Stoker temp swings

D.F. Expat · 09-27-2010, 04:29 PM

What are most people seeing for temp swings with their stoker? Mine seems to start out pretty tight then for whatever reason after an hour or 2 I start getting temp swings of 20-30 degrees over and under target. Any Ideas on how to correct this? Using it on a uds with lump and the 10cfm fan.

Thx

Big Jim BBQ · 09-27-2010, 04:42 PM

I don't know but I been told. Lump ain't so good in a UDS.

SmokerKing · 09-27-2010, 04:44 PM

I use lump on all my UDS smokes.

I don't use a fan but perhaps your chips or chunk wood are catching fire and causing the temperature to fluxuate?

Is the drum sealed good?

My UDS temps fluctuate a bit when first getting it up to temp and trying to stabilize on a desired temp. But once that's done (1st hour) it doesn't take much watching at all.

D.F. Expat · 09-27-2010, 06:29 PM

Drum is sealed tight, lid has 4 1 inch holes for exhaust. I wonder if the 10cfm fan is too much?

donmiller · 09-27-2010, 07:08 PM

I found that the 10cfm fan is too aggressive for my XL BGE, at least at low & slow temperatures. I cover half the fan inlet with duct tape.

Also, I find that the Stoker is far too aggressive in getting the lump started at the beginning of the cook. I get the temperature real close manually before I engage the Stoker. I feel that the aggressive start can cause wild swings later on, too. If too much of your charcoal bed is "involved" in the fire near the start of the cook, I think you end up repeatedly re-starting and re-snuffing out the fire with the Stoker during a good part of the cook. It is better IMHO to have the lump become involved gradually as the fuel is needed.

Don

D.F. Expat · 09-27-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donmiller

I found that the 10cfm fan is too aggressive for my XL BGE, at least at low & slow temperatures. I cover half the fan inlet with duct tape.

Also, I find that the Stoker is far too aggressive in getting the lump started at the beginning of the cook. I get the temperature real close manually before I engage the Stoker. I feel that the aggressive start can cause wild swings later on, too. If too much of your charcoal bed is "involved" in the fire near the start of the cook, I think you end up repeatedly re-starting and re-snuffing out the fire with the Stoker during a good part of the cook. It is better IMHO to have the lump become involved gradually as the fuel is needed.

Don

Thx for the suggestion, next cook I will cover half the fan intake and see if it helps with the swings

NorthwestBBQ · 09-27-2010, 07:23 PM

Use Kingsford and be amazed.

CBQ · 09-27-2010, 09:44 PM

Ya, cover the fan halfway and let us know what happens. You may need a 5cfm fan. On my offset the Stoker keeps it +2/-2 degrees.

txschutte · 09-27-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Jim BBQ

I don't know but I been told. Lump ain't so good in a UDS.

There ain't nothing better for a drum. You just gotta pack it right.

bbq lover · 09-27-2010, 11:14 PM

i use a 5 cfm fan and it works really good also dont use lump burns to hot with the fan

OneHump · 09-27-2010, 11:26 PM

How close are your high, low and target temps? I used to give mine a fairly wide berth but quickly learned that the device would over-correct when it had compensate for large temperature deficits. I've got mine dialed in at -2 and +3.

Soapm · 09-27-2010, 11:52 PM

I didn't realize those stokers work that well. You can keep your grill within 5°?

luke duke · 09-28-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soapm

I didn't realize those stokers work that well. You can keep your grill within 5°?

Yep.

D.F. Expat · 09-28-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneHump

How close are your high, low and target temps? I used to give mine a fairly wide berth but quickly learned that the device would over-correct when it had compensate for large temperature deficits. I've got mine dialed in at -2 and +3.

I dont use the high low alarms just set point, should I be setting alarms?

Sent from my Moto Droid using Tapatalk

D.F. Expat · 09-30-2010, 11:53 AM

Taped off half the fan intake and put an 8.25 lb Butt in this morning about 3 hours ago and it holds temps much better than before. Once it settles in it holds usually within 5 degrees with the occasional 10 degree swing. Will post the stoker logs when the cook is complete but much happier at this point. Thx for the suggestions guys.

09-27-2010, 04:29 PM	#1
D.F. Expat Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-26-07 Location: Mexico City	Stoker temp swings What are most people seeing for temp swings with their stoker? Mine seems to start out pretty tight then for whatever reason after an hour or 2 I start getting temp swings of 20-30 degrees over and under target. Any Ideas on how to correct this? Using it on a uds with lump and the 10cfm fan. Thx __________________ Stoked UDS 2.0 and OTS Formerly known as Smokin Newbie

09-27-2010, 04:42 PM	#2
Big Jim BBQ Take a breath! Join Date: 05-06-10 Location: Lake Harding, Al	I don't know but I been told. Lump ain't so good in a UDS. __________________ [B]BigJim[/B] [B]Charbroil CB940X[/B] [B]Charbroil Bandera and an Old NB Bandera (in restoration)[/B] [B]Charbroil [COLOR=red]RED[/COLOR][COLOR=black] infrared[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=black]Small Charbroil gasser (sorry), Weber Performer, Thermos Grill-to - Go[/COLOR][/B] [B]UDS x 2[/B] [B]Super-Fast, Splash Proof, Precisely Accurate, Highly Visible [COLOR=darkorange]ORANGE[/COLOR] Thermapen[/B] [B]Fast, Accurate and Shipped Free [COLOR=navy]BLUE [/COLOR]Thermapen, Maverick ET-73, Maverick ET-732 x2[/B]

09-27-2010, 06:29 PM	#4
D.F. Expat Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-26-07 Location: Mexico City	Drum is sealed tight, lid has 4 1 inch holes for exhaust. I wonder if the 10cfm fan is too much? __________________ Stoked UDS 2.0 and OTS Formerly known as Smokin Newbie

09-27-2010, 07:08 PM	#5
donmiller Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 01-17-10 Location: Roswell, GA	I found that the 10cfm fan is too aggressive for my XL BGE, at least at low & slow temperatures. I cover half the fan inlet with duct tape. Also, I find that the Stoker is far too aggressive in getting the lump started at the beginning of the cook. I get the temperature real close manually before I engage the Stoker. I feel that the aggressive start can cause wild swings later on, too. If too much of your charcoal bed is "involved" in the fire near the start of the cook, I think you end up repeatedly re-starting and re-snuffing out the fire with the Stoker during a good part of the cook. It is better IMHO to have the lump become involved gradually as the fuel is needed. Don __________________ XL BGE w/ Flip-3 ring combo :thumb: Medium BGE :thumb: Small BGE :thumb: Sunshine Legend 3000 Gasser :shocked:

09-27-2010, 09:44 PM	#8
CBQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 01-11-09 Location: Cumberland, RI	Ya, cover the fan halfway and let us know what happens. You may need a 5cfm fan. On my offset the Stoker keeps it +2/-2 degrees. __________________ Chris Rhode Hog BBQ "The Most Dangerous Team in BBQ" - Jon Vallone KCBS, KCBS CBJ, NEBS

09-27-2010, 04:44 PM	#3
SmokerKing is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-07-10 Location: Sunny AZ	I use lump on all my UDS smokes. I don't use a fan but perhaps your chips or chunk wood are catching fire and causing the temperature to fluxuate? Is the drum sealed good? My UDS temps fluctuate a bit when first getting it up to temp and trying to stabilize on a desired temp. But once that's done (1st hour) it doesn't take much watching at all.

09-27-2010, 07:23 PM	#7
NorthwestBBQ somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-09 Location: Everett, WA	Use Kingsford and be amazed.

09-27-2010, 11:14 PM	#10
bbq lover is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-05-08 Location: tracy ca.	i use a 5 cfm fan and it works really good also dont use lump burns to hot with the fan __________________ GREEN MOUNTAIN GRILL <JIM BOWIE > 680 country smoker ugly drum controlled by stoker

09-27-2010, 11:26 PM	#11
OneHump is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-15-10 Location: Phoenix, AZ	How close are your high, low and target temps? I used to give mine a fairly wide berth but quickly learned that the device would over-correct when it had compensate for large temperature deficits. I've got mine dialed in at -2 and +3.

09-27-2010, 11:52 PM	#12
Soapm On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-15-10 Location: Aurora, CO	I didn't realize those stokers work that well. You can keep your grill within 5°?

09-30-2010, 11:53 AM	#15
D.F. Expat Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-26-07 Location: Mexico City	Taped off half the fan intake and put an 8.25 lb Butt in this morning about 3 hours ago and it holds temps much better than before. Once it settles in it holds usually within 5 degrees with the occasional 10 degree swing. Will post the stoker logs when the cook is complete but much happier at this point. Thx for the suggestions guys. __________________ Stoked UDS 2.0 and OTS Formerly known as Smokin Newbie

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