BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The Digital Smokers (BTDS76P & BTDS108P) => Topic started by: al_sfbay on November 24, 2013, 05:34:24 PM

Title: Frustrated by temps
Post by: al_sfbay on November 24, 2013, 05:34:24 PM
Hi everybody, I am a newbie here.  I am on my 4th smoke with my new digital 6 rack.  My first smoke was a salmon and it was awesome.  My second was raw sweet potatoes, but the skins wouldn't allow much smoke permeation. It also didn't cook. But I was more focused on the smoked characteristics.   So my 3rd was cooked sweet potatoes but just cold smoked.  That too was awesome. I am now trying to cook a 3lb brisket.  I have had it in for 11 hrs.  I could not ever get the temp up over 158*.  Is this normal???  it is a warm day 63* and no wind so no excuses.  I was forced to pull the old "Texas Crutch".  Pulling it off and wrapping it and cooking in the oven. 

I ran a thermometer thru the vent and it never got over 158*, and it hovered for many hrs at 146* .  Is this a defective unit?  I'm not looking for hot cooked, I am just looking for 200*-225*.  Is this even possible with this unit?
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: GusRobin on November 24, 2013, 05:45:11 PM
recheck all your plugs.
Did you reset the unit. I believe the unit shuts off after 9 or so hours.
Is your vent open?
Do you keep opening?
What was the temps when you put the meat in?

Just some questions that will help in diagnosing the problem.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: Saber 4 on November 24, 2013, 06:16:39 PM
Welcome from Texas, Gus has you going in the right direction for checking for issues, you can also use hot water in the water bowl to help with heat recovery.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: Habanero Smoker on November 25, 2013, 02:37:51 AM
Hi al_sfbay;

Welcome to the forum;

The following site has many trouble shooting tips.
Bradley FAQ's (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?481-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=748#post748)

Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: al_sfbay on November 25, 2013, 08:14:05 AM
Thanks guys for the welcome.,
Gus, in answer to your questions, the unit never shut off, I had it set for as high as it would go.  I tried the vent open for 4 hrs, halfway for 4 and closed for 3, no radical change in temp, maybe 2*.  I only opened the smoker twice in 11 hrs and it dropped 10+/- * and recovered within 20 min each time.  Recovery was not a problem in my opinion.  After 11 hrs, I had to do the Texas crutch and put it in a 325* oven for almost 3 hrs to finish it.
The meat was room temp when I put it in.  The water was tap water. This was the only item plugged into this circuit. 
I repeat, it never got over 158* inside the smoker.  After 11 hrs of cooking on the highest setting possible, the internal temp on the brisket was 124*.  Im not looking for hot, only 200*-225*.  If I can't get over 124* internal after 11 hrs on a warm, 65*, calm day then this is only a cold smoker.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps UPDATE
Post by: al_sfbay on November 25, 2013, 09:22:31 AM
I just got off the phone with Bradley.  They were very helpful.  Gus you nailed it.  The AC cords were not seating properly.  It seemed when I wiggled and pushed them they went in a bit farther in, so now the heating element seems to be heating up a bit more.  I will test today.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: Snoopy on November 25, 2013, 09:37:53 AM
awesome to hear it was an easy fix, crappy way to find out. best of luck on the next smoke.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: GusRobin on November 25, 2013, 08:40:30 PM
Glad it worked out.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps NOT!
Post by: al_sfbay on November 26, 2013, 07:42:16 AM
I did a cut up chicken last PM and it was perfect.  Managed to maintain between 210*-225* with the setting at 235*.  I also had a thermometer run thru the vent to calibrate the oven temp side of the pad.  It was only off by about 4*.  Yeah, I am learning this beast and liking it.  Thanks for all your help.
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: Derwoodisa10 on November 28, 2013, 08:24:54 AM
I have been having the same problem - that is why I am reading this thread.  I hope your solution works for me!
Title: Re: Frustrated by temps
Post by: Derwoodisa10 on November 28, 2013, 09:15:35 AM
My temperatures are going up.  Thanks for posting the solution!