BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The NEW Bradley Original Smoker (BS611) => Topic started by: Rhobo55 on April 04, 2015, 05:43:40 PM

Title: BDS6 fluctuates - normal?
Post by: Rhobo55 on April 04, 2015, 05:43:40 PM
Hi, all.  I'm extremely new at this and don't know if it's normal for my digital 6 rack to fluctuate as badly as it does.  I was trying to keep the temp at 200 and I kept a log of it at different temps.  At 190 the temp ranged anywhere from 171-219; at 200 it went from 180-226 and at 210 it went from 210-235.  It would hit the high and then back down to low and then back up to high again.  Is this normal?  It was 50 here with winds from 10-17MPH.  I have it on my front porch out of the weather.
Title: Re: BDS6 fluctuates - normal?
Post by: TedEbear on April 04, 2015, 09:00:21 PM
Yes, it is normal for the chamber temp to fluctuate somewhat.  The temp variance is not all that important for most things we smoke in the Bradley.  They say a regular house oven has similar up/down temps but we don't notice it because we usually don't monitor the temp as closely.

If you need or want more precise temp control you can add a PID controller.  That'll keep the temp to within a couple of degrees of the setpoint.  Two of the most popular ones around here are the Auber single probe plug 'n play (http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_28&products_id=72) or the Auber dual probe plug 'n play (http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_28&products_id=380).  Those run around $140-$190. 

There's also the Auber stand-alone single probe (http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3), which you would install in either a project box or the smoke generator.  Those run around $46.  With everything to make it all work, the total cost is $80-$90.  That's the one I have in my Bradley original smoker.  Installlation and setup instructions are available at the links below if you're interested.

Auber Plug & Play PIDs - Single/Dual Probes (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?672-Auber-Plug-amp-Play-PIDs-Single-Dual-Probes)

Auber PID Step Programming (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?792-Auber-PID-Step-Programming)

PID Controller (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?315-PID-Controller)


Title: Re: BDS6 fluctuates - normal?
Post by: Rhobo55 on April 05, 2015, 06:34:27 AM
Thanks, Ted.  I knew it would fluctuate from reading different posts on here.  I was just surprised it fluctuated as much as it did and was concerned about the cooking process. That answers my question.  I had mentioned the PID to my hubby and told him I thought it ran about $200....he wasn't such a big fan  ::)  But I think I'll keep trying it w/o the PID for a while and maybe once he retires and we get into it a little more heavily will then purchase a PID.
Thanks again!!!
Title: Re: BDS6 fluctuates - normal?
Post by: Salmonsmoker on April 05, 2015, 08:53:10 AM
Robo55, the Auber single probe PID (WS-1210GPH) is $144 and the dual probe(WS-1200GPH)is $188. I've had the original single probe for 8 yrs. and only just this week replaced the temperature probe. I'ts been a great investment. I can program multiple times and temperatures and pretty much walk away and let the PID control the whole smoke.