I am using my UDS for the first time today. I am smoking an injected chicken. I half filled my basket with briquets and started approximately 10 briquets in my chimney. At 3 15 I dumped my chimney into my basket and put on my rack, my bird, and the lid. I have been monitoring the temp below the grate since I started. With all three intakes wide open and full chimney open (12" 2" diameter chimney) It took about 30 minutes or so to reach 299 degrees. It then started slowly dropping till it was around 295 degrees. It is a brisk 50 degree day today in southern Iowa. It seemed to hover around 295 degrees give or take a couple degrees. I decided to remove the lid and peek inside which of course created a massive updraft. I put the lid back on and lo and behold I had an instant temp spike just like I knew it would. It rapidly climbed to 300+ degrees and now approximately 7 minutes later it is around 311 degrees. I am not sure yet whether my UDS can maintain this temp or if it is gonna drop back down to around 295 degrees and stay there.
So my question is has anyone added more than 3 intakes to a UDS? I am wondering if my standard 3 intakes are enough flow to hold a 300+ degree temp for a chicken in cooler weather.
So my question is has anyone added more than 3 intakes to a UDS? I am wondering if my standard 3 intakes are enough flow to hold a 300+ degree temp for a chicken in cooler weather.