What's a PID?

[MontanaGuy]

Hey ya'll,

I'm the happy owner of a Bradley Digital 4 Rack Smoker.  I've never used a smoker before.  Just got it a couple weeks ago.  So far I've managed to smoke some pretty good jerky and a chicken that needed some work but was edible!

I've noticed mention of PID's on the forum.  Can someone give me a simple explanation about what a PID is and why I may want to get one?  I'm thinking it helps with regulating heat but I'm not sure.  If it is some kind of heat regulator, is there any reason I would need one since I have the digital smoker? 

If a PID is recommended, does anyone have a recommendation for which one to get and where to get it?

Thanks for the help.  I think I'm going to enjoy this smokin' thing!

[NePaSmoKer]

Hey ya'll,

I'm the happy owner of a Bradley Digital 4 Rack Smoker.  I've never used a smoker before.  Just got it a couple weeks ago.  So far I've managed to smoke some pretty good jerky and a chicken that needed some work but was edible!

I've noticed mention of PID's on the forum.  Can someone give me a simple explanation about what a PID is and why I may want to get one?  I'm thinking it helps with regulating heat but I'm not sure.  If it is some kind of heat regulator, is there any reason I would need one since I have the digital smoker? 

If a PID is recommended, does anyone have a recommendation for which one to get and where to get it?

Thanks for the help.  I think I'm going to enjoy this smokin' thing!

Here is the Auber site for the PID. It will tell you all about it. I have the programmable PID

http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14

nepas

[MontanaGuy]

Nepas,

Thanks for the response.  I'll give it a look over.

[pensrock]

Simply put a PID, as it is referred to here, is just a temperature controller that can be adjusted to get very tight control over the tower temperature. A BDS will swing in temp as much as +- 20 degrees F, similar to your stove in the kitchen. It justs turns the full power on then off which causes the over/undershooting you see on the digital controller. With a PID you can get that to control to +- 1 or 2 degrees. It depends on what you are using the smoker for if you would benifit from a PID, many people here smoke/cook great food without one. I made my own and love it, but thats just me.

[MontanaGuy]

Thanks Pensrock.  I'll look at the one that Nepas suggested.  I'll probably use the smoker for awhile and then determine if I need to spend the $.