Hello. New to this site.
I Bought a 4 rack Bradley before Christmas . I have smoked a couple chickens, a turkey and a few other things. I have had great luck with help from the post on this site. I am not real happy with the heat it generates and I have read alot about different mods. I have purchased a 725 watt element with connections on both ends from info on this site. Was wanting to remove original element and put new element in. Not wanting a big change in heat performance but an improvement. I understand the change will not hurt circuitry. Is this correct? Thanks in advace
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You'd be OK with your 725 watt element. Your element and the puck burner, combined, will draw just over 7 amps. The fuse in your smoker is a 10 amp fuse.
Quote from: tskeeter on January 23, 2016, 10:46:54 AM
You'd be OK with your 725 watt element. Your element and the puck burner, combined, will draw just over 7 amps. The fuse in your smoker is a 10 amp fuse.
Thanks, I'm in the process of modifying. Got the old rod element out and can mount 725 watt new element fairly easy. Concerned about the heat and the wiring. On the old rod element wiring was protected by porcelain covers. Concerned about melting wires from heat generated. Any suggestions help will be appreciated. Feel I'm at a road block and not wanting to move on till I'm sure.
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I've been running a 900 watt element on the original wires for 4 years without problem. You're good to go.
Quote from: harleyr warrior on January 23, 2016, 11:34:18 AM
Quote from: tskeeter on January 23, 2016, 10:46:54 AM
You'd be OK with your 725 watt element. Your element and the puck burner, combined, will draw just over 7 amps. The fuse in your smoker is a 10 amp fuse.
Thanks, I'm in the process of modifying. Got the old rod element out and can mount 725 watt new element fairly easy. Concerned about the heat and the wiring. On the old rod element wiring was protected by porcelain covers. Concerned about melting wires from heat generated. Any suggestions help will be appreciated. Feel I'm at a road block and not wanting to move on till I'm sure.
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You're OK. The smoker cabinet wiring is high temp appliance wire.
I suspect the reason for the ceramic holders for the rod style heating element is that they non-conductive and that they are economical to produce in large quantities.
Quote from: tskeeter on January 23, 2016, 02:08:42 PM
Quote from: harleyr warrior on January 23, 2016, 11:34:18 AM
Quote from: tskeeter on January 23, 2016, 10:46:54 AM
You'd be OK with your 725 watt element. Your element and the puck burner, combined, will draw just over 7 amps. The fuse in your smoker is a 10 amp fuse.
Thanks, I'm in the process of modifying. Got the old rod element out and can mount 725 watt new element fairly easy. Concerned about the heat and the wiring. On the old rod element wiring was protected by porcelain covers. Concerned about melting wires from heat generated. Any suggestions help will be appreciated. Feel I'm at a road block and not wanting to move on till I'm sure.
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You're OK. The smoker cabinet wiring is high temp appliance wire.
I suspect the reason for the ceramic holders for the rod style heating element is that they non-conductive and that they are economical to produce in large quantities.
We'll I made my mod took some pics to show. I took old rod element out unscrewed the ends and took the porcelain ends off. I set new finned element in unit to see where wires would reach. Drilled holes through the back and ran bolts through back and through porcelain ends I removed and mounted element. Shield over old element I grinder on both end between legs to bolt on for clearance for wires. Here's some pics. Just got to see how it works. Thanks for all the help.(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160123/c35d65f99c58fb6708f40ffe8e5e9a77.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160123/64bb3bf2694e94c559d3df57a5eae571.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160123/b573ed7530921da0174f681788af2f8b.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160123/c16b7f58d2e17308d7a6baafe5e7f40a.jpg)
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great job on the heater mod
Temp up to 250 fairly quick. Seems to be a better element than original element that came with it.
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You might also consider putting a heat deflector shield between your new element and the back of the cabinet to keep the extra heat from "baking" the cabinet insulation in that area.
Quote from: Salmonsmoker on January 24, 2016, 09:16:08 AM
You might also consider putting a heat deflector shield between your new element and the back of the cabinet to keep the extra heat from "baking" the cabinet insulation in that area.
Yes I agree. Original element had worked on insulation some. I read some where about using another type of insulation back there that withstand heat better but I can't remember what it was. Also have been told use welder's blanket to wrap around it. A deflecter yes ,but it think the element mod was just a beginner step to iprovements I need to do. Would like to use for many years. I like my Bradley. I bought it because of the puck feeder burner. I believe they could improve on the cabinet. It looks exactly like the small refrigerators we have at work. I know it's not supposed to be a heat machine. I just want to be able to put food in smoker and smoke and slowly cook it. My turkey I cooked in oven at 350 in a bag for 45 minutes then smoker for 3. It was great. Two chickens 4 hours in smoker. Not done finished in oven. That transferring crap is for the birds. I haven't owned my smoker very long but I can see already improvements I would like to make. Nothing that hard or big or expensive. Just well thought out improvements. This site has been gold mine of information. I think everyone that has responded to me and everyone that I have read thir post. I truely think I need to work on the insulation factor at the point of heat source. I can't remember what it's called but it's on here some where. Thanks for all your help.
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Bradley does install extra insulation just behind the element. It looks like some type of thin mineral wool is installed under the first layer of insulation; but only directly behind the element. If the back doesn't get too hot that you can't hold your hand on it, you may not need to install the extra insulation.
When I installed new element I removed the back of the unit and saw some heat damage to insulation. I does get to hot to touch. No after installing new 725 watt element smoking two chickens and two hours into it element not working preformed great until then. Now not working at all. Have to finish in oven. Plugged unit directly into receptacle, bypassing puck smoker still no heat. Any suggestions? All I know is let her cool and go back to modifications. Fuses? Where are they? By directly plugging it in didn't I bypass fuses?
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Quote from: harleyr warrior on January 24, 2016, 02:54:11 PMFuses? Where are they? By directly plugging it in didn't I bypass fuses?
There's an inline fuse in the back of the cabinet. What temp did you heat the cooking chamber to? The Bradley doesn't like it much over 275*F.
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No ran about 250 put birds in dropped to 200 l, 210 stayed there I know what the problem is. I checked element. It's still good. Got power from puck heater. Wire burnt into going to element. I like a dummy couldn't get shield to direct the heat up so I was able to m ount it turned down. Thought it would keep drippings off better less fire Hazzard. Got wires hot melted them into. Not just got to find some heat resistant wire and conections. Make a heat shied for behind it and direct it upward posibly. Finding wires and conections. Will be the hardest.
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I just ordered high heat 14 guage 1000 f wire and conectors. Going to rewire. Put in heat shield and replace insulation in back with some really good insulation for that heat.
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Quote from: harleyr warrior on January 24, 2016, 02:54:11 PM
When I installed new element I removed the back of the unit and saw some heat damage to insulation........
Unfortunately that heat damage is normal wear.
(http://www.susanminor.org/users/Hab/Misc_Files/Additional_Element/_2Back_Wiring.jpg)
This is the back of my smoker prior to installing the second element. I believe I had it five years at this point.
That area on the back of the cabinet does get hot, but not hot enough that I can't hold my hand on it.
Quote from: Habanero Smoker on January 25, 2016, 02:00:55 AM
Quote from: harleyr warrior on January 24, 2016, 02:54:11 PM
When I installed new element I removed the back of the unit and saw some heat damage to insulation........
Unfortunately that heat damage is normal wear.
(http://www.susanminor.org/users/Hab/Misc_Files/Additional_Element/_2Back_Wiring.jpg)
This is the back of my smoker prior to installing the second element. I believe I had it five years at this point.
That area on the back of the cabinet does get hot, but not hot enough that I can't hold my hand on it.
You absolutely right . The back of my unit looked about the same. I just know there is heat loss there. I ordered a ceramic fiber blanket that is 1 inch thick 24×36. I believe it should work nicely. Thought about the Roxul mineral wool . But there is only 1 inch clearance in back and it was 2 inch. Didn't think it would compress and if it did I didn't think it would be as effective. Just my thought. Thanks for your time and advice. I am learning alot on here.
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I have done the mods to the Bradley that I had mentioned before. The ceramic insulation is used work nicely. After operating smoker for 4hrs, back of smoker cool to the touch. I can reach temperatures of 300 degrees. I should never need that much heat but smoker is definitely capable of cooking a smoke without help of an oven to finish or start a smoke. Smoker is only 3 months old. I know warranty is no good anymore. Smoker is ready to produce some terrific food . Time to drink a cold beer. Start a new smoke and enjoy the weekend.
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Smoking a turkey breast. Turned smoker up all the way. Took a shower and went out was 230. Turned smorker knob to middle mark. Put breast in went to 200 and rose to 220 stayed at 230 now for 3 hrs. Working very nicely.
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