New Smoker, New Brinkmann Electric Owner - Heating Element Questions - can my foil-wrapped chips tou

[splendorlex]

For starters, I'm really glad I found this site. Nothing better than an active forum to get help with stuff like this!

I just got a Brinkmann Electric smoker for Father's Day (the red one) and I'm attempting my first smoke after curing it this morning. Starting with chicken leg quarters to try something hopefully easy to start. :)  

My question is about the heating element. I wrapped a couple handfuls of hickory chips in foil and poked a couple holes in the top. I dropped it in the bottom there, but there's really no way I could avoid it hitting the element. The provided lava rocks don't cover it up, they just sort of make a relatively even surface of lava rocks and the heating element. Is it ok to do it like this?

Also, it smoked pretty good for an hour but now I just put in another wrapped package of chips. Should I not have done that? Or should I have taken out the other package first? 

 

[daveomak]

Lex, morning and welcome to the forum......  If the second pack is smoking, all is fine.......

Please take a moment and stop into " [color= rgb(146, 144, 139)]/[/color][color= rgb(128, 0, 0)]Roll Call[/color][color= rgb(146, 144, 139)]/[/color]   " and introduce yourself and get a proper welcome from our members.... Also, if you would note your location in your profile, it will help in the future when answering questions about smokin'...   elevation, humidity etc....    

We're glad you stopped in and joined our group...    Enjoy the long smokey ride....     Dave