What does everyone use for a temp controller on your smokers?

sandy1975 · 03-12-2013, 03:53 PM

Looking for what brands are the best and how much they cost? I have a Big Green Egg.

deepsouth · 03-12-2013, 03:58 PM

i have never used any sort of temp controller other than the daisywheel and the draft door. i've never had any problem whatsoever maintaining temps in the big green egg.

i am waiting for a fellow forum member (woodpelletsmoker) to make his new wireless thermo though. i have wanted a reliable one of those and the last two i bought (sunbeam brand, i think) have been as horrible as you could imagine.

Groundhog66 · 03-12-2013, 03:59 PM

Unless you plan to do a bunch of overnight cooks, it's a waste of money to buy one for a BGE IMO. I've got a Stoker, and I think I've used it 3-4 times in 2-3 years.

Andrew · 03-12-2013, 04:01 PM

i am the temp controller :D

gtr · 03-12-2013, 04:08 PM

Another luddite here.

I bought the iQue, used it a few times, it worked great. Now it doesn't work at all for some reason and I'm too lazy to figure it out and my life has been OK without it. Everybody has their methods and each person should do what works best for them. My approach is to use as few devices as possible (which basically means none) because I don't like having to rely on anything. Bear in mind I'm just a backyarder. If I was competing, catering, etc. it might well be another story altogether.

---k--- · 03-12-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtr

I bought the iQue, used it a few times, it worked great. Now it doesn't work at all for some reason and I'm too lazy to figure it out and my life has been OK without it. Everybody has their methods and each person should do what works best for them. My approach is to use as few devices as possible (which basically means none) because I don't like having to rely on anything. Bear in mind I'm just a backyarder. If I was competing, catering, etc. it might well be another story altogether.

Exactly the same here!

ButtBurner · 03-12-2013, 04:15 PM

I have an Auber.

I have one of the cheapest, simple vertical smokers there is.

It makes it work like a champ.

I can smoke sausages at 160f or chicken at 275f

The reason I use it is I have it on my smoker at my cabin, for example I put a venison roast on and went snowmobiling, came back to the cabin 4 hours later to a perfectly cooked meal.

its a great product.

Bludawg · 03-12-2013, 04:18 PM

I employ a model made in Mexico "Manuel Pitmaster"

Wampus · 03-12-2013, 04:22 PM

I use the intake and exhaust to control the temps on all of my pits.

Stoke&Smoke · 03-12-2013, 04:51 PM

I bought a Guru when I first bought my BGE. used it once or twice and ended up selling it to a Brethren.

Just not nescessary. We do comps with WSM's and other than a Maverick 732, don't really feel the need for temp control devices, just a good thermometer

J-Rod · 03-12-2013, 04:58 PM

I use the well-malted mush between my ears.

yakdung · 03-12-2013, 05:03 PM

I own one of these. I purchased it for the long overnight cooks.
http://store.thebbqguru.com/weborderentry/DigiQ%20DX2

IamMadMan · 03-12-2013, 05:06 PM

I adjust the air intake

charrederhead · 03-12-2013, 05:10 PM

Vents!

Gnaws on Pigs · 03-12-2013, 05:13 PM

I don't really see why you'd need one with any kamado-style cooker, the vents work fine. Even my Akorn will hold temps like an oven for 10-12 hours with only very minor adjustments. To me, learning your pit and how to control it is part of the art of cooking bbq.

03-12-2013, 03:53 PM	#1
sandy1975 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-29-12 Location: akron	What does everyone use for a temp controller on your smokers? Looking for what brands are the best and how much they cost? I have a Big Green Egg.

03-12-2013, 03:58 PM	#2
deepsouth somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-21-10 Location: Biloxi, MS	i have never used any sort of temp controller other than the daisywheel and the draft door. i've never had any problem whatsoever maintaining temps in the big green egg. i am waiting for a fellow forum member (woodpelletsmoker) to make his new wireless thermo though. i have wanted a reliable one of those and the last two i bought (sunbeam brand, i think) have been as horrible as you could imagine. __________________ Out. Again.

03-12-2013, 03:59 PM	#3
Groundhog66 Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-20-10 Location: Livermore, CA Name/Nickname : Tim	Unless you plan to do a bunch of overnight cooks, it's a waste of money to buy one for a BGE IMO. I've got a Stoker, and I think I've used it 3-4 times in 2-3 years. __________________ Backwoods Party G2 MAK 1 Star XL BGE SM BGE Weber 26" & JJ Blackstone 36" & 22" Brick Santa Maria Pit

03-12-2013, 04:08 PM	#5
gtr somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA	Another luddite here. I bought the iQue, used it a few times, it worked great. Now it doesn't work at all for some reason and I'm too lazy to figure it out and my life has been OK without it. Everybody has their methods and each person should do what works best for them. My approach is to use as few devices as possible (which basically means none) because I don't like having to rely on anything. Bear in mind I'm just a backyarder. If I was competing, catering, etc. it might well be another story altogether. __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 "Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one." - Miles Davis Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD?

03-12-2013, 04:18 PM	#8
Bludawg somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-04-09 Location: Jonesboro,Tx	I employ a model made in Mexico "Manuel Pitmaster" __________________ I'm a Proxy Vegetarian> Cows eat grass & I eat cows.

03-12-2013, 04:01 PM	#4
Andrew On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-20-13 Location: South of Dallas	i am the temp controller :D

03-12-2013, 04:15 PM	#7
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	I have an Auber. I have one of the cheapest, simple vertical smokers there is. It makes it work like a champ. I can smoke sausages at 160f or chicken at 275f The reason I use it is I have it on my smoker at my cabin, for example I put a venison roast on and went snowmobiling, came back to the cabin 4 hours later to a perfectly cooked meal. its a great product.

03-12-2013, 04:22 PM	#9
Wampus somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-05-09 Location: Mooresville, IN	I use the intake and exhaust to control the temps on all of my pits. __________________ [COLOR="Blue"][B]"Oh, I don’t reject Christ. I love Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ." -Mahatma Gandhi[/B][/COLOR]

03-12-2013, 04:51 PM	#10
Stoke&Smoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-07 Location: Western burbs of Chicago, IL	I bought a Guru when I first bought my BGE. used it once or twice and ended up selling it to a Brethren. Just not nescessary. We do comps with WSM's and other than a Maverick 732, don't really feel the need for temp control devices, just a good thermometer __________________ 2 Skinny Cooks Competition Team [URL]http://2SkinnyCooks.blogspot.com[/URL] KCBS CJ/TC #17139 Member ILBBQS Too many cookers to list :crazy:

03-12-2013, 04:58 PM	#11
J-Rod is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-15-12 Location: Irish Hills, MI	I use the well-malted mush between my ears. __________________ Okie Joe offset, UDS, Akorn, Weber Kettles, I'm JD.

03-12-2013, 05:03 PM	#12
yakdung is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-12-10 Location: Houston, Texas	I own one of these. I purchased it for the long overnight cooks. http://store.thebbqguru.com/weborderentry/DigiQ%20DX2

03-12-2013, 05:06 PM	#13
IamMadMan somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-30-11 Location: Pemberton, New Jersey	I adjust the air intake

03-12-2013, 05:10 PM	#14
charrederhead Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-29-12 Location: Litchfield County, CT Name/Nickname : Pete	Vents! __________________ hopelessly, helplessly, happily addicted to a shipload of Webers

03-12-2013, 05:13 PM	#15
Gnaws on Pigs is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-22-10 Location: Smoky Mountains, NC	I don't really see why you'd need one with any kamado-style cooker, the vents work fine. Even my Akorn will hold temps like an oven for 10-12 hours with only very minor adjustments. To me, learning your pit and how to control it is part of the art of cooking bbq. __________________ ...Half a yard full of crap to cook on like everybody else... Slow-to-average-speed [COLOR=dimgray]GRAY[/COLOR] Wal-Mart thermometer Just a hungry hillbilly lookin for a dead critter to cook Four [URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/group.php?groupid=39"]Zeros[/URL] in one [URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=86"][COLOR=red]throwdown[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=red],[/COLOR] baby! :bow: