Electric heating element

[kallud]

Ok so I need a litttle help I'm trying to figure out what size electrical heating element I need to heat my fridge build. The internal dimensions is roughly 18.5X17.5X33.5 I'm not going to have a pid and I have only a standard 15amp breaker I will be plugging it into. I'm no electrician so I don't know anything really about watts voltage. I really don't want to go to a gas or charcoal as my heating methods. This is my first build and don't want to overwhelm myself.

Thanks
Kalin

 

[masonsjax]

15 amps x 110 volts = 1650 watts
That's the upper theoretical limit for your circuit. I'd either stay well below that, or look into installing a 20 amp circuit.

 

[kallud]

So would you think a 1000W or 1200w be enough to heat the smoker?

 

[crankybuzzard]

So would you think a 1000W or 1200w be enough to heat the smoker?

I use a 1500W element in my home built electric and it heats well up to 250°.  That's generally the highest I run it.  My smoker is 24"x24"x70".

So, the 1000-1200 you are talking about should work fine for heat, but, there's always a but, you will be at the mercy of the element as to how hot your chamber will get.

Look into a homebuilt PID or an off the shelf controller for your build.

Search for PID in the search bar, you'll see where dward has helped a lot of folks build one of their own for just this application.

 

[bigbluetruck]

I think Ill have everything you will need for sale. I'm about 99% decided on going with a Pellet pro because of the ease of set and forget, I don't have time to babysit things. I have a 1500 watt element IIRC (Ill double check) and the Auberins PID, heat sink, and both thermocouples. None of it has been used, and Ill sell it for what I paid for it. I was going to use it in my fridge build, unless the experts talk me out of it.

 

[crankybuzzard]

I think Ill have everything you will need for sale. I'm about 99% decided on going with a Pellet pro because of the ease of set and forget, I don't have time to babysit things. I have a 1500 watt element IIRC (Ill double check) and the Auberins PID, heat sink, and both thermocouples. None of it has been used, and Ill sell it for what I paid for it. I was going to use it in my fridge build, unless the experts talk me out of it.

If you have the Auber PID, the element, AND the frig, I think I'd suggest building a unit the way you want it.  The only thing I would add is to get an AMAZEN for the smoke...

 

[bigbluetruck]

The biggest question I had was how long will the AMAZEN burn inside the smoker? I know alot of guys run it outside in the mailbox thing but that seems like more of a hassle to me. I want it KISS

 

[crankybuzzard]

I get 6-8 hours out of an 18" tube depending on the pellets I use.

 

[bigbluetruck]

That should be plenty of time! In reality I don't think there's much need for smoke the whole time something is cooking, at least for those of us who are only doing it for ourselves. Now competition guys are different.

I'm guessing you're using the big tube, how high above your element is it?

 

[crankybuzzard]

That should be plenty of time! In reality I don't think there's much need for smoke the whole time something is cooking, at least for those of us who are only doing it for ourselves. Now competition guys are different.

I'm guessing you're using the big tube, how high above your element is it?

I have 3 of the 18" tubes and a few trays.  All provide me with plenty of smoke for most cooks, if I'm doing butts, or extended smokes, when 1 runs out, I pop another in...

My electric vertical is one I made from an old telecom cabinet and I have the "smoke spot" located under my element, and they are separated around 8" by a plate of perforated steel...