Hi All
My name is Garvin and I am originally from Mobile, Alabama.
I am building a new smoker from 'Super Blocks' or 'Smart Blocks' these are light weight solid blocks with Great insulation properties "Thermal conductivity of 0.09 ~ 0.13 heat transfer 4 to 8 times lower than clay blocks " per the brochure.
I looked at the site for 'After burner' units and have requested some info but no response yet (since Friday)
Ok, I noticed in other posts that many here have set up temp and time controls on electric burner smokers, Is there some way to digitally control one of these 'After burner' heating units or is another unit more suitable?
Electricity here is very expensive here and LPG is very reasonable so if I can get some measure of control and 'automation' using gas that is what I prefer.
Any help and ideas most welcome. this will be my first DIY smoker!
gb//
Reading a bit more ... would the Propane Bradly do the trick? just using the smoke generation and heating side? How much control is there over temp?? Ambient Temp here is High most times, like over 80* and nearer 90* F.
Sorry if that should have been posted in another topic, but it does follow what I am trying to achieve.
gb
Welcome to the forum Bangkok Smoke.
I haven't played with propane or natural gas smokers that much but I did come across this really good write up on how to build your own burners. Very simple, here's the link...
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?t=28224
Mike
This is a little bit pricey, but it might help with some ideas.
http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/753
Welcome to the Forum Bangkok Smoke.
In my large gas fired smoker I control it manually by adjusting a regulator. I simply use a gas burner bought at Cabelas connected to a tank of propane and use the regulator for adjustment. Pretty cheap and easy to set up. But you do have to keep and eye on the temp and adjust as needed. Really not that much work because you still need to add wood chips to the pan every so often.
We build industrial furnaces at work and sometimes do gas fired furnaces. There is only 3 ways I can think of to control a gas unit using a temperature controller. (1) You need to be able to control the amount of gas & air going to the burner. We do this using a proportional control which consists of regulators and a variable position valve. Very pricey. (2) Control either the air or the gas, the other remains at a preset fixed position. Still need a variable position valve, still pricey. (3) Plumb it so you have a small pilot burner which would be always on, and a main burner which will turn on/off as needed using a solenoid valve that would be controlled by the temperature controller. #3 is cheaper than the other two but will not give you as good control as the others. It would also be too costly. IMHO
There may be gas control systems for small sized burners that are less expensive, I have only worked with very large sized burners for industrial use. 250,000 BTU's and up. Maybe you can salvage the controls out of an old gas stove and try that but I do not think it would give good enough control for a smokehouse.
How does a residential gas oven work? More like #3?
Arnie, yes but the burner turns completely on/off cause it has an ignitor. It may work but I'm afraid it will not be tight enough control. If he could find one cheap enough it would be worth a try. I would not expect any better control than your oven.
This would work.
http://www.sausagemaker.com/49900gassmokerheatingassembly.aspx
Quote from: OU812 on March 04, 2010, 10:47:28 AM
This would work.
http://www.sausagemaker.com/49900gassmokerheatingassembly.aspx
In addition to this you would also require the thermostat for it....
http://www.sausagemaker.com/49300smokehousecontrolandsensor.aspx
Mike
Whoops I forgot the control.
Good catch Mike
That may work pretty well but it quite expensive. Over $400.00 and you still do not have an actual PID controller connected.
What about the controls for a gas water heater? Many are electric start and you can dial in the temperature range.
QuoteWhat about the controls for a gas water heater? Many are electric start and you can dial in the temperature range.
Would probably work much like the controls from an old stove. Even the kind with a pilot would be fine, really do not need auto ignition, but I'm not sure how tight the control is in either case. Either one would be good to try out, I'm not sure what the lowest control temp is on either setup. I do big batches of sausage in mine, the one NEPAS built was based off of my big smoker, I like to keep the temp around 160F. I do not know how low the water heater or the oven controls will go.
Thanks Mr W for the link, that DIY burner does not look complicated at all..
Quote from: pensrock on March 04, 2010, 02:48:06 PM
QuoteWhat about the controls for a gas water heater? Many are electric start and you can dial in the temperature range.
Would probably work much like the controls from an old stove. Even the kind with a pilot would be fine, really do not need auto ignition, but I'm not sure how tight the control is in either case. Either one would be good to try out, I'm not sure what the lowest control temp is on either setup. I do big batches of sausage in mine, the one NEPAS built was based off of my big smoker, I like to keep the temp around 160F. I do not know how low the water heater or the oven controls will go.
Thanks for the information.. Looks like $$ is going to be prohibitive to do what I really want,.. best may be to find an old oven burner set up..
Scrap yards are not easy to find here :(
I saw this unit
http://www.sausagemaker.com/49309smokercontrolboxforgassmoker.aspx
There is not enough info in the description to tell how it would work..
hello guys very nice discussion is going on here in this post
Try this for gas smokers....
http://www.turkey-fryers-online.com/cb001_1_temperature_control_valve.htm
I made my own gas smoker and used the temp controller and it works excellent.
I've developed a smoker temp controller using an Arduino driving a smaller stepper motor which turns the propane needle valve to control the temp in my smoker. Works pretty awesome - I've maintained a 225 degree Beef Brisket smoke for 10 hours with a plus/minus of less than 4 degrees! If you're interested in a building one for your self, I'll happily share my designs/code.
Quote from: BobbR on November 23, 2010, 08:56:03 AM
I've developed a smoker temp controller using an Arduino driving a smaller stepper motor which turns the propane needle valve to control the temp in my smoker. Works pretty awesome - I've maintained a 225 degree Beef Brisket smoke for 10 hours with a plus/minus of less than 4 degrees! If you're interested in a building one for your self, I'll happily share my designs/code.
Welcome BobbR! Sounds interesting... I wouldn't mind taking a peek at your plans, and specifically the Arduino code.
Quote from: squirtthecat on November 23, 2010, 08:59:40 AM
Quote from: BobbR on November 23, 2010, 08:56:03 AM
I've developed a smoker temp controller using an Arduino driving a smaller stepper motor which turns the propane needle valve to control the temp in my smoker. Works pretty awesome - I've maintained a 225 degree Beef Brisket smoke for 10 hours with a plus/minus of less than 4 degrees! If you're interested in a building one for your self, I'll happily share my designs/code.
Welcome BobbR! Sounds interesting... I wouldn't mind taking a peek at your plans, and specifically the Arduino code.
That sounds cool! Looks like those are pretty inexpensive too... I saw a board a while back that I could write .NET code for, but it was about $150.
I still get "Make" magazine, and they occasionally have project based on the Arduino kits. I think you can pick one up for around 40 bucks. They have modules to add on for Ethernet support, WiFi, etc..
The code is in C.
thanks to share information i really want this oven unit
First time I have seen this thread. I think for someone trying to do this kind of setup would need a modulating thermostat that older ranges and commercial ovens use. There is a standby pilot and a actuating pilot with a fluid tube ASO. The thermostat on this type of setup can modulate the size of the flame and keep a very even tempature. I think this would be much more ideal. You would need to locate an old stove or purchase this type of thermostat. Then the orfice would need sized for the outlet pressure due to the burner size in the smoker would be different. And then you would need to modify your smoker to make everything fit. I have a propane smoker that I converted to natural gas. I am going to look into trying this with my smoker because it sounds like a neat idea and I am always up for a challenge ;D
Looks like this one would work http://www.partsappliance.com/Stove-Oven-Range/GE-Parts/GE-Oven-Range-Thermostat/GE-Stove-Oven-Range-Modulating-p7355973.html
I would need to install the burner and pilot tubing but this type of thermostat would work. With this thermostat as the temp gets closer to the target the burner will drop down lower. This will create a very reliable and even temp in the smoker you are using. The minimum burner flame is adjustable(so it is not too low for wind) and this setup would not require any electricity. I am going to check some of my appliance parts catalogs later at work and see what else I can come up with. Might be a great mod for gas smokers ;D
Quote from: pensrock on March 04, 2010, 11:55:28 AM
That may work pretty well but it quite expensive. Over $400.00 and you still do not have an actual PID controller connected.
Sorry to hyjack this thread but I am planning on using the Sausagemaker natural gas burner kit with a thermostat controller as well, you mention the PID controller. What would be the best way to use a PID on a gas fired smoker? What would you control with it?
I understand the need for one on an electric smoker but the gas ones have me a little bit stumped.
Thanks
Corey
Quote from: CoreyMac on February 14, 2011, 09:19:02 AM
Quote from: pensrock on March 04, 2010, 11:55:28 AM
That may work pretty well but it quite expensive. Over $400.00 and you still do not have an actual PID controller connected.
Sorry to hyjack this thread but I am planning on using the Sausagemaker natural gas burner kit with a thermostat controller as well, you mention the PID controller. What would be the best way to use a PID on a gas fired smoker? What would you control with it?
I understand the need for one on an electric smoker but the gas ones have me a little bit stumped.
Thanks
Corey
I would think one way to use a PID with a gas smoker is you would need to install a 24V gas solenoid valve(like on a gas dryer) for the main burner that would be controlled by the PID with a 24V signal to the valve from the PID(on/off). A large stand-by pilot would be a must with this setup. Then there would be the issue of heating the wood chip box with another burner... although the main burner could also serve this purpose. But with it going on and off constantly to regulate the tempature set by the PID I wonder how well it would work for heating the wood in the chip box...
I was going to use the gas fired part strictly for cabinet heat, then use a smoke generator for the smoke part. It seems that a PID would be just an expensive thermostat. I will probable just go the basic thermostat to control the cabinet temp, and just run a digital thermometer for internal temps. Probable won't be as controllable as it would if it was electric, but it should work pretty good.
Corey
That sounds like it will work. I ordered the modulating themost and I am just waiting on it's delivery. My gas smoker will soon have a oven thermostat installed. I will post how it is done once I complete the mod ;D