Hi - Pat Anderson here from Fall City, WA. I have been smoking food and making sausage for a long time, just did a batch of Polish in the Bradley. I must say temperature control was a bugger. Any suggestions?
Hiya Anderson and welcome to the Forum. Nice to have ya here.
Do you have a PID?
No, I was looking at those earlier today, doubt I am handy enough to gin it all up from components. Guess I would have to get the ready-made Auber Instruments controller, but it is a little steep at $150.
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 11, 2009, 06:33:59 PM
Hiya Anderson and welcome to the Forum. Nice to have ya here.
Do you have a PID?
What is your thermo?
I used the maverick et-73
It is a dual probe that tells meat IT and temp of cabinet.
Had a cheap Chinese one from Walmart but I just broke it. I was looking at the Maverick one as well, I have the Maverick 5501 grinder and its awesome. But knowing the temperature and controlling it are two different things! I want a PID controller so I can set it and forget it!
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 11, 2009, 06:39:34 PM
What is your thermo?
I used the maverick et-73
It is a dual probe that tells meat IT and temp of cabinet.
I think that would solve most of your problems.
I don't have to fight the cold like you do and I know that can play havoc on your smokin.
Welcome to the forum Pat! I would go with the Auber myself as you really don't save a lot building one unless you get some great deals on components! Just my 2 cents worth. ;D
Hi pat and welcome to the forum. We have alot of fun on here. And the passion is over the top. These folks would smoke a pole cat if tthey thought it wouldn't stink when it was done. LOL. I have been studing all this for about 8 months and the Auber PID is the way I am going. I have the OBS so temp control with the slider will be a thing of the past with the Auber. Happy smoking and remember to keep that vent open. Any questions just ask, someone will be along to answer it. By the way this site is free, but you can pay us with pics anytime.
Hey Pat and welcome to the fun.
I have the DBS6, PID and the Maverick ET 73 and I have to say they are great. They basicaly do the work for you. One other advantage for having the PID, in addition to control your tower temp, is the ability to ramp temperatures. This comes in very handy when you are doing salmon and sausages.
Good luck and remember to keep that vent at least half open.
HR
Thanks all. Looking forward to checking in more or less regularly.
Welcome aboard, Pat! My wife's family is from your neck of the woods - down in Tacoma.
I don't have a PID - I took the cheapskate route (I had spent all of my surplus cash on building a patio for my smoker) and went with a Ranco temperature controller. It's basically a heavy duty thermostat w/ 6' temperature probe. It handles temps up to 220 degrees, which is perfect for what I do.
I think I got it for about 75 bucks plus s/h.
squirt, is that ranco, a plug in like the Auber?
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 12, 2009, 08:10:53 AM
squirt, is that ranco, a plug in like the Auber?
Yes. It plugs into the power outlet, and I plug the tower into it. (with an extra computer cable) It has a silicone temperature probe on a 6' wire that I snake down through the vent.
You set the target temperature, the temperature difference (+/- n degrees), whether you are heating or cooling to that temperature (they use these to control exhaust fans in bee hive operations), and it takes over from there.
I'm pretty pleased with it so far.
I think Habs has a write-up about one on the recipe site.. Let me find it.
--EDIT--Wiring guide:
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=644
(I bought the pre-wired one)
Another thread:
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=11518.0
Closeup of mine:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/Sr_XzC0jizI/AAAAAAAA8GM/IysA60gPjJ0/s720/0927091532-00.jpg)
Wired up, temperature probe snaking up the back of the cabinet, and down through the OBS vent:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/Sr_XQ7Zk_CI/AAAAAAAA8GE/rFL5oC8Rhg8/s720/0927091539-00.jpg)
Another shot of temp probe:
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/StETsfyy8oI/AAAAAAAA9AA/Nmaaoe-ib2E/s800/DSC09601.JPG)
Pat - sorry to hijack your thread. Hopefully this information is useful!
So with my dbs, the bradley controller takes over as long as the PID is not turned on?
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 12, 2009, 08:23:38 AM
So with my dbs, the bradley controller takes over as long as the PID is not turned on?
I can't speak about the DBS... I've only admired them in the catalogs. ;)
See my edit above for my usage of the Ranco.
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 12, 2009, 08:23:38 AM
So with my dbs, the bradley controller takes over as long as the PID is not turned on?
The cord from the heating element plugs into the PID and not into the generator when you are using the PID. You will need a new cord to go from the PID to the element as the short cord you have now has the wrong end on it. A copmuter cord is all you need.
Quote from: OU812 on November 12, 2009, 09:00:24 AM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 12, 2009, 08:23:38 AM
So with my dbs, the bradley controller takes over as long as the PID is not turned on?
The cord from the heating element plugs into the PID and not into the generator when you are using the PID. You will need a new cord to go from the PID to the element as the short cord you have now has the wrong end on it. A copmuter cord is all you need.
The one thing I would add is that the Bradley still controls the smoke generator.
Quote from: OU812 on November 12, 2009, 09:00:24 AM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on November 12, 2009, 08:23:38 AM
So with my dbs, the bradley controller takes over as long as the PID is not turned on?
The cord from the heating element plugs into the PID and not into the generator when you are using the PID. You will need a new cord to go from the PID to the element as the short cord you have now has the wrong end on it. A copmuter cord is all you need.
I agree
HR
I've been holding off on the Auber PID though I'm sure it does a great job. However, at over half the price of the OBS, I dunno.
It's bad enough just buying those bisquettes.
Quote from: ArnieM on November 12, 2009, 07:02:40 PM
I've been holding off on the Auber PID though I'm sure it does a great job. However, at over half the price of the OBS, I dunno.
It's bad enough just buying those bisquettes.
ArnieM,
If you're somewhat handy then you could do this: http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=315 (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=315)
On my original set up I mounted the PID and the SSR in the smoke generator similar Bubbagump's.
(http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8040/copyofcopyofimg0356.th.jpg) (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/copyofcopyofimg0356.jpg/)
If you want to do that and you have something that will cut metal then all you need is a PID (http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3), SSR (http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=9), Temp probe (http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=2) and some hook up wire.
As of 2009 November 12; PID (http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3) $44.50 SSR (http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=9) $15.00 Temp probe (http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=2) $6.85 Total $66.35 plus shipping. less than two 120 packs of bisquettes.
Or you could build a cheesy wooden box like I have now.
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=12149.0 (http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=12149.0) You don't need the extra PIDs. (I just like to play.)
In this case you would also need computer line cord, similar to the one that connects the smoke generator to the 120v (house current).
And a SSR heatsink (http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=45&zenid=ece86e1603e6d7839e6cb402c4ce30a1). I would also recommend a heat sink if you use a plastic box.
Anyway, just my two cents.
Joe
Hey cousin, Have you ever looked at the price of bisquettes this way. We pay $20. for a box of 48. $20 : 48=$.41 $.41x3=$1.24 per hour. That's pretty cheap to my way of thinking. When we use to build our own smokers years ago, you couldn't buy even chips. Dad would get out the chainsaw and cut alder logs into thin discs and we would scoop up the shavings too. Factor in the cost of the saw,fuel and oil plus the time it all took and if we had to buy the would or go get it from some woods somewhere(we didn't cause my Gramp's had a tree topping business) $1.24 an hour is real cheap and convenient. 16 hours out of a box of 48 for $20. is not to bad. Unless I screwed up the math which is entirely possible so I could actually be paying way more than I think and then.....0 I need more g'darn wood pucks.... that 's it does anyone want to buy this f$%%^^ thing from me. Ohh wait a minute...Ok I just got carried away for a second.....I'll be OK. LOL
Quote from: squirtthecat on November 12, 2009, 08:14:51 AM
Pat - sorry to hijack your thread. Hopefully this information is useful!
Not a problem!
I was just looking at that controller yesterday, or one very much like it, didn't know it was a Ranco. We use those at our brewery (I founded Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company 12 years ago). I asked our brewer to dog-ear the page in the Grainger catalog so I could check it out, will do that today. So you don't need a separate relay, this is completely self-contained and ready to go?
Quote from: anderson5420 on November 13, 2009, 06:28:26 AM
Not a problem!
I was just looking at that controller yesterday, or one very much like it, didn't know it was a Ranco. We use those at our brewery (I founded Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company 12 years ago). I asked our brewer to dog-ear the page in the Grainger catalog so I could check it out, will do that today. So you don't need a separate relay, this is completely self-contained and ready to go?
That is correct. Pretty much plug-and-smoke. You just need an extra cord to run from the BS cabinet to the Ranco. A heavy computer cord does the trick. I think it's rated to 1200 watts or so?? Plenty of capacity to run the Bradley.
Thanks for the PID info and the links JoeHifi.
I now have a Ranco ETC-111000-000, wired up and tested this morning at about 5 am, works GREAT, this is THE missing piece for me for about the last 20 years!
Quote from: anderson5420 on November 20, 2009, 09:23:07 PM
I now have a Ranco ETC-111000-000, wired up and tested this morning at about 5 am, works GREAT, this is THE missing piece for me for about the last 20 years!
Good deal, glad you liked it.
Yeah the Ranco ETC-111000-000 is awesome. First off, it is nice to know what the actual temperature in the smoker is - I assume the Ranco is more accurate than the thermometer in the door which is hard to interpret anyway. Second it was interesting to see the temperature swings plus or minus so many degrees - it seemed like about 5 - but overall centered right around my set point. No more overshoot / adjust, undershoot / adjust, overshoot again / adjust, etc. This really is THE missing piece. Got to try it next with my SMI 20 lb smoker. I might not have bought a Bradley if I had known about the Ranco - but only learned about the Ranco through the Bradley forum!
Quote from: anderson5420 on November 21, 2009, 09:32:09 PM
Yeah the Ranco ETC-111000-000 is awesome. First off, it is nice to know what the actual temperature in the smoker is - I assume the Ranco is more accurate than the thermometer in the door which is hard to interpret anyway. Second it was interesting to see the temperature swings plus or minus so many degrees - it seemed like about 5 - but overall centered right around my set point. No more overshoot / adjust, undershoot / adjust, overshoot again / adjust, etc. This really is THE missing piece. Got to try it next with my SMI 20 lb smoker. I might not have bought a Bradley if I had known about the Ranco - but only learned about the Ranco through the Bradley forum!
Glad to help out, Pat!
Let us know how it works with your SMI rig..
Should get a chance to try the Ranco with the SMI smoker this weekend.
Well, not going to happen this weekend! Car was too full! We are at Birch Bay, SMI and Ranco are back in Fall City!