Modding my BDS

[Habanero Smoker]

Mike;

Thanks for the explanation. I would agree with you, especially if you are wiring OBS to take the safest way. Taking off the back is a minor step.

Lumpy,

You do not have to wire the second element to a separate source. I don't know what model you have. But if you have the OBS, it is thought that if you wire it directly to the temperature controller, it may be too much wattage for the temperature controller to handle. But there is at least one member who wired 900 watt heater to the temperature control, without any problem. I choose not to wire my second to the temperature controller

The safest way is to wire the second element to plug in the back of the smoker, so that both elements are drawing off one power source, but each is using its own separate wiring to heat the element. Less chance for any wire to overheat.

If I understand Mike's post correctly. What some are doing are using a jumper wire to connect the first element directly to the second element inside the cabinet, thus both elements are drawing power off the same wiring; increasing the possibility of the wire overheating. Though no one has reported any problems by wiring it that way.

[lumpy]

Thanks Habs,
I have a digital. Not sure if it makes a difference.

Lumpy

[classicrockgriller]

Habs, I have read several post where you stated that you have cooked at temps of 350*.

Are you doing this with 2 500wt heaters and each one wired seperately?

If not what did you do to make your Bradley reach 350*

Are you maintaining 350* in your cabinet for long periods of time?

Do you feel like that is a safe temp for the Bradley since it is rated for temps of 320*

By doing the crossover wire method, I never had plans of bringing the Bradley any higher than

300* and only that when it was neccessary. Most of my smoke/cooks are at 220*.

I like the thought of a second element as a speed up in pre-heat and recovery.

Thanks in advance on yout thoughts.

[lumpy]

I too would like the extra element for quick heat ups and also to crisp the occasional ABT bacon.
It's not my intention to heat the BDS to 350, but CRG has made a good point.

Thanks for the help.
Does anyone have pictures of the conversion?

Appreciate any.

[classicrockgriller]

This is Mike's conversion:

http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=572

[HawkeyeSmokes]

I really don't think that using a jumper wire from one element to the other is really a concern when doing the conversion.

My thoughts for that are, unless you upgrade the original power cord for the Bradley, both elements are still being powered with 18ga wire.

Also, both the elements are still protected by the thermal fuse and eliminates the need for a second one.

I have been using mine for about 2 months now using this method with good results.

[Habanero Smoker]

Habs, I have read several post where you stated that you have cooked at temps of 350*.

Are you doing this with 2 500wt heaters and each one wired seperately?

If not what did you do to make your Bradley reach 350*

Are you maintaining 350* in your cabinet for long periods of time?

Do you feel like that is a safe temp for the Bradley since it is rated for temps of 320*

By doing the crossover wire method, I never had plans of bringing the Bradley any higher than

300* and only that when it was neccessary. Most of my smoke/cooks are at 220*.

I like the thought of a second element as a speed up in pre-heat and recovery.

Thanks in advance on yout thoughts.

This post has got me confused. I don't recall ever bringing my smoker up to 350°. That would trigger my high temperature switch, and/or burn out my thermal fuse and cut off my original element, as you stated it is only rated for 320°. I have cooked things at 350° in my kitchen oven; but not in a Bradley. If I mentioned that then I must have been on something. :) If you can direct me to those posts I would like to correct them. Typing early in the morning I often make mistakes, and there may be a possibility that I may have accidentally hit the 3 instead of the 2, or you could have misread my posts. But still I rarely smoke/cook above 225°, and when I smoke/cook chicken I use 250°. So please when you get the time, hunt down those posts and I will correct them.

I have stated repeatedly that I use my extra element for faster recovery, no mater what my target temperature is. And most of my smokes are in the 200°F.

From your post, you appear irritated that I agree with Mike on what is the safest way, and that is what I prefer. If you want to jump the wires, then do it the way you feel best.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[classicrockgriller]

Sorry if you felt like I was irritated at you about ways of installing a heating element in the Bradley.

Far from it.

I stay up late and read post and might have read something into a post that wasn't there and if I did then

I owe you an appology. I'm not going to research post to prove anything. I just made a mistake.

The questions were based on what I thought I had read and wasn't trying to put you on the spot. I was hoping to achieve

the max cooking mode the Bradley will put out.

I'll be more careful in the future with my facts before I ask questions.

[Habanero Smoker]

You don't need to search, because I never wrote any posts such as you referred to. I admit I don't read every post, but I don't even recall any one posting that they use such temperature in the Bradley.

No hard feelings. I don't want to high jack any one's thread with personal post, so I will end it at that.

[Northern_Smoke]

Thanks for all the info on this mod. And i guess we can safely say that the mod is not meant to go over the 320 degrees that the Bradley was meant for and the main reason is for the quick heating and quick recovery.