Little trick on charcoal, take a 5 gallon bucket and put it on scale, add 12# charcoal. Mark inside bucket. Pour into basket, use weed burner (fire good....) to light center. Let burn close lid. When happy with temp (slight overshoot) open up add smoking wood, grate , meat and sit back and have a few.
Adjust line on bucket next time as to not waste charcoal.