First packer on my WSM with Digi Q.

[worm304]

So my wife was nice enough to give me my Christmas present(Digi Q) early because I was attempting my first packer. 17 LB. before trimming.

Went 225 with oak and hickory for 9 hours. Used a pretty standard beef rub. Injected the night before with beef broth, worsch and a little garlic powder. Foiled and finished in oven at 265. Total cook was about 13 hours. Rested inva cooler for almost 3 hours before slicing. It was better than I expected it to be. Hope you enjoy and thanks for looking!

 

[noboundaries]

Looks juicy and delicious!

 

[SmokinAl]

Good looking brisket!
It sure looks juicy!
Al

 

[danbono]

Looking Good!! How did the DigiQ work out?
Thanks Dan

 

[worm304]

Well. I put the meat on at 10:30ish pm. The digi was holding perfect 225 before I went to bed at 12:30. When I woke up at 7:00 ish my pit was way to hot at around 280...it spiked to 300 before I could close the top vent to bring it back down. I am not sure at which point it stopped holding 225. I also dont know if this was a result of the water pan being low or not. I wasn't quiet awake yet but I did add more water and it brought the temp down. I know it wasnt the digis fault it spiked. It was probably the charcoal flaring near the end of what was left. Either'm happy I have the unit.

 

[mdboatbum]

Temp controllers are like an engine with no brakes, so the removal of any variable which can cause a runaway temp spike is a good idea. In your case, I'd have gone with an empty water pan or a solid heat sink such as sand or gravel.

A water pan does a great job of maintaining temperature as it requires a significant amount of energy to change the temperature of water. Since the water can only heat to 212°, it does a fair job of preventing temp spikes. Until it evaporates, that is. Imagine trying to push a grocery cart filled with cinder blocks up a hill. You're going to be expending a tremendous of energy to keep it moving at a slow and steady speed. Then imagine the cinder clocks all disappear, but you keep pushing with the same force. Suddenly that cart is moving at a furious pace, as the energy required to move it has just been significantly reduced to a point far below the amount of energy actually being put in. Sure, you'd stop pushing immediately, but fire isn't that smart.

So, in short, a water pan and a temp controller together is a bad idea. The controller is designed to RAISE the temp, but has no way of lowering it or stopping it from raising it on its own.

 

[noboundaries]

Great analogy!

 

[tallbm]

Well. I put the meat on at 10:30ish pm. The digi was holding perfect 225 before I went to bed at 12:30. When I woke up at 7:00 ish my pit was way to hot at around 280...it spiked to 300 before I could close the top vent to bring it back down. I am not sure at which point it stopped holding 225. I also dont know if this was a result of the water pan being low or not. I wasn't quiet awake yet but I did add more water and it brought the temp down. I know it wasnt the digis fault it spiked. It was probably the charcoal flaring near the end of what was left. Either'm happy I have the unit.

Looks fantastic!
Don't worry about the temp spikes. Briskets can handle them no prob. Hell my mother smokes a brisket as high as about 415-425F and they come out great. She has the super hot smoke down!

 

[sauced]

Great job....looks delicious!!!

 

[worm304]

Temp controllers are like an engine with no brakes, so the removal of any variable which can cause a runaway temp spike is a good idea. In your case, I'd have gone with an empty water pan or a solid heat sink such as sand or gravel.

A water pan does a great job of maintaining temperature as it requires a significant amount of energy to change the temperature of water. Since the water can only heat to 212°, it does a fair job of preventing temp spikes. Until it evaporates, that is. Imagine trying to push a grocery cart filled with cinder blocks up a hill. You're going to be expending a tremendous of energy to keep it moving at a slow and steady speed. Then imagine the cinder clocks all disappear, but you keep pushing with the same force. Suddenly that cart is moving at a furious pace, as the energy required to move it has just been significantly reduced to a point far below the amount of energy actually being put in. Sure, you'd stop pushing immediately, but fire isn't that smart.

So, in short, a water pan and a temp controller together is a bad idea. The controller is designed to RAISE the temp, but has no way of lowering it or stopping it from raising it on its own.

Thanks for the tip. I knew it wasn't the digi-q's fault for the spike. So if I go sand is there any specific type and should I still add a small foil pan of water for moisture purposes? Is there a good method for covering the sand so drippings don't get in other than I assume to double heavy duty foil the top of it. How much sand? Half way? Is an empty water pan better? I assume it would save on fuel as it won't have to work as hard to keep the temp. Without a heat sink can it still maintain 225 or in that ballpark? Thanks for the help!