PID vs Raptor

[Ontrack]

I'm smoking a brisket (DBS) and watching my temps go from 190 to 220-back and forth. I know it all averages out and it's something I thought I was used to and could live with, but now I think I'm ready to make the change. I'd like to hear from you all about the differences/advantages/disadvantages between the Raptor and a PID. I wouldn't feel really comfortable building my own PID, because although I'm no electronic idiot, I'm surely not one who builds things like this from scratch. The Raptor setup seems a little pricey, especially to my wife who was looking over my shoulder when I was checking them out. I have no idea what a PID would cost, and don't care (as long as she's not lookin'), just kind of looking for some answers...

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

Ontrack,

I think you can roll your own without much trouble. A number of members have used this thread as a guide:

http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=315

The alternative, as you point out, is going to cost you more. Don't have the Raptor, so I cannot comment on any comparisons to the PID I have.

Arcs_n_Sparks

[Ontrack]

Thanks for the link, Arcs. I knew you'd be one of the first to speak up. Just looking at the thread, it looks like it would be a pain in the @ss that would take a bit of patience. This is something I run short on unless I'm drinking, and then I really shouldn't touch anything electronic ;) :D. Do you know of anyone on the forum who builds PIDs to sell?

[Tiny Tim]

Iceman has built a couple...Wildcat got one of his, and Oldman got another.

As for building a PID, I'm no expert, but I had no significant trouble with it.  Had reversed the wires on my thermocouple and had installed the wrong fuse in the wrong holder...not a big deal once I saw that was the problem.  Took me longer to round up the tools than to actually do the work.

Several here highly recommend the Omega Thermocouple, and I must agree with them.  Got mine off of Ebay...a pair for $17.50 plus shipping. Link here to a pair that are similar to mine and will work for you, also from the same seller.

[NePaSmoKer]

Ontrack

I built a PID and used it for a couple of smokes. It was easy to build also. I just didnt like the autotune stuff and the hard to understand instructions. It cost me about $125 to build.

So i bought the Guru/Raptor combo and have been very happy with it. The raptor/guru is used on my OBS, havnt used it on either of my DBS yet.

nepas

[Ontrack]

Thanks everyone.I knew about the temp swings from this forum before I bought the DBS. It's something I expected, something that I thought I was getting used to. It just seems to bother me at certain times more than others. Today must be one of those times, because I've made my mind up to do one or the other. I use my smoker at least once every weekend, and try to do a quick smoke during the week if I have time, so I think the money spent would be well worth it. Thanks again for your input.

[Mr Walleye]

OnTrack

I also have a PID and it works pretty well. They really are not very hard to build and certainly, with everyone around here you wouldn't have any trouble putting one together. Having said that if you would prefer to have a "plug & Play" type unit, the DIGIQ/Raptor would be the way to go in my opinion.

I think the most confusing thing about the PID is the autotune. The disadvantage is if you autotune it for, say 210 degrees it maintains those temps pretty good. Where you will see some variation is when you decide to do something at, say 120 degrees. You will see the PID fluctuate some because it was tuned for a lot different temps. I believe this is where the DIGIQ/Raptor really shines because they are never done learning, so to speak. The software in the DIGIQ continues to "learn" the parameters and how best to control the smoker every time you run it.

This is just my interpretation and opinion. Certainly in the future I plan to go with a DIGIQ/Raptor for sure.

Mike

[Ontrack]

Thanks Mike-Let's see that's 3 for the PID and 2 for the Rap-no, it's 2 for the Raptor and 3 for th- ;D I love this! Keep 'em coming!

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

Sounds like that adds up to 5 beverages....   :D

Sparkler

[Kane]

I dont know about a PID but Im happy with my DigiQ/Raptor setup. Im smoking a turkey as we speak. after the initial temp drop from loading. once the temp got back to its 210 target point its been holding within 2 degrees. I opened the door and rotated the bird. spritzed it down and changed water. temp dropped to 120 but was back up to 210 within minutes and is holding. I dont know. I mean. whats a PID gonna cost to put together? $125 - $150? heck, I just spent the extra $125 and went with the Guru setup.  It does the same thing as a PID with a few extra features and you dont have to do any work building it.

[Ontrack]

Now we're up to 5 beverages and 3 raptors...or something like that. Kane, I think you may have the answer. As long as the wife doesn't know, twice the price doesn't bother me. And I don't have to go to the trouble of building it. If I knew that I could get a PID built cheaper I would consider it, but as of now I'm leaning hard in your direction. Thanks for your opinion.

[Kane]

Heck man. just tell the wife ya found one on ebay cheaper. laughs. 

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

Sounds like we are up to one Raptor and 7 beverages.....

[Gizmo]

Let stop getting the beverages 1 at a time and break them out by the case.   ;D

[Ontrack]

Kane, I like the way you think...spoken like a true married man! :D And Giz, it's morning coffee now, but it'll be 5 o'clock somewhere soon! ;)