DBS 4 rack or OBS w/ PID

[WanaSmoke]

Please help new to smoking want to get a Bradley smoker can get the DBS Jack Daniels model 353.00 delivered. Or OBS for 245.00 delivered + 185.00 for Auber dual PID incase I wanted to add second element later. or single PID for 145.00. What should I do ? If I go with the OBS / PID does it still shut off after a set time.  I know nothing of PID use please help me. With what to buy.
Thx

[GusRobin]

The differences in my opinion is this:
1) You need to decide if you need the 6 rack or 4 rack. If 6 rack then you have to go with the 6 rack DBS.
2) If you want the 4 rack, then you have a choice.
If you are going to add the second element, you should have some type of temp controller other than the Bradley slider (OBS) or the digital (DBS) for safety purposes. Do you HAVE TO have it, no but I would strongly recommend it. For safety  (main reason) but also control.
3) if you are going to make butts, briskets, etc, the temp swings in the DBS won't matter except that you have to reset the DBS after 9.4 hours (or something close to that) or it shuts off. If you want to do something other than butts, such as sausage, then you will probably want a PID or other controller to hold down the temp swings.
4) How a PID works?The PID pulses power to the elements so you get closer control. For example an oven set for 350 will have its element on until it reaches 350. It shuts off but is still hot so the temp rises to maybe 365. When it cools down to 349 it starts up again. By the time it gets hot enough the temp has dropped to maybe 345. So you can have a 20 degree swing. The Bradley works the same way and has high temp swings. This is a simple example but gives you the picture. In the same example, the PID pulses power off and on starting at 345 (just a guess) until it reaches 350, and keeps pulsing as it drops to 349. So you end up with a tighter temp range. (again a very simple explanation).
5) With the dual PID you control when the Bradley shuts off by temp of the cabinet or you can use the IT of the meat. With the single, only by cabinet temp. With both PIDs you can add different cycles. So you can start at 130* for 1 hr, then 140 for 1 hour, etc up to 6 cycles. With the dual you can set the cycles based upon either temp of Bradley or IT of meat. With the single, only the temp of the cabinet.With the dual you can also decide which cycles will have smoke ( up to 2 cycles) or you can leave the smoke generator independent.

So with all this said, budget aside, If you can live with a 4 rack I would go with the OBS and the dual PID. (Maybe have enough left over to buy a remote temp reader such as the Maverick 732) If you need 6 racks I would go with the DBS and a dual PID. If budget is an issue then you need to make the trade offs.
People are happy with the OBS and DBS as is, with dual elements, with single, dual, or no PID. So many times it is a matter of preference, usage and budget.My recommendation is if you add any type of element I would use some type of PID or controller other than the one that comes with either Bradley.

Hope this helped and didn't add a lot of confusion. If I can answer any other questions, post or PM me.

[TedEbear]

Or OBS for 245.00 delivered + 185.00 for Auber dual PID in case I wanted to add second element later. or single PID for 145.00. What should I do ?

If you want to a slightly less expensive route you can get the OBS for the above price and a single PID that you install in either a project box or the smoke generator box, like some of us did.  The PID is a little less than $45 from Auberins plus some other things that you have to get such as SSR, thermocouple, some wiring and connectors and a few odds and ends.  Even with everything the cost is less than 1/2 of the plug-n-play PID controller. 

The only drawback (well, there's two - you also have to install it) is the above PID controller will only control the chamber temp.  The other version has a few more features but nothing I would ever use, which is why I got the single DIY PID. 

There's a how-to article elsewhere on the forum if you want step-by-step instructions on installing it.

[ghost9mm]

What Gus said...4 rack OBS with PID dual probes...you won't end up with buyers remorse with the PID dual probes...

[WanaSmoke]

Thanks for everybodies feedback.  I am going with the OBS aand dual PID. I only need a 4 rack
thx ;D