Benefits of the digital smokers

[MrRaven]

Hey guys

First off, I am new to this forum. I do not have a smoker. I have done some basic smoking in my Napoleon Propane grill with wood chips.

I am interested in getting a smoker and I see that Canadian Tire has the Bradley smokers on sale - http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/OutdoorLiving/BBQs/Smokers/PRD~0851780P/Bradley%252BDigital%252BSmoker/CROSSSELL~0780026%20Bradley%2BSmoker.jsp?locale=en

I am wondering what the benefits are of the digital smokers over the regular ones. The bradley digital smoker is $100 more, which is really not THAT much more, but I am wondering how it improves the smoking experience.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

[oakville smoker]

I have a digital 4 rack that I bought on sale at Crappy Tire
I like the set it and forget it aspect of the digital
All in all, the both probably do pretty much the same thing

Since I have not owned a non digital, its hard tos ay how it would compare

There might be someone on the forum who has experience with both

[GusRobin]

Don't have the digital, just the OBS. If you are thinking of the 4 rack digital, I would get the OBS and buy a Auber dual pid to control temp. Chances are if youwant to do sausage, salmon, and other temp sensitive cooks you will end up getting a PID or wishing you had one.
If you need the space of a 6 rack, then digital is your only choice.

[viper125]

By the way Amazon has the OEB for 269.00 free shipping

[3rensho]

I too have an OBS with a PID.  I'd make the same choice today, five years after I bought my OBS originally.

[RAF128]

The idea of the digital is great.     Set the time.   Set the temp.   Forget about it.   It does everything.     Well not quite.   Turns out there is a lot of temp fluctuation.    The PID eliminates that but adds to the expense so maybe an OBS with the PID is the way to go.    I had an OBS and you had to play with it to get the right temp using the slider.   A PID would have been great.    I have since bought a 6 rack for the extra room and height and they only come in digital.   As I said there's a lot of temp fluctuation so I've bought a PID.   Now I've got everything I need and want, well almost ;).
The bottom line is you're looking at a great smoker and you have choices to make.

[beefmann]

I own the obs with a digital timer and pid  which makes it a digital, the nice thing of the digital or having precise temperature control is that you can dial the temp where you  like  and it will maintain it with in a few degrees  and not have to worry about wild temperature swings.

if it was me id go with the 4 rack and pid, unless you need the room of the 6 rack

typically the 4 rack can hold 40 lbs of food  while the 6 rack is great for  smoking sausages

hope this  helps
 

[KyNola]

I have owned a BDS for around 4 years and just bought a PID for it as I got tired of the temp swings and going to begin making sausage pretty soon.  In hindsight I would definitely buy the OBS and add a PID.

[lumpy]

I own a digital and a PID. Should have gone with the original. With the PID, all the BDS has is fancy blinking lights that don't tell me anything.

[ghost9mm]

What Lumpy said, the temperature swings with BDS are just to much, adding the PID dual makes things alot easier...

[TedEbear]

I am wondering what the benefits are of the digital smokers over the regular ones. The bradley digital smoker is $100 more, which is really not THAT much more, but I am wondering how it improves the smoking experience.

I recommend the OBS and a do-it-yourself PID from Auberins.  The DIY version is less than $45 and even with all the parts to do the install you're looking at less than 1/2 the cost of the plug-n-play unit.  That's what I have and the dual element mod.  Smoking is way easier now no matter what the outside temp, sun or wind is doing.

[viper125]

Don't see any instructions for building on their site.

[jiggerjams]

Before you buy at CT check this place out and see if it works for you.

www.lebaron.ca

They are the cheapest I can find for smokers and pucks.

[Chili Head]

Howdy MrRaven  ;)  Welcome to the forums.
I have the 4 rack digital and love it! For doing ribs, brisket, butts and poultry the digital without a pid has suited me just fine. You dont need extreme tight temp control doing those. If you venture into sausages/snack sticks ect. you will need a pid. Ive just started making snack sticks/brats ect in the last couple of months and without a pid it's a PITA!! You'll constantly be adjusting your temps every 5-10 minutes. A pid is on my list of things to buy this year.

[TedEbear]

Don't see any instructions for building on their site.

Try here:  Bradley PID Controller DIY Install

I have the one in the how-to and installed it in the smoker generator box.  Very neat, compact, inexpensive and not a bunch of wires running all over the place.