BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Miscellaneous Topics => General Discussions => Topic started by: neocostical on April 04, 2011, 10:32:59 AM

Title: chilled PID
Post by: neocostical on April 04, 2011, 10:32:59 AM
a couple weeks ago I fired up my smoker and the pid would not work. I had a error on the display.  it was below zero that morning so I warmed up the pid with a hair dryer for a couple minutes and it worked just fine. anyone else have that problem.  I thought about installing a small strip heater or a small incandescent light on the inside of the box (12x12x6) that I mounted the pid in. 
Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: KyNola on April 04, 2011, 10:40:30 AM
Have read that is a pretty common problem.  I think the "fix" is warming the probes if I remember correctly.
Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: TedEbear on April 04, 2011, 05:40:39 PM
The specs on my Auber PID says the ambient operating temp is 32-122*F (0-50*C).  Might have been a tad too cold for the environment it was designed to work in.
Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: HawkeyeSmokes on April 04, 2011, 05:53:14 PM
Quote from: KyNola on April 04, 2011, 10:40:30 AM
Have read that is a pretty common problem.  I think the "fix" is warming the probes if I remember correctly.

Agree with Kynola. I've used mine at temps below zero. Just warmed the cabinet probe in my hand and let the smoker warm up a bit. Then it worked fine with out warming the PID.
Title: Re: Re: chilled PID
Post by: bears fan on April 04, 2011, 06:09:30 PM
Yep i had that problem, but my fix this last time i used it was to put a warm cup of water inside the smoker and the put both probe tips in the water and it worked great.  When it started warming up inside, i took the probes out of the water.
Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: squirtthecat on April 04, 2011, 06:13:47 PM

Ditto.

Pour a cup of coffee for yourself, pour 2 fingers for the PID and dip the probe(s) in..
Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: neocostical on April 04, 2011, 07:26:20 PM
Thanks for the help everyone.  In northern minnesota you never know what kind of temp your going to have. 
Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: seemore on April 04, 2011, 09:03:19 PM
I put my probes in the house till I need them works for me
seemore

Title: Re: chilled PID
Post by: OU812 on April 05, 2011, 07:09:39 AM
I unplug the heating element from the PID and plug it directly in the wall outlet to warm up the smoker, then when its above 32 F I replug the heating element to the PID. Only takes a couple min.