Anything new/different RE: circulation fan retrofits?

[DocZ]

Hi again to all. I've been busy digesting what I could find on this forum about circulation fan retrofits. I am about to order the Grainger-sourced units that the learned folks on this list chose. First tho, I noted that the threads on this subject were posted last may '06. I'm hoping that if these retrofits have done the job and held up then someone will say so. If variations on these theme have been done successfully, then I would love to know that too! Thanks -Rich <`))>><

[Mr Walleye]

Hi DocZ

I added the circulation fan just about a year ago and as far as holding up it has no problems. It certainly appears to help regulate the tower temp. I know when I was doing my jerky completely in the Bradley I only had to rotate the racks once. This is mainly due to the fact the heat element is on so much after putting in a full load of jerky. Prior to installing the circulation fan I did allot more rotations. I have mine plugged into the same power strip as my BS and it runs all the time the BS is running.

Lots of people here don't see the need for it but I like to tinker anyway so I had to do it.  ::)

Mike

[Habanero Smoker]

I have all the parts. I just need to find the time to install mine.

[DocZ]

I hope I'm not beating a dead horse, but I have a question about the cw vs ccw fan rotation. If I have found all the relevant threads in this regard it seems sthat pullilng the smoke to the back or pushing it out  is the question. Is one better than another if we just want to move/diffuse heat? It just occured to me that there may be a chat room happening tonite. I'll leave this question here for now and hope to catch up with the chat. Rich <`))>><

[Mr Walleye]

DocZ

My circulation fan is reversed and pulls air to the back of the tower. There have been a number of threads about which direction to run it. You will find the air off the fan blades kinda comes off at a 45 degree angle or there abouts. If the fan blows towards the door there is a chance the air will blow not only on the lowest rack of food but it could potentially create air flow through the V-pan causing problems with the pucks. These are just my thoughts, sort of thinking out loud. I know in my setup I have my smoke generator permanently mounted in an offset box so if I was running my fan the other direction, blowing against the door, any air flow going through the V-pan really wouldn't be an issue because my generator isn't there. The issue of the fan blowing on the lowest rack could also be resolved by making a small shroud to deflect the air flow away from it.

So... other than probably confusing you... which I probably did in my rambling, I think you could run the fan in either direction providing you take appropriate steps to deflect the air properly.

Mike