Noob lucked up and found a proofer for $25. Can you help me with the build?

[handymanstan]

For a pid some thing like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-240VAC-...405?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460abcf13d

This is the manual http://www.rkcinst.co.jp/english/pdf_manual/imnzc17e3.pdf

Stan

 

[daveomak]

Joe, morning.... FWIW, my temp for smoking pork butts is 210.... Smoking Al taught me that... It works well for me and no meat drying out ... Smoking food is low and slow.... takes time but what else you gonna do...  Food cooks all by itself at that temp.....  

I would leave the 220 limit switch and finish stuff in the oven if it needed a higher temp....    That's what I'd do... 

 

[cajun joe]

You, know, Dave.  That WOULD be the common sense thing to do.  It's funny how that NEVER occurred to me. Seriously.  What an incredibly obvious solution. 

 

[cajun joe]

Stan,  thanks for the link to the PID... I will go with Dave's solution for a few weeks until the mrs. forgets how much I've spent already.  ;-)  Then I'm going with the flashing lights and fancy gadget!

 

[smokin-aces]

If you don't mind me being nosey... how much do you have invested in this smoker?

 

[cajun joe]

Actually, not much... In the actual smoker, only a little over $100.

25 for the warmer... 65 or so for vents... 10-20 for miscellaneous nuts/bolts... 6 for a new on/off switch

Now, you gotta think about it the way the Mrs. Does... Sausage stuffer cost, meat grinder cost, a hank of casings, a thermometer, smoke pistol, smoke bullets, a couple stainless oven racks, some stainless mixing trays, insulated gloves, 50-60 lbs of "practice" meat... Probably forgetting a couple other things, too.

I came into this only since Christmas. :-/

 

[dward51]

Joe,

Do a search on the forum for "Auber PID".  You will find a lot of discussion on these along with photos and wiring examples from others who used them.

Here is their PID selection on their website. You will also find temp probes (you will need at least one of these to wire into the PID), and the SSR's on the same website.  You will need a heat sink for a SSR.  Prices are fairly decent, but you can sometimes do better on Ebay (just beware of Chinese junk).  Auber is a proven product line for this purpose.  There is one thread on here where a 2nd PID was used as a programmable high limit switch and 2nd reading of pit temp at element/fans.

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

I've got a Omega controller I picked up for a song on ebay years ago and I recently aquired a McCall warmer/proofer similar to yours.  I just need to find the time to take it apart and rewire with the PID and SSR's.  I want to use a AMZNPS pellet tray or tube as my smoke source.  My heating element is not working, but I think it's disconnected.  Like I said, I just need to find time and take a stab at it.  Only structural change will be to add air intake and exhaust for smoke.

Here is some photos of the Omega controler I picked up and how the airflow in my cabinet will work.  I thought I had some photos of the McCall cabinet, but they were on my cell phone that died (and I forgot to take the SD card out when I swapped it out).

106_2733.JPG

• dward51
• Aug 8, 2012

warmer conversion 1.jpg

• dward51
• Aug 26, 2012

 

[cajun joe]

That looks a lot like my cabinet. I went in and replaced the high temp switch and inserted a 3/4 inch pipe 12 inches into the chamber from the top. My thinking is that it would get me into a little bit cooler area than having the thermostat sitting in the ceiling.

I capped the pipe for looks, but it has too much mass and doesn't cool at the same rate as the air surrounding it. That led to 35 degree temp swings from top cutoff to on again. I am able to get to 235 now which I think is perfect. I plan to remove the cap and see if hat helps. I suspect it will because air should move up and through. That ought to settle the thermostat and allow it to match the surrounding temp a bit better.

I'm making 50# of sausage this weekend, so I hope I got it figured out.

Here are a few pics of what I did... Except the pipe for the thermostat. I'll post a pic of that when I see my house in daylight again.

Interior with bars in place

image.jpg

• cajun joe
• Jan 17, 2013

Exhaust port with baffle full close

image.jpg

• cajun joe
• Jan 17, 2013

Exhaust port with baffle half open

image.jpg

• cajun joe
• Jan 17, 2013

Exhaust port with baffle at full open

image.jpg

• cajun joe
• Jan 17, 2013

Smoker view with smoke pistol attached

image.jpg

• cajun joe
• Jan 17, 2013

Had to install a switch

image.jpg

• cajun joe
• Jan 17, 2013

Next mod will be installing a light inside. :-)