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Seems to me there is a lot of variety of temps among smokers, but my cheap electric brinkman never seems to get above 200 degrees as measured at the thermometer I installed in the lid. Is this low temp standard for these models?
You can get a cheap analog dial thermo from Wally world for a couple of bucks to see if you are in the ballpark. Even a oven thermo that sits on the grill will give you an idea.
Unless your garage wiring is really screwed up I don't see how you would have amperage problems without blowing a breaker or melting wire. Don't run a long extension cord, they will overheat and you will not get sufficient amperage to your smoker