open when smoking, slider all the way to the right. Been this way since I purchased so I just figured that's how it was to be.
Everything cooks good, just can't get a high temp. The gauge on the door and the ET-73 are pretty close in temp. The auber will keep things at the set temp if I don't set it too high.
What kind of ambient air temps do you have right now schneep? And is your smoker out of the wind?
Right now it is 15 degrees F, but I had this problem even in the summer with the temp at 85 degrees F
The location I use is out of the wind also.
Do you know if they are other things on the circuit your plugging into? And are you using an extension cord?
At 85 deg you shouldn't have much problem getting it up to temp.
5 foot heavy duty extension cord, single circuit
I think I would give Bradley a call schneep. From what you have said, I do think your smoker should be able to reach 225 in summer time temps.
Is it that way even empty during a preheat?
I agree with HES I had mine on the other day at around 2 degrees outside and it preheated right up to 240f no problem.
Another important question, is where are you placing the temperature probes? If the door gauge and the probes are reading the same, then it may be a matter of where you are placing your probes. If you locate the probes above the meat or in between racks, you will get a lower reading.
Also I don't believe you mentioned what size load you are smoking.
This may be a really stupid question, but, doesn't anybody make a bulb with more power, that is a direct
replacement?
Quote from: big kahuna on February 22, 2010, 09:40:29 AM
This may be a really stupid question, but, doesn't anybody make a bulb with more power, that is a direct
replacement?
Definitely not a stupid question BK! ;)
I researched that as well before coming up with adding the second element. I was never able to find a replacement that has higher watts and still the same length. It has to do with the watt density of the element material, etc.
Mike
Hi everyone i have a small problem that you can help me with I'm sure so if you could help me pls with these info i would appreciate thx in advance.
1st Do you know if Allied Kenco ship to Canada? Would be great if they do.
2Nd on their site i found the good high temp wire OK but I'm not Sure about the right connectors spades rings female etc i don't know anything in this world of mod so if you could just point me the good required pieces on their site so i could visualise and order if they ship to Canada of course thx Frank.
Quote from: toker on February 22, 2010, 12:08:08 PM
Hi everyone i have a small problem that you can help me with I'm sure so if you could help me pls with these info i would appreciate thx in advance.
1st Do you know if Allied Kenco ship to Canada? Would be great if they do.
2Nd on their site i found the good high temp wire OK but I'm not Sure about the right connectors spades rings female etc i don't know anything in this world of mod so if you could just point me the good required pieces on their site so i could visualise and order if they ship to Canada of course thx Frank.
Toker
I don't know if they ship to Canada or not but I would give them a call or email and ask them.
Here is a link to the Hi Temp Ring Connector at Allied Kenco....
http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/89_367/products_id/776
For the Female Spade Connectors you don't need to use the high temp ones because they are not exposed to the high heat. You should be able to pick them up at any hardware store. Here's a link to a picture of a female spade connector on Ebay which will give you an idea of what they look like.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/50-BLU-FEMALE-SPADE-CONNECTOR-CRIMP-TERMINAL-1-5-2-5mm/280457207791
Hope that helps
Mike
THX a million Mike really appreciated help.
Toker
YES Allied Kenco ships to Canada. I just received my high temp wire and connectors for the extra element.
Klondikesmoker.
I ordered my wire and connectors from them, and the spade connectors were the right size for the connections on the Bradley.
THX everyone for the comfirmation but for the spades females connectors are these the good one to order?
oops i forgot to post the link http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/778?osCsid=5d58f2ec3ec2759c8e9be3e5c468f740
are these one the good to order? or these?
http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/777
You will need some of each of these two.
http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/89_367/products_id/777
http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/89_367/products_id/776
At least 2 of each but you might want to get a couple extra. They are pretty cheap.
ok thx, i knew for the rings, but i was not sure for the others now i'm thx again.
Thanks for this post guys, looks like this mod is in my future.