First high temp questions

[suprfast]

Its been a busy week. Im cooking anything i can get my hands on and found a butt i bought a month back at costco. Defrosted, seasoned but i have a question.

Im using lump for the first time since i got the stoker. I am holding temps around 325° pretty well for the first hour then stokerlog is showing temps varying from 290 to 360. good looking roller coaster. Im trying to figure out if its the lump or me or what? I go out and "kick the can" every 30 minutes or so to get the ash that might be caught allowing for better air flow. So is this normal. Is lump high maintenance. Ill try a high temp run with stubbs on the next bath just to have something to compare to.

Kris

 

[txschutte]

If you are using lump ina drum, it will vary in temp unless you pack it in. Assemble the lump in as so you have a uniform density in the fire ring. I have used briqs, for the stabilty, but the lump requires a bit more prep. Hope this helps!

 

[suprfast]

Thanks i just found this out. Temps were all over the place, but its one of two things. Either i still have an error with stoker log that Amir still hasnt addressed or there is a problem with my network(not likely this one since everything wireless runs like a champ). My stoker keeps dropping connection and its telling me to power cycle. I decided to just run directly from the stoker and its keeping temps more stable than the stoker log.

So far im quite impressed with the higher temps. Bark looks tasty, color looks better, and temps are cut drastically. About 1 hr left(taking it now to rest) and ill be grubbing. Ill attempt to snap pics
kris

 

[btcg]

Add firebricks.

 

[suprfast]

Add firebricks.

any suggestions as to where i should add fire bricks in a uds?
kris

 

[suprfast]

I dont want to do this but until i can find a better answer for the mishap i have to blame stokerlog for my mishaps. Its kicking the fan on and off at random intervals causing the temps to rise and lower way too much.

I decided just to give the stoker a shot on its own, no internet, no other software and it held at 325 even after all my mishaps. Now it could be coincidence that i went out there at two separate occasions and they both read within two to three degrees of 325, but i would say its not likely.

Just pulled the booty off and it looks and smells great. Ill snap a pic and take another after i pull it.

Kris

 

[btcg]

any suggestions as to where i should add fire bricks in a uds?
kris

Cut them to size and add them where you have room (I ordered some baskets and holders to adapt to my needs). They'll act like a thermal capacitor... grab and hold the heat.

No room? Use chips of em with your fuel. You should know this, MM.

 

[txschutte]

suprfast, just outta curioisity. Why use a Stoker on a drum anyway? I have no problems dialing in mine and letting it sit. If it's a matter of the cool factor, I completely understand!

 

[suprfast]

Cut them to size and add them where you have room (I ordered some baskets and holders to adapt to my needs). They'll act like a thermal capacitor... grab and hold the heat.

No room? Use chips of em with your fuel. You should know this, MM.

Thought i would ask the masses before i attempted some long drawn out theory. Trial and error is costly.
kris

 

[btcg]

Thought i would ask the masses before i attempted some long drawn out theory. Trial and error is costly.
kris

Read the posts. Many of the brothers use firebrick. Hardly a new thing.

 

[suprfast]

suprfast, just outta curioisity. Why use a Stoker on a drum anyway? I have no problems dialing in mine and letting it sit. If it's a matter of the cool factor, I completely understand!

Cool factor is one. Being able to walk away from the smoker for periods at a time is the next. The biggest is being able to sleep all night while doing a few pork butts and briskets, knowing i wont get any spikes or dips that couldnt correct themselves
kris

 

[suprfast]

Read the posts. Many of the brothers use firebrick. Hardly a new thing.

Not new to others but it would be new to me. I weigh the pros and cons of everything. Analytical minds...what can i say.
kris

 

[btcg]

Not new to others but it would be new to me. I weigh the pros and cons of everything. Analytical minds...what can i say.
kris

Sure. Read em, they really help.

 

[shares]

Its kicking the fan on and off at random intervals causing the temps ...
Kris

StokerLog only monitors fan activity and temp. It also lets you adjust various operating parameters, but it does not cycle the fan. Only the Stoker can do that. And Stoker doesn't care is StokerLog is running.

Also, I think placing a thermal mass like a fire brick will only make your problem worse.

My guess would be fan size is wrong for the cooker. What size fan are you using and size what cooker?

 

[suprfast]

StokerLog only monitors fan activity and temp. It also lets you adjust various operating parameters, but it does not cycle the fan. Only the Stoker can do that. And Stoker doesn't care is StokerLog is running.

Also, I think placing a thermal mass like a fire brick will only make your problem worse.

My guess would be fan size is wrong for the cooker. What size fan are you using and size what cooker?

UDS and 5cfm. Both were discussed with when i picked it up in person. Not sure where the problem is. Time to get my CSI jacket on
kris

 

[shares]

UDS and 5cfm. Both were discussed with when i picked it up in person.

Ok, if John was ok with a 5cfm, then you're good to go on size.

The other thing I should have mentioned is your exhaust vent. Is it wide open? It shouldn't be when using a temp controller. Try cranking it down to only 1/4 or 1/8 open and see what that does to level things out.

You might want to get this dialed in without food on the cooker because your smoke could go white on you for a while. Once it's dialed in though you'll know right where to set it.

Hope that helps

 

[suprfast]

Ok, if John was ok with a 5cfm, then you're good to go on size.

The other thing I should have mentioned is your exhaust vent. Is it wide open? It shouldn't be when using a temp controller. Try cranking it down to only 1/4 or 1/8 open and see what that does to level things out.

You might want to get this dialed in without food on the cooker because your smoke could go white on you for a while. Once it's dialed in though you'll know right where to set it.

Hope that helps

Well that last bit of info was not discussed with the exhaust size. Bad part is i just modified the weber lid to add more exhaust. Thanks for the tip. Im going to cover one of the holes and bring the exhaust back down and see if this does the trick? Practice practice practice. Ill throw a load on today and see what i can come up with.
kris

 

[shares]

Ill throw a load on today and see what i can come up with.

Let us know, but I think you're on the right track now. Don't be shy about closing that vent way down. If it struggles to achieve temp, then open just a little.

 

[suprfast]

Let us know, but I think you're on the right track now. Don't be shy about closing that vent way down. If it struggles to achieve temp, then open just a little.

Great great info. Firing up the weber for dinner and the smoker for fun.
kris