Howdy from the great white north!

[SnackmanTO]

Hello folks..
I find myself in the midst of repairing my Smokin' Tex 1400 and have landed here because many google searches have showed it must be the place with the answers.... Will be looking to replace/ upgrade the analog thermostat with this fancy digital PID ive picked up online.... hope once im successful I can post some pics of food rather then a broken smoker.... off to search more on the forums..

Cheers
Snackman

 

[normanaj]

Hello from RI.

What PID did you end up with?If it's an Auber the re-wire for it is the same as a Smokin-It analog and is incredibly simple!

 

[SnackmanTO]

Hello from RI.

What PID did you end up with?If it's an Auber the re-wire for it is the same as a Smokin-It analog and is incredibly simple!

I bought what I believe is an Auber copy possibly for AliExpress it’s a Rex c-100?

Hello from RI.

What PID did you end up with?If it's an Auber the re-wire for it is the same as a Smokin-It analog and is incredibly simple!

 

[normanaj]

I bought what I believe is an Auber copy possibly for AliExpress it’s a Rex c-100?

Not Auber but there is a gentleman here who has quite a bit of experience with that particular PID.

Calling JC in GB !

 

[SnackmanTO]

Not Auber but there is a gentleman here who has quite a bit of experience with that particular PID.

Calling JC in GB !

I’m not sure if that was the bat signal but I did do some playing around with this controller tonight and have a general understanding of its basic operation ( set temp, switch between cooling and heated modes) and I’ve ran it on my bench to make sure I understand its operation. My original plan was to ditch the analog temperature control but I was warned maybe it’s best to keep it as a fail safe if this Chinese control decides to melt down… right now I’m looking for a junction box I bought for a different project before I cave and purchase a new on on Amazon. Also need to buy some heat shield wire… my hope is to have the digital box on a plug and play system with the old smoker body.

 

[Bigtank]

Welcome to the forum from NW Iowa. What part of the north are from?
Eric

 

[SnackmanTO]

Welcome to the forum from NW Iowa. What part of the north are from?
Eric

Georgian Bay Ontario Canada

 

[nlife]

Welcome from northern BC. Been thinking of getting a PID for my Bradley

 

[JLinza]

Welcome, from Colorado

 

[JC in GB]

I’m not sure if that was the bat signal but I did do some playing around with this controller tonight and have a general understanding of its basic operation ( set temp, switch between cooling and heated modes) and I’ve ran it on my bench to make sure I understand its operation. My original plan was to ditch the analog temperature control but I was warned maybe it’s best to keep it as a fail safe if this Chinese control decides to melt down… right now I’m looking for a junction box I bought for a different project before I cave and purchase a new on on Amazon. Also need to buy some heat shield wire… my hope is to have the digital box on a plug and play system with the old smoker body.

I have been using the Rex C-100 controllers for a few years now and they work very well. The only downside is that they do require some knowledge of how to do set up and sometimes they come configuration locked from the vendor which limits how much you can customize them. The first few I got were completely unlocked and I really liked them a lot. The last batch I got were all config locked and were not as fun to work with. They still work well enough but I like to be able to set my own temp min - max limits or set for degrees F instead of C but the config lock defeats that function. I have tried unlocking them but have had no success thus far.

JC

 

[SnackmanTO]

I have been using the Rex C-100 controllers for a few years now and they work very well. The only downside is that they do require some knowledge of how to do set up and sometimes they come configuration locked from the vendor which limits how much you can customize them. The first few I got were completely unlocked and I really liked them a lot. The last batch I got were all config locked and were not as fun to work with. They still work well enough but I like to be able to set my own temp min - max limits or set for degrees F instead of C but the config lock defeats that function. I have tried unlocking them but have had no success thus far.

JC

how can I tell the difference exactly? I was able to go into all the SL menus and the different CODE menus... in your opinion should I retain the original analog thermostat in my smoker, or just wire this PID as the primary controller and call it a day..admittedly I did buy this on Alibaba for like $22.

 

[JC in GB]

how can I tell the difference exactly? I was able to go into all the SL menus and the different CODE menus... in your opinion should I retain the original analog thermostat in my smoker, or just wire this PID as the primary controller and call it a day..admittedly I did buy this on Alibaba for like $22.

Keep your analog controller on hand. Always wise to keep a back up. I have had no issues with my REX C-100s since I started using them. If you can change the display from F to C (SL2) and set the measuring ranges (SLH and SLL), you have an unlocked controller. I have set up my REX C-100 for controlling a SSR for my electric smoker and also made a MOSFET output driver board for running a fan for my charcoal smoker. Both applications worked out quite well.

JC

 

[SnackmanTO]

ok when I get home I will see if I can get into SL2 and change the Temp... I have to believe its set in C now... we shall see I do have the manual and while it's almost impossible to read after watching a video you can decipher some of it... do you happen to have a wiring diagram written out or only the tutorial I saw previously? I think I got the general idea of how. am going to attack this install.

 

[JC in GB]

ok when I get home I will see if I can get into SL2 and change the Temp... I have to believe its set in C now... we shall see I do have the manual and while it's almost impossible to read after watching a video you can decipher some of it... do you happen to have a wiring diagram written out or only the tutorial I saw previously? I think I got the general idea of how. am going to attack this install.

Here is some information I have that you may find useful.

JC

 

[SnackmanTO]

Here is some information I have that you may find useful.

JC

thank you

 

[SnackmanTO]

Here is some information I have that you may find useful.

JC

Hey JC,
Thanks for your help,
So went into the manual and it’s the same as the one provided with the controller as well. I have it all wired up and my element is heating my smokin’ Tex with just the PID as controller. I’ve switched it into F degrees using SL6 to 0001 but I noticed the PV didn’t change.. right now I’m doing a test to see if I can get it up to 325 degree F so far it’s only at 77…. Im wondering if maybe I need to dig deeper into the settings

 

[SnackmanTO]

 

[SnackmanTO]

 

[SnackmanTO]

So the issue I have currently… 1) it seems to be VERY VERY SLOW to heat up.. element is red hot, oven seems very hot. Thermocouple seems to be reading low… 2) the AT light to the left side of the digital panel is flashing yellow. No idea why? Don’t have auto tune on, tried turning it on no change in that flashing yellow light, put temp to below current thermocouple temp. Yellow light still flashing.

 

[JC in GB]

So the issue I have currently… 1) it seems to be VERY VERY SLOW to heat up.. element is red hot, oven seems very hot. Thermocouple seems to be reading low… 2) the AT light to the left side of the digital panel is flashing yellow. No idea why? Don’t have auto tune on, tried turning it on no change in that flashing yellow light, put temp to below current thermocouple temp. Yellow light still flashing.

That is a new one to me. Can't help you there. Hope you get it worked out.

JC