Pulled the Trigger

[martin1950]

Enough is enough. I love my PB820D but I've finally had it with her erratic behavior. One day she'd work as designed and the next time the temps would be all over the place. I know it's the pits fault because I'm O.C.D. Already replaced the heat sensor, no change. I was just making adjustment to temper the heat fluctuations. After I toasted and small Chucky the other week I pulled the trigger on a Grilla Alpha Dual controller with both conventional control or PID. And another plus, the company is only 45 mile north of me so I can go postal at a moments notice. Bought the controller, meat probe and another heat sensor. Had to exchange the one I got in the mail, it had a single plug and I needed a 4X. Real nice showroom, knowledgeable staff of their product. Also had a nice chat with the boss man himself. This was in the AM. Did the install and found the online manual early afternoon and by 1800hrs I had burned about 1 gallon of pellets giving her a good shakedown playing with both functions of the controller, I'm impressed. The only problem was I smoked a stink bug hiding under the heat diffuser, 350*x2hrs cured that problem. Got 2 yard birds that are going to get dusted w/ Tony's and have 1/2 can of beer stuck up their butts on Sunday, what the heck, they're cheap. I think this crossbreeding is going to work out with the physical attributes of the Boss that I'm use to and the tech of Grilla. Now to finish my beer.

 

[smokerjim]

hope you have it straightened out so you can get back to enjoying your smoker.

 

[martin1950]

I'll find out Sunday

 

[smokerjim]

I have a pitboss also, mine holds temp good but my problem is runs hotter then set temp.( 20-80 degrees) they did send me a new control board and thermometer but haven't installed them yet so I don't know if that solved my problem. let me know how yours works out.

 

[gmc2003]

Sounds like you found a good company to do business with. Have fun with the remodeled toy - looking forward to seeing the final results.

Chris

 

[martin1950]

By no way is this designed as a dig on Pit Boss, I love my 820D, I just want a little tighter control on my smoking and as any of my friend will attest to I'm a little anal because of my O.C.D. Well I jumped the gun and did the yard birds on Saturday, one beer can and one split in half marinated it Tony's chicken juice. Set the Alpha up at 325*, mode 2 to run for 2 & 1/2hrs with NO probes just to compare cooking times w/ my old P.B. controller. After the startup, warmup and settle-in, the 1st thing I noticed was the amount of smoke during a cycle. I didn't billow out of everywhere like the P.B. but I could still see some. The readings on the panel constantly ran a +5* from the set point and only swung up another +10* during the dump cycle, sure beats the erratic swings I use to have. It's going to take a while to get use to the fan and auger cycling sounds. When timer went off I probed both birds and removed them. Not quite the color I'm used to but it was not chicken yellow, but noticeably lighter outside and inside and with a lighter taste of smoke from what I'm use to. Not bad for only a short cook. I'm starting a new journal on my cooks with adjustment noted. Next test will be a butt, but 1st. we need to eat all the leftovers in the freezer so it's going to be a while. Did an after-cook burn-off at 450* x 1/2hr to carbonize all the chicken fat. Went I vac'ed her out this morning I did notice considerably less ash in and around the pot. I always thought my old set-up was dumping way too many pellets. To sum it up in a single word, "Happy"