Since i am a cheapskate trying to smoke stuff on a budget, i tried relocating the control knob/thermostat from my hot plate that i have been using for 3 years by lengthening the wires and putting the thermostat halfway up in my smoker. It worked pretty good, but was not up to 180 in an hour. I tried wiring direct. It lasted about 10 minutes, then died... Anyone else ever fry a hotplate?