Hello all. I have built a electric smoker from an old refer and have used it to make smoked pork, salmon, pepperoni, and ribs. Over the past year I have been struggling with the temp from top to bottom. The top of the smoker is 15-25 degrees cooler than the bottom. I know I should expect some difference due to the fact that my heating elements are on the bottom but as I smoke my meats the bottom sometimes burns before the top is near done. I tried rotating but that just makes the temp spike higher because I opened the doors. I was hoping for some input on how to even the heat out and get some technical advice on whether or not I have the temp probe in the correct spot and the controller set up properly.
Basic description of the smoker:
It was an old commercial fridge that I gutted and removed all the foam. I then added rock wool to all sides and reinstalled all the panels.(Pain in the ass) There is a drain center bottom of smoker for drippings, a vent on the left side which I hardly use and a port for my cold smoke generator on the right. There is a 4" chimney that starts at the top center and exits out the top right side of the smoker. There are 2-3000 watt elements running off single phase 240V. I have a PID controller for temp control which runs 2-40A solid state relays. I added a third 40A variable output relay to the right burner in an attempt to equalize the output to the left burner. This relay is in series with the main SSR relay for the right burner. My temp probe is at the top back of the cabinet in the center about 8" down. If you guys need more info please let me know or if you have questions on how I did something please ask. This may be a bunch to swallow at once but if you guys can help I would be grateful because I'm ready to scrap this thing and start all over again. Nah not really Im just frustrated that I cant figure it out.
So my questions are:
1-Would a heavy gauge steel plate or a layer of bricks over the heating elements help with keeping temp spike down as the PID turns the elements on either after a door is opened or when I change the temp? Would the plate help with evening out the temp in the smoker from top to bottom?
2-My temp probe is at the top of the smoker should it be at the bottom? If so the temp at the top would never get to set the point.
3-I bought two of the same elements at the same time but the right side is 10-15 degrees hotter than the left. I have tried switching the control relays and the elements but the right element is always hotter so its not the relays. Has anyone ever come across identical elements putting out different wattages?
4-Do you think I should have a PID for each burner?
Here you can see I tried to manage the temp difference from right to left with some tin foil over the right element.
Here are the two 3000 watt elements which I have covered with 18 gauge sheet metal.
PID controller and chimney exhaust.
The element with the heat shield. Yes I had a flare up when doing smoked pork.
Here is a video of the smoker.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Basic description of the smoker:
It was an old commercial fridge that I gutted and removed all the foam. I then added rock wool to all sides and reinstalled all the panels.(Pain in the ass) There is a drain center bottom of smoker for drippings, a vent on the left side which I hardly use and a port for my cold smoke generator on the right. There is a 4" chimney that starts at the top center and exits out the top right side of the smoker. There are 2-3000 watt elements running off single phase 240V. I have a PID controller for temp control which runs 2-40A solid state relays. I added a third 40A variable output relay to the right burner in an attempt to equalize the output to the left burner. This relay is in series with the main SSR relay for the right burner. My temp probe is at the top back of the cabinet in the center about 8" down. If you guys need more info please let me know or if you have questions on how I did something please ask. This may be a bunch to swallow at once but if you guys can help I would be grateful because I'm ready to scrap this thing and start all over again. Nah not really Im just frustrated that I cant figure it out.
So my questions are:
1-Would a heavy gauge steel plate or a layer of bricks over the heating elements help with keeping temp spike down as the PID turns the elements on either after a door is opened or when I change the temp? Would the plate help with evening out the temp in the smoker from top to bottom?
2-My temp probe is at the top of the smoker should it be at the bottom? If so the temp at the top would never get to set the point.
3-I bought two of the same elements at the same time but the right side is 10-15 degrees hotter than the left. I have tried switching the control relays and the elements but the right element is always hotter so its not the relays. Has anyone ever come across identical elements putting out different wattages?
4-Do you think I should have a PID for each burner?
Here you can see I tried to manage the temp difference from right to left with some tin foil over the right element.
Here are the two 3000 watt elements which I have covered with 18 gauge sheet metal.
PID controller and chimney exhaust.
The element with the heat shield. Yes I had a flare up when doing smoked pork.
Here is a video of the smoker.
Thanks in advance for the help!