Advice appreciated Bradlley smoker

[harleyr warrior]

Well I bought a Bradlley a little before  thanksgiving and right  off the  bat I knew the heat source  is insufficient. I did a 750 Watt Mod and put better insulation  in back and heat resistant  wire. Put extra heat shield in back and was very happy with the results. Smoked periods of 8 hrs somtimes.  Element  died in about 2 months max. Weekends  only. Thought  about a 900 watt element and a convention oven fan mounted on side opposite puck burner at about same height. I have researched a little and found 900 watt element  is 12 inches long 750 Watt element  is 10 inches long. I could  mount either but would had to mod a little for 900. 750 bolt right in. My question  with fan will 750 heat better or not as hot?  Would I remain happy with 750 or 900 is what I should use?. Second  mounting low would it blow ash from puck burner all over meat of directly across from it?  Any suggestions  appreciated . Thanks in advance.  One more question . The money  I stick in this is it worth it or should I buy a better made one? I love the puck burner. I have thought about building  my own and using puck burner with it

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[Orion]

I'd go with the 900 watt element if you can make it fit. I placed my fan on the back wall slightly below second rack from the bottom. I get much better heat distribution now and faster drying of jerky or sausage prior to applying smoke.

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=36796.0

[harleyr warrior]

Thanks. So does the fan dry out meat that you want to stay moist  quicker?  Will the fan make it cook faster?  I was installing fan ti keep element  cooler because the info I read said I that's why element  burn up. If element  last a year or so I'd  be like no biggie but two months I need to change my set up.  I could have gotten bad element but not believing  that. 900 wouldn't  be that hard to do. With the 700 u was able to adjust temp with dial. It was pretty easy to do. If I get the 900 watt am I gonna be able to adjust with dial or am I going to have to get a pid? I smoke chicken, ribs, turkey, Boston butt. I haven't any issues  yet. I realize with  certain  foods  I wull need the pid. Thats a new world for me and one I wull surely explore one day but hopefully  I will have smoke working flawless  by then. Alot people have 2 or 3 smokers. You have one quit on you during a smoke that would come in handy. Another thing, convention stove fan. Can 900 watt and fan be supplied  by puck  burner or is that too much power? Do you run the fan the whole time you smoke?  U know about 10 amp fuse in the back of smoker but it only protects element  the way it's wired. I don't want to burn puck burner up because  I'm drawing  to much juice (watts, amp  ) from it. The puck burner is what i like most about bradlley.  The rest is just a minature  fridge made unto smoke box. I'm  sorry but that what I see. A well insulated stainless  steel smoker box would  be a plus for it. I know the smokin-it  has stainless  steel box but now impressed with the smoke generator.

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[harleyr warrior]

Sorry so many questions.  I think I know most of them. I work night shift so I reply at weird hours and phone don't  always  put what I say.

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[beefmann]

here is a thought and what i did with my 900 watt heater  mod

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=17329.msg209917#msg209917

if you  look at the specs of the elements,,, the  max temp is 1200 F... so no they do not get  hotter,,,, the difference between the 750 watt and the 900 watt is the 900 watt provides  more heat,,, meaning the additional 150 watts provides more BTU making the box recover faster and have higher temps...

hope this gives you  some insight

[harleyr warrior]

Thanks alot beefmann

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[harleyr warrior]

Here is the finished project with 900 watt mod


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[oldsmoker]

IS that wood behind your fan?  asking for a fire with 900wt heater if that's wood. and chemicals in wood could cause bad taste and sure not good for your health. just my thought

[TedEbear]

It looks like dirty sheet metal.  If you look at the sides you can see the ends are bent out at about a 45 degree angle.

[harleyr warrior]

It's metal behind element used as heat shield.  Kiln insulation  between  back wall and outer wall.

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[oldsmoker]

Sorry my mistake. Great looking work.

[harleyr warrior]

Well i studied everyone's mods and took a little different  approach  works like a charm. Smoke is good and so is heat distribution.

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[ghosttown]

Where did you end up getting the parts for the Fan? I already did the 900 watt last year with a pid and I love it. Wouldn't the fan being right behind the element cool it? Compare to others that add the fan between the vtray.

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[Gafala]

I did the 900 watt, Auber PID about 2 1/2 years ago and have never had a problem I didn't do the fan mod.

[harleyr warrior]

I bought fan off eBay. 18 to 20 bucks came with the proper copasitor.  Was new from a damaged unit. Element  I bought from Granger. Got a piece  of sheet metal to put on back of smoker inside to stiffen it up got 3 or 4 inch bolts and 6 nuts to tighten element  in place. I am able to use v shield without cutting on it element  is farther away from wall but v shield protects it. Fan has shaft long enough  to be mounted  on outside of unit with blade on inside behind element.  If you do this mount element  and fan where you don't  have to cut v shield.  I have smoked the hell out of things . Smoked 3 chickens  for 5 hrs at 220. Taste tender . Meat would melt in your mouth. Distribution  of heat is exelant.  And yes element  stays cooler. Chicken on top as done  as one on bottom

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