My Electric ECB is getting weak

gmebey

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Oct 3, 2009

75

11

• Jun 8, 2010

• #1

I'm sure this has been asked and addressed before, so sorry in advance.

I have a old charcoal ECB that I converted to electric with the $45 conversion kit, which was nothing more than a element on a metal plate.

At first it would easily run up to and above 275F, but now it struggles to get above 230.

Is this normal, and suggestions?

Thanks,

Guys.

 

TulsaJeff

Smoke Whisperer

Staff member

Administrator

OTBS Member

Jun 28, 2005

5,436

934

Tulsa, OK

• Jun 8, 2010

• #2

I have heard that those elements do have to be replaced periodically however, if you are able to get to 230 degrees then that is about perfect for smoking meat. The biggest complaint I see for the electric ECB is that it gets too hot.

Your smoker may be in it's prime

If you really do want it to get hotter, you can also try using less water in the water pan.. even no water would not be a bad thing to help it get to the higher temps.

 

gmebey

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Oct 3, 2009

75

11

• Jun 9, 2010

• #3

Thanks for the advice. Most of the time running at 230 isn't a problem until it gets colder outside or I'm doing poultry.

By any chance do you know if it is the element that gets week or is it the connections between the cord and the element?

Maybe it is time to upgrade

 

TulsaJeff

Smoke Whisperer

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• Jun 9, 2010

• #4

Looks like it may be time to upgrade.. you can check the connection between the cord and the element but I think mine is hard soldered together.

If you lived nearby, I would just give you one, I have almost a brand new electric ECB in the barn. I picked it up to use for a few days so I could write about it (Brinkmann does not send me test equipment like some of the other companies do for some reason).

Time for a Weber Smokey Mountain.. just as easy if not easier to control the temperature, uses charcoal and will last you a very long time.

 

athabaskar

Smoking Fanatic

Nov 21, 2007

309

12

Irving, Texas

• Jun 9, 2010

• #5

In the barn? My God man. Get that puppy out and do some set and forget and stop buying charcoal. Use wood if you must, which I still do in my stick burner.

Here I am giving advice to the guru. I'll take 20 lashes with a wet noodle if you please.

By the way, I love all my Weber products and would not trade them for anything.

 

gmebey

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Oct 3, 2009

75

11

• Jun 9, 2010

• #6

Oh heck with it ...I think I should go for the gusto. I was just buying time until I could build a smoke cabinet!

Already have the Big Kahuna (Smoke Daddy), controllers and room in the shed.

Thanks for the help.

 

flash

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Mar 30, 2007

5,280

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Chiefland/Cedar Key, Fl

• Jun 9, 2010

• #7

Always check your cords. Also the shorter the cord the better.

And Jeff, most Electric ECB owners I know complain about it NOT getting hot enough.

 

TulsaJeff

Smoke Whisperer

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Jun 28, 2005

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Tulsa, OK

• Jun 9, 2010

• #8

Flash said:

Always check your cords. Also the shorter the cord the better.

And Jeff, most Electric ECB owners I know complain about it NOT getting hot enough.

Click to expand...

Really??

I get tons of emails on how to cool it down

Go figure.. can't make anyone happy.

Actually I just had a brilliant idea, perhaps the "too hot" folks should do swaps with the "not hot enough" folks and that way everyone could be happy. Just an idea

 

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