Using Charcoal/Wood offset as an electric smoker

[bigbear77]

Ok all, I realize that this may simply be sacreligious to say. But I was wondering if anyone has used a hot plate in their offset smoker for long smokes?

For example, I am making a 7 lb pork butt. I got up at 4:00 to get smoking by 5:00. As, I am currently at church (I know I know... I should be listening to the service...) Anyway, I have the butt in the oven to maintain the cook while I am gone.

So I was thinking, it would be nice to be able to do an electric smoke for a while... Remove the hot plate... Then go to charcoal when doing a 10+ hour smoke.

Thoughts?

 

[valleypoboy]

I have both propane and charcoal. The propane is almost set and forget. Ive gone as long as 4 hours without touching it, but usually i check it every 1/2 hour. I still never leave home with it burning though.
what you're talking about can be done, but should it? Would you feel safe leaving home with it burning? I don't even like leaving home with my oven on... I probably would have have dropped it in a slow cooker on low.