I'm going to buy a new smoker soon. Been reading a lot and I think I want a electric Bradley. My question is if you add a PID to your digital smoker does the digital really get used then. If I would add a PID to a original would I be missing any thing other than the space? Also does the two elements get it hoter or just spread the heat better. Ive heard you cant get enough eat to say crisp a chicken. By the wayIm new to the forum and live in Salem ohio.
welcome to the forum,
id go with a original bradley with a pid installed in the smoke generator and go with a dual heater or maybe consider a 900 watt finned heater installed like this
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=17329.0
the dual heater or 900 watt finned heater is for faster heat recovery rather then a higher temp, most bradleys run on the 200 to 275 F' range while most at the smoking and cooking done at 225 or so F'
I must admit i have switched to basically a cold smoker then cook ( only heat that is in the cabinet while smoking is from the smoke generator ) then i switch to cook till done.
as for having crispy chicken it would have to be cooked at a higher temp .. 350 to 400 rather then 225 for tender juiciness
Ok thank you. Thats what Im thinking too! I believe if you bought a digital you wouldnt need it after insalling a PID right? THe only thing I would lose that I see is extra space. Wish you could get the 6 tray with out digital that wouldd be great.
That is a wish many of us have. But it ain't gonna happen so I am told by a reliable source. Welcome to the forum. Any questions about anything just ask and remember there are no dumb questions that CRG and Hal4uk haven't already asked. :D :D :D
Welcome Viper. You mentioned the 6 rack in the original. Here's an alternative. Order the regular OBS, purchase a PID and then order a 4 rail sytem add on at www.smokeandstuff.com and turn your 4 rack into an 8 rack. smokeandstuff is a member of the forum and a good guy.
I seen that. Figured turn the four to a 12 though.LOL don't even own one yet but ready to mod a fan,element with switch,shelves,PID and adding a metal box below smoker for puck feeder running vent hose to smoker for cold smoke and putting in garage hooked to my old gas heaters chimney. Did I overlook anything. Ha ha ha I think I'm going to like this smoker.almost forgot I have to get 3 pucks.
Quote from: KyNola on April 15, 2011, 08:25:17 PM
Welcome Viper. You mentioned the 6 rack in the original. Here's an alternative. Order the regular OBS, purchase a PID and then order a 4 rail sytem add on at www.smokeandstuff.com and turn your 4 rack into an 8 rack. smokeandstuff is a member of the forum and a good guy.
Or you can just do it yourself
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=21875.0
Great idea! I like doing things myself. Also like saving money.
If you're going to hang SS or other sausages I think you would like the extra space a six rack has to offer I sure do. I bought my six rack at Christmas and so far have added a dual probe PID, replaced the stock element with the 900w finned from grainger, and had my heating and cooling buddy build a hood with a 80cfm exhuast fan that vents out my garage window. It's like a disease.
Quote from: BAM1 on April 17, 2011, 03:20:06 PM
If you're going to hang SS or other sausages I think you would like the extra space a six rack has to offer I sure do. I bought my six rack at Christmas and so far have added a dual probe PID, replaced the stock element with the 900w finned from grainger, and had my heating and cooling buddy build a hood with a 80cfm exhuast fan that vents out my garage window. It's like a disease.
Hey BAM1 is this the heating element you installed....
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/TEMPCO-SS-Heater-2XEF3?Pid=search
And if so does it work well? I was thinking this would be better than the dual-element mod.
That's the one. Works like a charm. The cabinet recovery time is awesome. With my PID, after it gets to operating temperature it pulses on and off and keeps the temperature within one degree of either side the set point.
Quote from: BAM1 on April 18, 2011, 09:58:01 AM
That's the one. Works like a charm. The cabinet recovery time is awesome. With my PID, after it gets to operating temperature it pulses on and off and keeps the temperature within one degree of either side the set point.
Thanks BAM...I am going to order one. Is there anything I need to know about the install?
Wouldnt two be better. Then if one went out you could still smoke while waiting for a new one. Also it would be 1000 rather than 900. Dont know just asking.
maybe two would be better, yes it would be a 1000 watt, and if you add in the blower on the 900 watt mod it becomes more of a convection smoker and decreases cooking time by 15 to 20 percent and gives you more of a even box temperature and not having a hot back and cooler front of box temps. i have had my 900 watt running for a number of years and it has never failed me, and yes i do have a back up element in case.
also good questions
Beef
Well I ordered the 900W finned element from Grainger ;D
If you drill the holes in the right spot you can put all of your old hardware back in the stock locations so if you have to go back to the 500 you can. I bought a 750w back up just like my 900w just in case. I thought if the 900w was to hot and burned out maybe that would work better. Haven't had to use it yet. I also ordered a stock replacement before my conversion after reading about all the fails so I have one used and one new 500w watt if anyones interested.
muebe,
be sure you run a blower with that heater to blow the air through it, it has been reported by another member that has used a simulator finned heater with out a fan or blower and burnt up the heater, I have ran a blower from day 1 with that heater and never had a problem... that was 5 years ago and still running strong
Beefman....if I am using a PID do you think that a fan is still needed? Once cabinet temp is reached the PID throttles the element ??? Also my puck burner is never located in the cabinet with my setup so maybe the heat will not be as excessive?
BAM...does your setup have a circulation fan?
Idon't have a fan in my cabinet but I have an exhaust fan above my vent. I've kept a pretty close eye on the element and it only gets orange in the beginning. Like I said, I did buy a 750w for a back up but haven't had to use it yet.
I purchased DBS a couple of weeks ago and used it this past weekend to smoke pulled beef and some ribs. I noticed my temperature swing was 20-40. Plus at the end of smoke the heating element went out on me. I'm thinking of returning my DBS and getting OBS with PID. Any opinions if it will be worth at this point.
TIA
I think the PID and OBS is a better setup to have. Bradley had some defective heating elements out there and sounds like you got one. Bradley is getting replacements out to people but they currently are on back order. So you might end up with another defective element with a new OBS also...
Thanks muebe for your reply.
I do realize that by going to OBS/PID will not eliminate the possibility of getting bad heating elements but I do want to get the best possible setup while I'm still able to exchange. So I will probably take my DBS back to Costco and get OBS/PID combo.
One more question. Am I going to lose any features by going from digital to OBS/PID?
EDIT Or should I add PID to DBS?
Now I do not own a DBS....but I believe as long as you get a dual probe PID you will not lose any features and gain better temp control
Ordered OBS and dual probe PID. Thanks for your help muebe! ;D