BDS won't go above 190 with meat

[Thumpinbass]

Hey guys,  in the middle of a smoke of 50 lbs of brisket.   Did 4 hours of smoke for 25 lbs of it, then transferred to the oven.  Then loaded the BDS with the other 25 lbs.   Here is my situation.

Preheated the BDS this morning up to 270.  Loaded the pucks up, water tray (boiling water), and 2 briskets (room temp). set the oven temp at 220  Started the smoke.  Noticed that the BDS wasn't going above 180.  opened up the vent half way, reached 189. Opened the vent the whole way, no change. changed the oven temp to 270, no change.

unplugged all plugs, and reinserted them, thinking maybe a connection was loose.
Temp is 67 degrees out right now.  No wind.  Briskets are spaced 2nd rack down and bottom rack.  (4 rack BDS)
Still around 185-187.

Any ideas?  there are no leaks.  Smoke is only coming from the top. Puck advance is moving fine.   I'm lost now.   I know the cabinet can get hot since it was preheated up to 270 before I started.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

[TedEbear]

Are you using an extension cord with it?

[beefmann]

with my experience with larger loads of meat .. the temp will drop considerable with cooler meat,, even at  room temp,.... as the meat  cooks the box temp will  rise... remember you have a  500 watt main element and if you  leave the 125 puck burner on,, you have 625 watts to cook with...  unlike a oven with a lot higher heat rating... dont worry about it.,, let it  cook and go from there
 

[Habanero Smoker]

Are you using the Bradley temperature sensor to record the temps? If so you may be getting a lower reading then what the lower brisket is exposed to. If you not already using one, it is best to us a digital probe thermometer, and locate that probe at the bottom rack, away form any drippings that may fall on it.

[Thumpinbass]

hey guys, thanks for the advice.   To answer some of your questions.

- No extension cord.  Plugged straight into outlet.
- Once I get the 4 hours of smoke on this second batch, the briskets will continue in the BDS until my first 2 briskets that are currently in the home oven is done.   At which time, I will move the 2 from the BDS into the home oven to finish them.
- I am using the Bradley temp probe.  I have a maverick, but I am using that for the IT of the briskets in the house oven.

It is up to 193 degrees currently.  Once I started the smoke, the door has not been opened.   I will open it when the 4 hours of smoke is over to change the water pan and then let it continue from there.

Only reason why I was questioning it in the first place is because when I did similar amounts of brisket last year for the same thing, I was able to get the Bradley up to the 220 mark.

I did notice one thing which I was switching out briskets.  The heating element when on is glowing red on the middle 50-60% of the element.  Each side of the element is not glowing.  Is it supposed to be like that, or should the whole thing be glowing red.   I can see this being a little problem if the whole thing should be glowing red.  Just didn't think much of it since I was able to get the BDS up to 270 during preheat.

[beefmann]

I did notice one thing which I was switching out briskets.  The heating element when on is glowing red on the middle 50-60% of the element.  Each side of the element is not glowing.  Is it supposed to be like that, or should the whole thing be glowing red.   I can see this being a little problem if the whole thing should be glowing red.  Just didn't think much of it since I was able to get the BDS up to 270 during preheat.


last year was the element 90 - 95 % glowing red? over this year of 60 %  ? ,,, if so,, sounds like your element is becoming weak ,  and may need to be replaced... .. or continue to use it till it finally  dies

[Habanero Smoker]

Where was the probe placed, and was it placed in the same area as the last time?

I would say 80% to 75% of the element should be glowing. Below are a couple of pictures that show the "normal" glow of the elements. Even though these pictures where taken after a dual element modification, there was no visible difference from the glow of a single element Bradley, to a dual element Bradley with the second element off.


With second element switched off.


With both elements on.

I believe the elements are like an incandescent lightbulb. The don't become weaker over time. They will just burnout.

[Thumpinbass]

UPDATE:      the BDS got up to about 207 after the door not being open for over 5 hours.

All 4 briskets started in the BDS for 4 hours of smoke.

Started with (2) 13 lb briskets.    4 hrs smoke, and 10 hours in oven @ 220° pulled when IT reached 209°
Next 2 briskets -    10 lb brisket.   4 hrs smoke, 6 hrs in BDS at 200° avg for 6 hrs, then 3 hours in oven @ 220°, pulled when IT reached 212°
                            15 lb brisket.   4 hrs smoke, 6 hrs in BDS at 200° avg for 6 hrs, then 7 hours in oven @ 220°, pulled when IT reached 215°

I was aiming for around 210° for an IT.  Brisket was going to be pulled.

After it was all said and done, and have the finished product, I was amazed at how much you lose between trimming, smoking, cooking, and getting the rest of the fat from pulling.  I started with 52.5 lbs of brisket, and ended up with 24.5 lbs.    Is it common to lose 50% weight?

Anyways,  I only have pics of them wrapped from the night before.   I will try and remember to get a pic of the final product to post then.   The bark came out great.   Even better then last time.

[Thumpinbass]

Where was the probe placed, and was it placed in the same area as the last time?

I would say 80% to 75% of the element should be glowing. Below are a couple of pictures that show the "normal" glow of the elements. Even though these pictures where taken after a dual element modification, there was no visible difference from the glow of a single element Bradley, to a dual element Bradley with the second element off.

The only probe that I was using was the bradleys temp probe, so yes it was in the same place.

I'm thinking in the next month or so, I am going to upgrade the BDS with a dual 500w element mod and a PID controller.