Temp setting Vs Temp reading 76L

[sailks]

I just got my 76L and was doing a temp check. No product just empty, I set the temp for 230 and put a thermometer inside. The unit took forever to read 230 but the internal thermometer i put in went to 300 plus. is there a preheat waiting period or is it because the unit was empty. And why the time delay to read the temp

[beefmann]

these units do have  hot  spots,,, along the back wall  will be  hotter because the heat element in t= in the bottom back of the smoker,, and yes it does take a  while to come up to  temp... typically 30 to 45  mins, and on your thermometer that you placed inside .. it could have been in the  heat  path  from the  element when it was  on  giving you the temp difference.. to help prevent these issues add in a  fan above the heating element and it will help

welcome aboard

[paulsnapp]

Beefman is right.  I have the same model.  It is a great smoker but the temp controls are very poor.  Get yourself an Auber PID controller that they set up for the Digital Bradley Smoker.  This is the first major step to get the temp control issue under control.  You will love it.  Then you might think about adding a fan mod and/or a second heating element mod for smaller gains.  I would suggest the PID controller first and see if you need to do anything further.  My preference is the Auber Dual probe model and using the permanent mounted probe through the back wall.  Other prefer the same model with a drop in probe but these are just personal preferences.  Good luck!