Newbie Question on Grid Placement

Gburner

I have an XL, and whenever I've been cooking it's always my Firebox /w Fire Grate, then Fire Ring with my stock grid on top of the ring.  That gives me a grid level right at my felt line level.  I've seen a few different setups before when searching through accessories and noticed the below pic where it looks like to me the fire ring isn't in because there is a four-inch gap between the grid and felt line.  From my understanding Fire Ring is my "how much lump to fill up to".  Also whenever I fill up my lump, I always go from Fire Grate to the bottom of the Fire Ring, should I be filling up more closer to the top or middle of the fire ring, even when doing indirect low and slow, which would bring the lump level very close to my legs up Conveggtor for my low & slows.

Thanks everyone, this question has been nagging me for some time, figured I'd toss it out there.

saluki2007

If going direct fill it up to the topish of the fire ring.  If going indirect I go about halfway up the fire ring.  This leaves enough room to put the plate setter in and still have some air movement under it.

fishlessman

alot of eggers drop the grid down for searing close to the hotter coals. it sears there with lower dome temps, especially with that cast iron grid.  i do most of the cooking higher up

SmokingPiney

Gburner said:

I have an XL, and whenever I've been cooking it's always my Firebox /w Fire Grate, then Fire Ring with my stock grid on top of the ring.  That gives me a grid level right at my felt line level.  I've seen a few different setups before when searching through accessories and noticed the below pic where it looks like to me the fire ring isn't in because there is a four-inch gap between the grid and felt line.  From my understanding Fire Ring is my "how much lump to fill up to".  Also whenever I fill up my lump, I always go from Fire Grate to the bottom of the Fire Ring, should I be filling up more closer to the top or middle of the fire ring, even when doing indirect low and slow, which would bring the lump level very close to my legs up Conveggtor for my low & slows.

Thanks everyone, this question has been nagging me for some time, figured I'd toss it out there.

I have an XL. That pic doesn't agree to where my grate sets on top of the fire box. When my grate is set on top of the fire ring, I have less than 3" left to the gasket line. 

As for filling the fire box, I go with "just enough" for a hot and fast cook (about half full) - no need to fill to the top of the fire box. That grate height is good enough for fast cooks /  sear if your coals are hot enough. For long low and slow cooks, I'll fill to about 3/4 of the way to the top of the ring. That allows for some air flow to get around the plate setter and it's enough to last 20 hours or so at 250 - ymmv. 

One addition I recommend is a Woo:

https://ceramicgrillstore.com/collections/big-green-egg-xl-accessories-by-ceramic-grill-store/products/xl-woo-bge

I use it almost every cook. I can set 2 different grate heights. I put this on top of my plate setter for low and slows - I set a drip pan on the small ring for an air gap, and my cook height is above the the gasket line. Here is a pic of that:



PM me if you have questions. 

thetrim

GBR!

chuckytheegghead

The picture you are looking at is from a large. 

NPHuskerFL

GBR