Question For You Electronic Guys

[BGKYSmoker]

Way back when i was using Bradley smokers they were hooked to an Auber Electric Smoker PID. I no longer use Bradleys. I have a TSM 30Lb digital smoker. The coil is 1000w. The stock digital control is programable but only for heat. (no ramp feature) The smoker only has 1 plug from the back of the control housing, on/off switch on the front. My question is, Can the smoker plug go to the back of the Auber PID without messing up the digital control that is stock on the smoker? I can take pics if needed. Yes the stock control has a temp probe located in the smoker. The PID has just a temp probe that can go down thru the top vent if needed.

TY

 

[daveomak]

No....   The power supply cord for the Bradley needs constant current and voltage to run the unit...   The Auber, while controlling, will not supply constant current and voltage....

Provide a separate power cord from the element to the Auber ....   The power to the element, on the Bradley unit "can" supply power to the Auber if it is an "on-off" control...

That's what I did with my MES...   I inserted a dimmer between the controller power supply and heating element...   When the controller said "Power on", the dimmer supplied a lower voltage/amperage to the element....   Overtemp still works..  Power on/off still works...   only the heat is affected......

 

[BGKYSmoker]

 
No....   The power supply cord for the Bradley needs constant current and voltage to run the unit...   The Auber, while controlling, will not supply constant current and voltage....

Provide a separate power cord from the element to the Auber ....   The power to the element, on the Bradley unit "can" supply power to the Auber if it is an "on-off" control...

That's what I did with my MES...   I inserted a dimmer between the controller power supply and heating element...   When the controller said "Power on", the dimmer supplied a lower voltage/amperage to the element....   Overtemp still works..  Power on/off still works...   only the heat is affected......

Thats what i didnt want to do is wire the element direct so i can use a PID. Guess i will just go out end hit the P buttone every few hours.

Thanks Dave

 

[dward51]

Rick,

Edited.....

Ok, my take on your hitting the "P" button is you are having to change the set point for a multi step sausage smoke and would like to automate it like it was on the Auber.  Is this correct?

Auber Instruments has a PID that is just a little bigger than the Novus 321 cutout. The model is SMD200 for $97.  It has the 6 step programming option like the Bradley version did. It should work with the existing temp sensor in the TSM as it actually works with more versions than the Novus will.  The Novus 321 has a dry contact 16amp switched AC rated output so it is acting as a simple on/off switch. You would need to add a SSR and make the appropriate wiring changes inside the TSM control box and it should all fit in the stock box.  The exception might be the fins of the SSR heatsink would likely be outside the housing, but it would look stock. 

Also that model Auber is a dual probe and would give you another meat probe.

If you are going to have to mod it to use the Bradley box from Auber, might as well do it right and swap out the controller and keep everything in the same control box.  Just make the measurements to make sure it will all fit.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

 
Rick,

Edited.....

Ok, my take on your hitting the "P" button is you are having to change the set point for a multi step sausage smoke and would like to automate it like it was on the Auber.  Is this correct?

Auber Instruments has a PID that is just a little bigger than the Novus 321 cutout. The model is SMD200 for $97.  It has the 6 step programming option like the Bradley version did. It should work with the existing temp sensor in the TSM as it actually works with more versions than the Novus will.  The Novus 321 has a dry contact 16amp switched AC rated output so it is acting as a simple on/off switch. You would need to add a SSR and make the appropriate wiring changes inside the TSM control box and it should all fit in the stock box.  The exception might be the fins of the SSR heatsink would likely be outside the housing, but it would look stock. 

Also that model Auber is a dual probe and would give you another meat probe.

If you are going to have to mod it to use the Bradley box from Auber, might as well do it right and swap out the controller and keep everything in the same control box.  Just make the measurements to make sure it will all fit.

Thanks DW

I will look into that one. Not a fan of probes in the meat so that one is out.

 

[dward51]

Another thought if you want to use the Bradley box from Auber that you already have.....

You could mod the unit by taking the output from the controller and routing it to an outlet on the back of the TSM control housing.  Put a 110v pigtail with a standard grounded plug on the leg to the element that also comes out the back (or bottom for more weather resistance).  To use the TSM 30 "as is" just plug that pigtail cord into the outlet from the Novus controller.  To use the Bradley, plug the pigtail into the Bradley/Auber box and route the Auber temp sensor into the smoke chamber.  It's about a $10 mod, would look clean, and let you run stock or on the PID controller with the multi-step programming capability.

I'm not sure how the wiring from the controller to the element is done, but you could make the cut to insert the plug and pigtail at any point between the controller relay and the element if you did not have room in the control box for the outlet and pigtail connection.  Just make sure to take the green wire from the pigtail to the metal frame so you will still have a ground if you are using the auber/bradley box.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

 
Another thought if you want to use the Bradley box from Auber that you already have.....

You could mod the unit by taking the output from the controller and routing it to an outlet on the back of the TSM control housing.  Put a 110v pigtail with a standard grounded plug on the leg to the element that also comes out the back (or bottom for more weather resistance).  To use the TSM 30 "as is" just plug that pigtail cord into the outlet from the Novus controller.  To use the Bradley, plug the pigtail into the Bradley/Auber box and route the Auber temp sensor into the smoke chamber.  It's about a $10 mod, would look clean, and let you run stock or on the PID controller with the multi-step programming capability.

I'm not sure how the wiring from the controller to the element is done, but you could make the cut to insert the plug and pigtail at any point between the controller relay and the element if you did not have room in the control box for the outlet and pigtail connection.  Just make sure to take the green wire from the pigtail to the metal frame so you will still have a ground if you are using the auber/bradley box.

I'm going to break out the Crown Royal for all this.

 

[crankybuzzard]

I'm going to break out the Crown Royal for all this.

Go easy!

CR tends to make one creative!

You want a ramping temperature controller, not a rocket engine!