Temperature Controller

[bmaddox]

Who is using a temperature controller on their UDS? What make and model are you using? Even though controlling the temps on my UDS is pretty easy, I am a gadget nerd and a temp controller sounds really appealing. I am considering one of these two or building my own.

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_27&products_id=351


I think I can build my own for around $90 but the $150 to get a real one might be the way to go.

 

[chiefmanywrenches]

I use the BBQ Guru Digi-Q DX-2 with the pit viper 10cfm fan. It is perfect for the UDS and has a lot of really cool features but a little pricy. You are correct in that the UDS is really easy to control but with mine the temps are usually either slowly creeping up or slowly creeping down if I try to stay around 225*. It will level off for a while but not long enough for me to trust if overnight which is where I do my big smokes. With one ball valve wide open it will hold between 245-265 for a long time but that is a little higher that I usually run it at. 

 

[bmaddox]

I was trying to run it at 300 but it kept wanting to jump up to 330. I am thinking that I can add a controller and close off all the other intakes to help keep it closer to 300.

 

[chiefmanywrenches]

Yes, definitely. I have an adapter that screws into one of my ball valves. I leave that one wide open with the fan and the other closed. It will keep it anywhere from 200 or so to 400+ if you really get it cranking.

 

[threemuch]

A friend built mine for me with a Sestos D1S-2R-220 and put it in a acrylic box with an outlet panel. I'll post a pic up tomorrow.  $50ish.

 

[bmaddox]

 
A friend built mine for me with a Sestos D1S-2R-220 and put it in a acrylic box with an outlet panel. I'll post a pic up tomorrow.  $50ish.

What fan do you use with it?

 

[threemuch]

No fan.  It's connected to the electric burners.  AMNPS for smoke, two electric burners connected to the PID controller for temp, I can leave it overnight without more than 2-3 degrees of temperature excursion.

I am sure you could use it on a wood burner with a fan, kicking the fan on to cool, but I chose electric.  I don't need 20 pounds of wood for 12 hours of smoke, I need a pound of pellets in the AMNPS.

Biggest problem is that with an uninsulated barrel, I need about 2kW to get 240F, which means I either need to supplement with a small fire, or put an insulation blanket over it, or power the second burner from another circuit. Because 20A at 110 is about 2kW   But I can get about 220F out of the single burner, and if I need higher temp, I add a small burner from a metal hot plate and run the power to another circuit.  I rarely need hotter than 220, so I just run the one burner.  

If I was only hot smoking and didn't want tight temp control (I do because I smoke a lot of sausage) I would forgo the PID controller completely, because 1500W in a UDS gets you pretty a pretty good smoking temp of 220F.

Cool part is I can use the same dang controller connected to my 5 gallon bucket and hot water heater element Sous Vide cooker.

 

[timberjet]

 
No fan.  It's connected to the electric burners.  AMNPS for smoke, two electric burners connected to the PID controller for temp, I can leave it overnight without more than 2-3 degrees of temperature excursion.

I am sure you could use it on a wood burner with a fan, kicking the fan on to cool, but I chose electric.  I don't need 20 pounds of wood for 12 hours of smoke, I need a pound of pellets in the AMNPS.

Biggest problem is that with an uninsulated barrel, I need about 2kW to get 240F, which means I either need to supplement with a small fire, or put an insulation blanket over it, or power the second burner from another circuit. Because 20A at 110 is about 2kW   But I can get about 220F out of the single burner, and if I need higher temp, I add a small burner from a metal hot plate and run the power to another circuit.  I rarely need hotter than 220, so I just run the one burner.  

If I was only hot smoking and didn't want tight temp control (I do because I smoke a lot of sausage) I would forgo the PID controller completely, because 1500W in a UDS gets you pretty a pretty good smoking temp of 220F.

Cool part is I can use the same dang controller connected to my 5 gallon bucket and hot water heater element Sous Vide cooker.

Sorry but 20 pounds of wood for 12 hours of smoke?

 

[threemuch]

Just basing it on what most people said about their non-electric UDS.  Stuff like "I can put 20 pounds in my fire basket and it will go for 12 hours!" 

I am not and won't ever be hung up on the need for the burning wood to be the heat source.  I like that I can do 15-30 cooks out of a bag of pellets and get the exact temp that I want.  I have used chip pans too, but they only last about 4 hours, so the AMNPS get's me nice blue smoke all night long.

 

[bmaddox]

I have two electric smokers so my UDS will stay a charcoal unit. I am leaning towards a PID that can power an element as well so I can convert my E-ECB to a cold smoker. I will most likely use the fan from Auber as it seems to be the most versatile pit fan and I could easily move it to another smoker at a later date.

 

[timberjet]

 
Just basing it on what most people said about their non-electric UDS.  Stuff like "I can put 20 pounds in my fire basket and it will go for 12 hours!" 

I am not and won't ever be hung up on the need for the burning wood to be the heat source.  I like that I can do 15-30 cooks out of a bag of pellets and get the exact temp that I want.  I have used chip pans too, but they only last about 4 hours, so the AMNPS get's me nice blue smoke all night long.

Well I get 12 hours out of 10 pounds of charcoal in mine and if it's warm out maybe 8 pounds. Pretty cheap if you ask me. Electricity is expensive where I live and I don't like to be tied to the grid in case the power is out. I also like to take the smoker to hunting camp where there is no electricity. To each his own I guess.