Hey guys
First off, I am new to this forum. I do not have a smoker. I have done some basic smoking in my Napoleon Propane grill with wood chips.
I am interested in getting a smoker and I see that Canadian Tire has the Bradley smokers on sale - http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/OutdoorLiving/BBQs/Smokers/PRD~0851780P/Bradley%252BDigital%252BSmoker/CROSSSELL~0780026%20Bradley%2BSmoker.jsp?locale=en
I am wondering what the benefits are of the digital smokers over the regular ones. The bradley digital smoker is $100 more, which is really not THAT much more, but I am wondering how it improves the smoking experience.
Thanks in advance for any responses!
I have a digital 4 rack that I bought on sale at Crappy Tire
I like the set it and forget it aspect of the digital
All in all, the both probably do pretty much the same thing
Since I have not owned a non digital, its hard tos ay how it would compare
There might be someone on the forum who has experience with both
Don't have the digital, just the OBS. If you are thinking of the 4 rack digital, I would get the OBS and buy a Auber dual pid to control temp. Chances are if youwant to do sausage, salmon, and other temp sensitive cooks you will end up getting a PID or wishing you had one.
If you need the space of a 6 rack, then digital is your only choice.
By the way Amazon has the OEB for 269.00 free shipping
I too have an OBS with a PID. I'd make the same choice today, five years after I bought my OBS originally.
The idea of the digital is great. Set the time. Set the temp. Forget about it. It does everything. Well not quite. Turns out there is a lot of temp fluctuation. The PID eliminates that but adds to the expense so maybe an OBS with the PID is the way to go. I had an OBS and you had to play with it to get the right temp using the slider. A PID would have been great. I have since bought a 6 rack for the extra room and height and they only come in digital. As I said there's a lot of temp fluctuation so I've bought a PID. Now I've got everything I need and want, well almost ;).
The bottom line is you're looking at a great smoker and you have choices to make.
I own the obs with a digital timer and pid which makes it a digital, the nice thing of the digital or having precise temperature control is that you can dial the temp where you like and it will maintain it with in a few degrees and not have to worry about wild temperature swings.
if it was me id go with the 4 rack and pid, unless you need the room of the 6 rack
typically the 4 rack can hold 40 lbs of food while the 6 rack is great for smoking sausages
hope this helps
I have owned a BDS for around 4 years and just bought a PID for it as I got tired of the temp swings and going to begin making sausage pretty soon. In hindsight I would definitely buy the OBS and add a PID.
I own a digital and a PID. Should have gone with the original. With the PID, all the BDS has is fancy blinking lights that don't tell me anything.
What Lumpy said, the temperature swings with BDS are just to much, adding the PID dual makes things alot easier...
Quote from: MrRaven on April 18, 2011, 03:10:30 PMI am wondering what the benefits are of the digital smokers over the regular ones. The bradley digital smoker is $100 more, which is really not THAT much more, but I am wondering how it improves the smoking experience.
I recommend the OBS and a do-it-yourself PID from Auberins. The DIY version is less than $45 and even with all the parts to do the install you're looking at less than 1/2 the cost of the plug-n-play unit. That's what I have and the dual element mod. Smoking is way easier now no matter what the outside temp, sun or wind is doing.
Don't see any instructions for building on their site.
Before you buy at CT check this place out and see if it works for you.
www.lebaron.ca
They are the cheapest I can find for smokers and pucks.
Howdy MrRaven ;) Welcome to the forums.
I have the 4 rack digital and love it! For doing ribs, brisket, butts and poultry the digital without a pid has suited me just fine. You dont need extreme tight temp control doing those. If you venture into sausages/snack sticks ect. you will need a pid. Ive just started making snack sticks/brats ect in the last couple of months and without a pid it's a PITA!! You'll constantly be adjusting your temps every 5-10 minutes. A pid is on my list of things to buy this year.
Quote from: viper125 on April 19, 2011, 10:17:14 AM
Don't see any instructions for building on their site.
Try here: Bradley PID Controller DIY Install (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?315-PID-Controller)
I have the one in the how-to and installed it in the smoker generator box. Very neat, compact, inexpensive and not a bunch of wires running all over the place.
I love my pid. Took one smoke to get used to it. It would be nice to see bradley make another smoker (of course it would be more money) with the option of an Auber built right in and a larger element for those who want to spend the extra money and have the the best money can buy. Don't get me wrong I think the bradley is a great little smoker for the money but maybe an option list to add to its greatness ;)
I wish they would add a 6 rack without digital just like original. Also give a chance for options would be nice. but I like working on my stuff so if I could get the 6 with out digital it would be nice and wouldn't be wasting the digital setup.
Is there a way to add a second probe to the DIY version? Thats a pretty simple diagram and would be easy to make. I see two alarm spots but no second probe. Is there another type PID module maybe? Does this turn smoke on and off or just controlls cabinet temps? From what I under stand the regular PID turns smoke on and off,shuts off and checks it temp. and watchs cabinet temp. This seems only to control cabinet temp. If I'm wrong please explain where or why. Trying to figure it out.
The plans you are looking at were made sometime prior to Auber introducing their plug n' play line of PIDs.
You may want to send an email to Auber to see if they will sell you a dual probe controller that is not already setup for plug n' play. The following link will take you to the page of their PID controllers:
PID Controllers (http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=c9e09ee29a9daf5fd8c0e9dc6b775d6b)
Hi all
Well about a year ago I bought a digital 4 rack , and now a couple of insights from a newbie, I wouldn't get anything less than a 6 rack if I did it over , the 4 rack has very little room for hanging sausage , about 13 inches with the heat shield in place and you need to keep it place , there are extra shelves you cane add to the four rack to make it a 8 rack and that will gain some extra room but not much( thanks Curt), next the temp swings are crazy so I often wonder how accurate the temp really is , if you kept it in doors some how it might not be so bad , but mine is outdoors and both hot and cold temps make it fluctuate 10-20* at times , the PID is a good fix but if I remember right a dual probe P-n-P was about 145.00 US but if it would help with the temp swings it would be well worth it . You started at the right place , these folks are invaluable with their knowledge and always willing to help . Remember ask all your questions not matter how stupid you think they are as I have probably already asked it and people after us will ask it again , come to the forum often and look around , it gets very addicting , and personally I think a Bradley is the coolest toy you'll ever own !! ;D . Good luck with getting one and look forward to seeing you on the forum more .
Well I would like to have the 6 rack. But the cost and the thought of the digital unit being wasted because I add a PID is all most sinfull. To be a 10-20 degree swing is unacceptable and I'm suprised a company highly regarded as Bradley to allow it is just wrong. When a controller such as the PID can keep it to 1-2 degrees. Honestly there are quite a few nice smokers in this price range available. Main reason I like Bradley is you can seperate the smoker from the cabinet and vent it for indoor use. I know it sold as a outdoor unit but this makes it one of the safest for that purpose. I seen it done here quite often and there seems to be little problems. I wouldnt change it with wood burning but pucks and water bowel seems safer.
I would think you could by a 6 without the digital but it dont seem possible. Cant see why. I have learned a lot just reading here. Lots of answers and advise also recipes. I would reccommend this site over any I have seen. Believe me Ive googled them all. Very nice board and people. Hope to be here a long time and get to know a lot of you.
Happy smoking!
Princess Auto sells the DBS for the same price as a OBS everywhere else. Regular IS $399, everyone else sells it for $499.
http://www.princessauto.com/all-seasons/recreational/food-processing/smokers/8269359-4-rack-digital-meat-smoker
Welll if you want the original its on sale for 244.00 on Amazon now. Plus free shipping!
If you have a Amazon Rewards Visa card, you will get an additional 20% off when you use their card. The promotion ends May 31st and you must use the promotional code PATIOOFF.
If you don't have that card, you can apply on-line and if you qualify you will be approved within one minute; plus they give you $40 that will be applied towards the purchase.