High Temperature control

Dawg13154

I'm considering getting a temperature controller for my large BGE. When I noticed that most (if not all) of the controllers have a maximum read out of 500 degrees, that does not help those of us Eggers that like to make Pizzas at temperatures in the 700 degree range. Is there a mechanical fan out there for the BGE that can be used strictly for obtaining very high temperatures for the purpose of pizza baking or other bread making recipes? Is there a temperature controller on the market that I can use for low temperature, slow long cooking and high heat short period cooking for pizzas and breads?
If there are two different products out there for these different temperature ranges, I'd appreciate your recommendations.
thanks,
Hotdawg

pgprescott

We carry the BBQ dragon. It is used mostly to stoke the fire during lighting but could easily be used for keeping the heat high. The fan is infinite variable speed, but manually controlled with a knob. You would set it up to blow into the draft door. There is no heat probe, but you have a dome thermo, right?

bigguy136

The temp probes won't take the heat and i would assume that is why they have a 500 deg limit.
When i do pizzas, i use the draft door with no problems.

UncleFred

Hummm... "temperature controllers" are for maintaining a set, constant temperature over a long period of time.  At 700 degrees a pizza, even a deep dish pizza, wouldn't be in the egg for more than 20 minutes.
You don't NEED a temp controller for that amount of time!  Leave the cap off the top and control your temp with the lower slider.

BTW, I've found that I can get the same results if not better on a pizza cook @ 450.  It just takes a few minutes longer. (see my recent deep dish post)

pgprescott

UncleFred said:

Hummm... "temperature controllers" are for maintaining a set, constant temperature over a long period of time.  At 700 degrees a pizza, even a deep dish pizza, wouldn't be in the egg for more than 20 minutes.
You don't NEED a temp controller for that amount of time!  Leave the cap off the top and control your temp with the lower slider.

BTW, I've found that I can get the same results if not better on a pizza cook @ 450.  It just takes a few minutes longer. (see my recent deep dish post)

I have the same experience, the thicker the pizza or the more toppings on it the lower I go in temperature to get all the toppings done. 

Dawg13154

I like the idea of a variable speed fan with no probe to get the BGE very hot for pizza and your typical controller for long and low smoking. Thought it would be worth checking to see if I could buy one that would do both.

SmokyBear

I have a BBQ Dragon and have found it all but useless in getting the temp up in my...ahem..KJ Classic (LBGE-like).

Begger

My meter from Harbor Freight has a 'type-K' thermocouple input to the standard.     It is a Cen-Tech # 37772 and goes for about 25$ retail.
It reads in `C.       It has NO feedback to any kind of controller but can be used as a temp monitor.   I did a 10 hour cook last nite and periodically turned the meter on which read from 120c to somewhat hotter.  

It WILL read to far past the maximum usable temp of the Egg.

DoubleEgger

I used this heat shield on my classic muscle car fuel lines. I'm sure it would work like a champ on the probe wires. Rated to 2000 degrees. http://m.summitracing.com/parts/the-14010

pgprescott

SmokyBear said:

I have a BBQ Dragon and have found it all but useless in getting the temp up in my...ahem..KJ Classic (LBGE-like).  


hmm. I got them cuz @paqman swore it was great. He clamps his on the nest and blows it in the draft door. I also just saw them Demo them at the HPBA show in Nashville. Not for everyone, but they did what they said. 

SmokyBear

pgprescott said:

SmokyBear said:

I have a BBQ Dragon and have found it all but useless in getting the temp up in my...ahem..KJ Classic (LBGE-like).  


hmm. I got them cuz @paqman swore it was great. He clamps his on the nest and blows it in the draft door. I also just saw them Demo them at the HPBA show in Nashville. Not for everyone, but they did what they said. 

Yep..I do the same thing..clamp on the nest and blow in the draft door.

Not much difference from running to temp w/o the BBQ Dragon.

I also thought it was not much more than a glorified hair dryer, albeit battery operated which is a benefit over the plug-in kind.

I've bought "almost" every gadget invented for the BGE/KJ, and the BBQ Dragon is among the most useless, IMHO.  If I could find a.."sucker"...er..."buyer" for it, off it would go.  For now, it sits in my cabinet in the garage.  Unused and taking up shelf space.

pgprescott

SmokyBear said:

pgprescott said:

SmokyBear said:

I have a BBQ Dragon and have found it all but useless in getting the temp up in my...ahem..KJ Classic (LBGE-like).  


hmm. I got them cuz @paqman swore it was great. He clamps his on the nest and blows it in the draft door. I also just saw them Demo them at the HPBA show in Nashville. Not for everyone, but they did what they said. 

Yep..I do the same thing..clamp on the nest and blow in the draft door.

Not much difference from running to temp w/o the BBQ Dragon.

I also thought it was not much more than a glorified hair dryer, albeit battery operated which is a benefit over the plug-in kind.

I've bought "almost" every gadget invented for the BGE/KJ, and the BBQ Dragon is among the most useless, IMHO.  If I could find a.."sucker"...er..."buyer" for it, off it would go.  For now, it sits in my cabinet in the garage.  Unused and taking up shelf space.

Live and learn. Sorry to hear this.  Seemed to be working when I saw demo. I must say, I have no personal experience. Thanks. 

paqman

SmokyBear said:

I have a BBQ Dragon and have found it all but useless in getting the temp up in my...ahem..KJ Classic (LBGE-like).

@SmokyBear @pgprescott - Really?  It is a lifesaver for us on week night cooks.  The egg is ready in under 10 minutes with clean blue smoke... Without it, it takes at least 30 minutes to be ready, 20 on good days...

Agreed, it is a glorified hair dryer but it works...

pgprescott

paqman said:

SmokyBear said:

I have a BBQ Dragon and have found it all but useless in getting the temp up in my...ahem..KJ Classic (LBGE-like).

@SmokyBear @pgprescott - Really?  It is a lifesaver for us on week night cooks.  The egg is ready in under 10 minutes with clean blue smoke... Without it it takes at least 30 minutes to be ready, 20 on good days...

Agreed, it is a glorified hair dryer but it works...

Hey, don't kill me. I have the product in the store. I have it because you are a very respected egghead and I value your experience and feedback. I am not a hater. I recommended the dragon. I am glad you chimed in.