The consensus then is vent wide open, dry chips for everything from sausage to whole turkey? I just assumed (wrongly) that the electric was to operate like the bullit cooker they also sell. Which uses a small amount of chips, no top vent, the smoke stays in, I've had similar bullits and they smoked exceptionally well with little amount of chips due to no vent.
Keep on experimenting---That's a good way to learn.
All we do is give you our experiences to help you save some time & headaches (And bad food).
After 7 years of using nothing but MES units, I can't help you with any other kind of smoker, but Electric, and mainly MES.
However anything I tell you didn't come from any book, especially one written by someone who probably never used an MES.
Like JJ said, I started 7 years ago, fighting with the Chips & chunks, and all I got was off and on smoke, and sometimes too much smoke. Then I tried a Smoke Generator for $100, and found it to be a POJ.
Then Todd Johnson invented the AMNS, and I helped him test them. They are Great, but they weren't good for temps much over 200°, so he invented the
AMNPS, good for Low & High Heat.
So that's what I have Happily used for more than 6 years now. They work Awesome!! Wouldn't want to smoke without one.
Bear