New Gadget to Play With

dsleight

I saw this topper mentioned on this forum and ordered one to play around with.  To be honest, it works pretty damn good for being $28.  I cooked up an 11lb. turkey earlier today and the topper held it plus or minus 6 degrees of the set point for the entire 2 hour cook.  I did not follow the directions (what fun would that be), I just did what seemed logical for operating the egg and it worked like a champ.  Actually it worked way better than I expected.  I simply got the egg up to temperature the normal way setting the lower vent and upper damper.  Once it reached temperature I removed the upper damper and put the topper on, I did not touch the lower vent.  Then I just adjusted the dial to maintain the temperature, after that the topper moved on its own and held the setting.  Took about 15 minutes to get it dialed in.  Now I want to pick up some ribs and see how it does on a low and slow cook.

RRP

I've had like warm result over the couple years I've had mine. Wind will cause me a problem, and then  of course with it not attached but merely perched on the dome that makes checking the meat a hassle.BTW what purpose is the hose clamp?

lousubcap

I got sucked into the BGE spend vortex when @RRP first mentioned it around a year or more ago.  Works as advertised and does well enough on a L&S.  The challenge is to get it to stay in place.  I know @RRP did some pretty clever metal bending and cutting a while ago to improve the top-hat fit.  I tried to replicate his device and failed across the board.
I use heat-resistant tape and the manly rubber band to keep it in place  (LBGE). You appear to be on to something with the clamp.  

Botch

I've got one too, it worked well the first/only time I've used it.
I've since installed a Smokeware Cap, and I understand this thing fits inside the bottom section perfectly, and doesn't fall off if you open the lid, but gotta admit I haven't tried it yet.
Tomorrow's Sunday, hmmm.  
 
EDIT:  the completely analog, and simple-as-hell, design is brilliant!  

Wowens

I've had one for a year or so, and it works well. They sent me a 2" wide silicone band to wrap around the chimney/Temp controller, the put the rubber band on it and it seals it up great. You can open and close it with no hassle. 

dsleight

RRP said:

BTW what purpose is the hose clamp?

If you look close, you can see the safety wire around the topper.  The tails from the wire are under the hose clamp.  I need to work on something a little simpler, but the hose clamp does give me an attachment point and it is easy to remove.  I did not want to invest a lot of time if the device was not going to work.

RRP

lousubcap said:

 I know @RRP did some pretty clever metal bending and cutting a while ago to improve the top-hat fit.  I tried to replicate his device and failed across the board.

You mean my sheet metal from Hell project! I used it once and the leakage was horrible and I have never used it again! I will unscrew it, save the T-T and put the rest of the metal in the recycle bin!

RRP

Botch said:

I've got one too, it worked well the first/only time I've used it.
I've since installed a Smokeware Cap, and I understand this thing fits inside the bottom section perfectly, and doesn't fall off if you open the lid, but gotta admit I haven't tried it yet.
Tomorrow's Sunday, hmmm.  
 
EDIT:  the completely analog, and simple-as-hell, design is brilliant!  

It fits inside the male part of the SW and helps to keep the TT from falling off, but it sure is no perfect tight fit at least mine wasn't and I doubt they retooled them. 

RRP

Wowens said:

I've had one for a year or so, and it works well. They sent me a 2" wide silicone band to wrap around the chimney/Temp controller, the put the rubber band on it and it seals it up great. You can open and close it with no hassle. 

2" band is something new and I can see how that could adapt it to the dome. Glad to hear they are trying. BTW did you have to specify it was going on  BGE when you ordered? As I recall they were designed to work on a Weber and that tiny ring like I got isn't enough to do diddly squat on an egg. Glad you are happy with yours!

blasting

RRP said:

Botch said:

I've got one too, it worked well the first/only time I've used it.
I've since installed a Smokeware Cap, and I understand this thing fits inside the bottom section perfectly, and doesn't fall off if you open the lid, but gotta admit I haven't tried it yet.
Tomorrow's Sunday, hmmm.  
 
EDIT:  the completely analog, and simple-as-hell, design is brilliant!  

It fits inside the male part of the SW and helps to keep the TT from falling off, but it sure is no perfect tight fit at least mine wasn't and I doubt they retooled them. 

If only there was a guy around here who could set you up with a gasket...

Elijah

I can! (messages @RRP )

dsleight

This is the set-up I am going to roll with.  It is quick and easy to mount and the cap is not falling off.  The metal pieces were cut from a rafter tie ($0.80 at the hardware store) and bent.

Now I need to go find something to cook.......

HofstraJet

I would think any appropriately sized angle irons would work with that setup, wouldn't they?

blasting

dsleight said:

This is the set-up I am going to roll with.  It is quick and easy to mount and the cap is not falling off.  The metal pieces were cut from a rafter tie ($0.80 at the hardware store) and bent.

Now I need to go find something to cook.......

I have a term for that - farmer ingenuity.  I see from the tractor in the background it is an accurate description.

dsleight

Here is an update on this modification.  I just used three pop rivets to secure the straps, no longer need the hose clamp.  There is enough spring tension from the straps to secure the topper to the top of the egg.  I can put it on and take it off just like the daisy wheel, it will stay in place opening the lid as well.

I have used this thing over a dozen times cooking everything from direct heat chicken at 350 degrees F to a 10 hour low and slow brisket.  At least for me, it will hold the temperature to (+/-) 6 degrees from whatever I stabilize the egg temperature at.

Botch

Botch said:

I've got one too, it worked well the first/only time I've used it.
I've since installed a Smokeware Cap, and I understand this thing fits inside the bottom section perfectly, and doesn't fall off if you open the lid, but gotta admit I haven't tried it yet.
Tomorrow's Sunday, hmmm.  
 
EDIT:  the completely analog, and simple-as-hell, design is brilliant!  

Good grief, I'm killing off way too many braincells.  

GATraveller

That's WAY too technical for a simpleton like me.

Carolina Q

How's the bluetooth range? Or is it wifi?

I bought a TTT a few months ago. Played with it a little, but just to see if it would control temp. Seemed to work okay, but I haven't done a lo n slo cook since I got it. Don't need a controller for anything else.

The more I think about it though... if you have to stabilize at whatever temp before you put this thing on, why bother with the TTT? That's one of the nice things about the egg, stabilize it at X° with the vents and walk away (theoretically). Or am I missing something?

dsleight

Carolina Q said:

How's the bluetooth range? Or is it wifi?

I bought a TTT a few months ago. Played with it a little, but just to see if it would control temp. Seemed to work okay, but I haven't done a lo n slo cook since I got it. Don't need a controller for anything else.

The more I think about it though... if you have to stabilize at whatever temp before you put this thing on, why bother with the TTT? That's one of the nice things about the egg, stabilize it at X° with the vents and walk away (theoretically). Or am I missing something?

It truly is a dumb device, it has no idea what the temperature is.  I open the bottom vent 1-1.5", close the lid and wait for the temperature to get about 25 degrees F from what I want.  Put the topper on, turn the dial until the flapper is just barely open.  It will pretty much hold the temperature from there.  A small adjustment may need to be made to increase/decrease the temp some after 15-20 minutes.  From my experience, it will hold the temperature way more steady then just setting the daisy wheel and forgetting it.  I have found the daisy wheel temperature to fluctuate way more than 12 degrees F.  Obviously this device is not needed (none of the temp controllers are), but I use it as something else to play with when I light up the egg......

Carolina Q

Thanks, @dsleight. I'll have to play with it some more. Appreciate the bracket idea. That should hold it in place even on a moderately windy day too. Now that I have "discovered" turbo cooking, lo n slo cooks may be a thing of the past anyway.