Way OT - Weber Q-200 insufficient btu's

dawsonc61

Not meaning to blaspheme here talking about LP but I didn't wan't to create a new forum profile on a gasser site to get answers to my dilemma:

Background info: In addition to my LBGE I use a Weber Q-200 LP grill for quick cooks and tailgating. I hooked it up to a 20# tank via adapter hose and don't get anywhere near the temperature variation I should be getting. There is little difference between "high" and "low" heat. When I crank it up I'd like to get a good searing temp and when it's turned down I'd like it to be low temp. This is a 12,000 BTU grill. I think the regulator is a type Q-689. 

I've conducted extensive internet searches but haven't come up with any good answers on my own. I've ruled out that this is an isolated issue (my dad and brother have the same model, same issue). 

Questions: If I install an adjustable regulator (like you'd find on a turkey fryer) do you think this would help me get the BTU's I need out of this grill? If not, is there a compatible regulator out there that allows for higher BTU's (something closer to 18k-24k BTU's?)

Thanks for the help. Apologies in advance for my first post here involving LP. I'll post more relevant subject matter shortly. 

D

BYS1981

so I normally work with natural gas appliances and not BBQs, but I would try cleaning the orifices and the holes on the burner.

Jeremiah

I have the q120. It's about the same as far as lame temps. I've been meaning to take my torch tip drill bits (very tiny drill bits) home and drill out all the orifices. But since buying the egg I have forgotten about it. I need to so its ready for camping so I'll try and remember this weekend and post results.

dawsonc61

Jeremiah said:

I have the q120. It's about the same as far as lame temps. I've been meaning to take my torch tip drill bits (very tiny drill bits) home and drill out all the orifices. But since buying the egg I have forgotten about it. I need to so its ready for camping so I'll try and remember this weekend and post results.

That's a great idea. Let me know how that turns out. 

Little Steven

Can't speak with any authority about that make/model but I have had and seen some grills that didn't work on a single tank. You can get the "paralleling" hose kits at barbeque stores.

GrannyX4

Weber is very helpful, just give them a call.

Foghorn

12000 BTU just isn't a lot of heat.  I just shopped portable gas grills for tailgaiting and 15000 BTUs is about the max.  My 5 burner - not portable - Gran Turbo puts out 15000 per burner for a total of 75000.  My guess is that it is a combination of size/weight and the fact that they know some people will run them on the 1 lb LP tanks - so they would run out really quickly if that burned much hotter.

I haven't figured out how to get more heat out of it, but I have figured out that if you take a cast iron skillet it will soak up the heat pretty well and allow you to blacken stuff pretty easily.