Hi All!
I am a long time lurker here and based on my reading of posts, I ordered a RecTec Mini. Unpacking and setting up was very simple as others have said. However, I am having temperature problems at the lower end of the spectrum (over 250 everything is fine). What happens is that I set the desired temp to 225 and when I switch over to the actual temp, it is over 250. So I called RecTec and they said the "idle" feed needs to be turned down. So they nicely walked me through the various button presses (ending up the the "C-4" variable) and adjusted the feed downwards. This only lowered the actual temp about 10 degrees. Called back and we changed the feed speed variable again downwards. Regardless of what temp I set (I have tried 185, 200, 225), the actual temp is 234 to 236.
Apparently, there is an issue with the Mini when you have high ambient temperatures like we do in the Desert Southwest (Tucson, AZ) where the outside air temp is 105. According to RT, if we adjust the C-4 feed speed downwards any more (from 5 to 4 let's say), we will run the risk of "flame out". They also felt that the direct sun is playing a part in this. However, I also have this problem at night with no sun (although the air temp is 95+). I am using Pacific BBQ "Gourmet" Pellets and in this case it was a combination of apple and cherry.
So, the question I have is there a significant difference in smoking meat between a temp of 200 and 235? I did try a pork butt (14 hours at 245) to an internal temp of 197 which came out fine. Not having to reload the wood is a real plus. My other smoker is a Bar-b-Chef Offset Smoker from the long departed Barbeques Galore chain which I need to visit every 45 minutes to add wood. Of course, I didn't buy this for the top end temperatures, but the ability to smoke low and slow.
Any suggestions are welcome if others have this issue (or even don't have this issue
).
Thanks so much!
Peter
I am a long time lurker here and based on my reading of posts, I ordered a RecTec Mini. Unpacking and setting up was very simple as others have said. However, I am having temperature problems at the lower end of the spectrum (over 250 everything is fine). What happens is that I set the desired temp to 225 and when I switch over to the actual temp, it is over 250. So I called RecTec and they said the "idle" feed needs to be turned down. So they nicely walked me through the various button presses (ending up the the "C-4" variable) and adjusted the feed downwards. This only lowered the actual temp about 10 degrees. Called back and we changed the feed speed variable again downwards. Regardless of what temp I set (I have tried 185, 200, 225), the actual temp is 234 to 236.
Apparently, there is an issue with the Mini when you have high ambient temperatures like we do in the Desert Southwest (Tucson, AZ) where the outside air temp is 105. According to RT, if we adjust the C-4 feed speed downwards any more (from 5 to 4 let's say), we will run the risk of "flame out". They also felt that the direct sun is playing a part in this. However, I also have this problem at night with no sun (although the air temp is 95+). I am using Pacific BBQ "Gourmet" Pellets and in this case it was a combination of apple and cherry.
So, the question I have is there a significant difference in smoking meat between a temp of 200 and 235? I did try a pork butt (14 hours at 245) to an internal temp of 197 which came out fine. Not having to reload the wood is a real plus. My other smoker is a Bar-b-Chef Offset Smoker from the long departed Barbeques Galore chain which I need to visit every 45 minutes to add wood. Of course, I didn't buy this for the top end temperatures, but the ability to smoke low and slow.
Any suggestions are welcome if others have this issue (or even don't have this issue
Thanks so much!
Peter