Digital 6-Rack Wiring & Element Mods

Started by Smokin T, April 22, 2012, 09:29:12 AM

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Smokin T

A couple questions about the 6-rack and its heating now that I've blown my 1st element after roughly 80h's use...
and while the OEM 500W element is sufficient for smoking indoors, the temp swings are rather big and temp recovery is pretty bad.
-Does anybody have a wiring diagram of the digital controller and can it handle a second 500W by itself? Or do I simply use the existing heater-out from controller to run a relay for both elements (or maybe single 1000W)?
-I'm seeing mentions of a PID...what is this? I didn't find any entries explaining this.
-I'm going to be smoking outside this summer and will be setup in a covered patio with no chance of direct rain, but I'm kinda iffy about the digital controller being outside...does anybody have experience good or bad? Obviously I wount even try to use the unit outside in the winter of my scandinavian climate.

I'd appreciate any answers!

Timo

mikecorn.1

Here is a link to adding a second 500w element. You will need to run a pid with it. I have the dual probe $185. You can also get a single probe.


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Mike

muebe

Mike gave you a link to the second element mod. Some others like me have replaced the factory element with a 900W finned element.

Being that you are greatly increasing the wattage and heat output a PID is a must with either mod.

I decided to go with the finned element because it is stainless, durable and at the time Bradley had a batch of bad elements the were burning out after just a few uses.

Some say that you must run a fan with the finned element. I put about 100 hours of use on the element with no issues before I installed a fan.

I also have the dual probe PID and the fan is a convection fan from a gas oven installed in the Bradley cabinet.

The Bradley PID from Auberins is plug and play installation. If you can plug in an electrical plug then you can install the PID.

The custom PID costs about less than half the price but requires wiring modifications.
Natural Gas 4 burner stainless RED with auto-clean
2 TBEs(1 natural gas & 1 LP gas)
OBS(Auberins dual probe PID, 900w finned element & convection fan mods)
2011 Memphis Select Pellet Smoker
BBQ Grillware vertical smoker(oven thermostat installed & converted to natural gas)

Smokin T

So I take it the 3rd party PIDs are used to upgrade smoker from factory...interesting. Thanks for the info.

I've actually learned to get my honey smoked wild salmon perfect with the OEM setup and as long as I use the unit inside there's no reason to add more wattage or control....now after moving the smoker outside for the summer I might be thinking differently?

The next thing I'll be getting into is more smoking capacity which brings me to another question:

=> has anybody used the bradley smoke generator to feed larger smokers or cabinets? I'm thinking the amount of smoke would most likely be enough to do a larger cabinet?

Waiting for my 500w element in the mail....

Timo

nitrous

Quote from: mikecorn.1 on April 22, 2012, 09:57:13 AM
Here is a link to adding a second 500w element. You will need to run a pid with it. I have the dual probe $185. You can also get a single probe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is there any any real advantage getting the dual probe with the Digital Smoker?
What is the second channel used for?
Doug

Mr Walleye

Quote from: Smokin T on April 23, 2012, 04:01:37 AM
So I take it the 3rd party PIDs are used to upgrade smoker from factory...interesting. Thanks for the info.

I've actually learned to get my honey smoked wild salmon perfect with the OEM setup and as long as I use the unit inside there's no reason to add more wattage or control....now after moving the smoker outside for the summer I might be thinking differently?

The next thing I'll be getting into is more smoking capacity which brings me to another question:

=> has anybody used the bradley smoke generator to feed larger smokers or cabinets? I'm thinking the amount of smoke would most likely be enough to do a larger cabinet?

Waiting for my 500w element in the mail....

Timo

Tim

Here is one I built for a friend of mine using the Bradley Smoke generator. I also have one floating around on here but I couldn't find a link for you.

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=16075.msg192278#msg192278

Mike

Click On The Smoker For Our Time Tested And Proven Recipes


mikecorn.1

Quote from: nitrous on July 15, 2012, 01:10:33 PM
Quote from: mikecorn.1 on April 22, 2012, 09:57:13 AM
Here is a link to adding a second 500w element. You will need to run a pid with it. I have the dual probe $185. You can also get a single probe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is there any any real advantage getting the dual probe with the Digital Smoker?
What is the second channel used for?
Doug
One advantage is that you can keep track of both meat and smoker.
Second channel ???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mike