Eggcelerator

Abelman

Has anyone used one and how much are they?

As far as the egg goes, I'm pretty new to it. If we don't have enough wind, I'm having a hard time getting a good fire lit. I use the chimney to get the lump going but sometimes it's a little difficult on the follow through.

I understand they are good at altitude which I am at, 5200 ft. So, I figured I'd ask the experts. I think it would beat the hair dryer I used last time, LOL.

vidalia1

I have an Eggcelerator which I won at last years Eggtoberfest. You can check with the Mothership but I believe they are about $100. I do not use it very often.

Several easy ways to light your lump charcoal are:

several paper towels coated with oil & lit in 2 -3 places

BGE lighter cubes also lit in 2-3 places

electric firestarter

I use hand held propane canister and I light my BGEs in 2-3 places

some people use MAPP light torches

and some people use Weed Burner...all should work well

Little Steven

Abelman,

I keep a shop vac handy for cleaning the ash. If in a hurry I just move the hose to the exhaust and point it at the intake.

Steve

Fidel

I have a question for you Steve.

Do you thaw your lump in the fridge or by putting it in a sink of water? :P

Crimsongator

Use the wifes hairdryer if you need to add some airflow...or the shop vac idea

Abelman

Thanks, I use the chimney and paper towels on my smokers and have used this on the egg as well. As long as I have a breeze, it seems to work fine. I've tired the cubes on the egg as well.

It just doesn't draw as well as I tought it would. Perhaps it's the way I'm putting in the lump and the placement on the porch.

The good news, after I wrestle it to temps, I love the egg as it's easy to keep it there.

Abelman

Thanks, have done both. The hairdryer works the best. the shop vac throws up too much ash sometimes but I guess that all depends on the length between cleanings.

Little Steven

Rod,

Usually microwave, don't have time for the fridge and it's a beotch to wring out when it's wet.

Steve

Fidel

TGIF my friend.

Hope you have a great weekend. My senses tell me I have many chicken wings in my future - bring on the SEC and Big 12 Championships!!!

Little Steven

You're psychic? Got any tips on how I can best invest the last ten grand in my portfolio?

Steve

Grandpas Grub

I am cooking about the same altitude as you. I have several times looked at the eggcelerator, but have not purchased one.

What size egg are you using? The large and medium light differently.

The 'wind' is not necessarily a problem. Air flow through the lower vent, up through the fire grate/lump is the issue. At high altitude this is a pretty big issue.

An hair dryer (or larger air volume device) pushes too much air through the egg and causes ash/dust to cover the entire egg.

I picked up and at times use a small battery operated personal fan ($3 at walmart). The personal fan has a lower volume of air and works very well.

Pushing air into the lower vent at first seems to slow down the initial lump start up. The stronger volume of air the longer the light process.

If using a fan I have found it better to push the air into the lump from the top (open dome).

At this altitude using a MAPP torch, the flame will often go out because the oxygen is being used up by the lump. Using the torch & personal fan mostly eliminates the torch from going out.

On the large...
In the winter I use a Harbor Freight w/starter button for lighting. It takes less than a minute to get the lump light and stabilized.

When it is warmer I mostly use paper towel/napkin in two places, left and right of center. This takes 10 to 20 minutes to get the egg to about 350° and clean burning.

If using starter cubes for me it takes 3 maybe 4 for the same lighting as above.

Alcohol, 2 oz in two spots, left & right of center. This usually requires me using a fan or a very long wait for the egg to get to 350°.

I have found that if the lump is taking longer than normal I use a wiggle stick through the fire grate to open some air paths.

This is getting much longer than I wanted, but one last thing... There is another way to get quicker start up and hotter high end temps. If you or anyone wants more info let me know and I will explain further.

GG

Fidel

Start a "La Bomba" distributorship and sell me the exclusive US rights.

Easy stuff.

Abelman

I'm using a LG egg. I tried the alcohol thing once and found the chimney worked better and is safer and easier.

As for the hair dryer, I agree, hitting it from the top was much more effective than going below. Makes it a little more interesting with the plate setter though, LOL.

I'll try the personal fan thing.

As for the other information you alluded to, I'm all ears. I love the egg and it smokes much better than my convertional smoker and grills much better than my gasser. The challenge has been getting it lit and at the proper temp without spending too much time doing so.

Thanks for all the info in your post.

milesofsmiles

Been selling BGE's for 3 seasons, and have never heard of an eggcelerator. Please exp. thanks. Miles

Abelman

I saw it on their website under new products.

http://www.biggreenegg.com/whatsnew.html

milesofsmiles

Thanks I remember it now, However still no pics. of the new mates, or maybe I just don't take the time to scroll thru all that info. Miles

Grandpas Grub

Picture is on the bottom of the whats new pate @ BGE. As I recall about $100 & requires 8 AA batteries fits in the lower vent for the Med through XL.

From a conversation with someone at BGE it was developed for the folks in Colorado who are cooking at higher elevations (5000').

GG

Grandpas Grub

Chimney starting work well. Other than the size and process I am a little surprised you are having problems.

You will find the personal fan to be very useful.

Make sure you get or make a wiggle stick and when you are finding your temp is stalling at about 325° or so use it to clear some air paths at the fire grate. Be careful or you will dislodge the fire grate.

I have often thought about getting a turbograte form the Guru folks, but there sure are a lot of mixed comments as to it being worth it or not.

Side note... anyone that has one and wants to get rid of it I wouldn't mind working out some kind of a deal.

Back to the topic at hand.

I am not sure how well this will work on the large but it has a tremendous advantage on the medium egg.

The reason being on the medium the fire ring is a very poor fit - the fire ring is just too small (there is supposed to be a new larger fire ring available for the medium).

The concept which is mostly obvious - the lump needs oxygen to light and burn. The lower vent controls the amount of oxygen thus regulating the amount of heat for our cooking. The heat from the lump draws the oxygen from the lower vent to feed the lump.

What seems to be happening, especially in my medium, is the heat which flows up into the dome and out the upper vent is drawing air both into the lower firebox and also around the outside of the fire box, fire ring and up out the upper vent.

That oxygen that escapes around the fire box/fire ring doesn't feed the lump, thus doesn't assist the lump in generating heat.

To test my thinking, I used tinfoil loosely rolled into a rope and and plugged the gap between the inner egg wall and the outer fire ring.

My medium was driving me nuts... it would often take 1 hour to get to 350° - 400° or so. Max temp often 450° to 500° on the medium.

My first test. 1 hour into the burn, I put on some welding gloves and took the foil rope and plugged the fire ring gap.

Within 2 or 3 minutes the dome temp jumped 80° to 100°. Without question the theory was correct.

I did 8 or 9 more tests with the gap plugged and unplugged.

I need to look back at my notes but as I recall, when plugged with fresh lump the medium would reach 500° (stabilized) in 11 to 14 minutes. Clear smoke and 350° in 7 to 9 minutes. 700° in 15 to 18 minutes. Gasket failure in 22 minutes on one test.

I also noticed the outside temp of the egg is hotter when the gap is plugged and there is more stress on the felt gasket. BGE states the ceramics will withstand up to 1800° so plugging or not plugging should not be an issue.

GG

Abelman

Thanks, I appreciate it. The chimney works the best in start up. It's getting a good draw through the egg that seems to be the problem on days with little to no wind. I'll do some more work on how I set the lump up. Might be that simple and too many smaller pieces are restricting the draft through the fire grate.

Sundown

The fire box is lined up with the lower vent. Being off just a little can make a big difference. Then, all of the above.

Abelman

That could be it as well. After looking at the fire ring, that is off center as well. So, I'll clean things out and get everything dialed in and see how it does this weekend. Thanks!

egginator

Sometimes the holes in the fire ring get plugged with bits of charcoal as well. Might Check that. I stir my fresh lump to let all the dust/small stuff drop out. Lots of small lump in the bottom will cause you trouble.
Ed

Grandpas Grub

That's why a wiggle stick...

GG

Heather1226

I am so glad to have found this post.  I'm at 5280 and new to the BGE.  I thought I was crazy because no matter what I did I could not get my LARGE BGE to get to or stay at temperature.  I followed all of the YouTube videos I could find, but none that addressed the BGE at altitude.  
Like I previously mentioned, I'm having a difficult time getting my grill to get hot enough.  I have made my "piles" like instructed and use firestarters. I use the wiggle sticks when necessary. My grill is mounted and (without knowing not to do so) it's blocked from wind. I need to find the right tool to increase the airflow.
So, should I light my fire and use a hairdryer/etc at the top until it's started and then switch to the small fan at the bottom?  Or do you think that just using the fan at the bottom would help.  
I have an especially difficult time in the winter months.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!  Thank you

saluki2007

kl8ton

Heather1226 said:

I am so glad to have found this post.  I'm at 5280 and new to the BGE.  I thought I was crazy because no matter what I did I could not get my LARGE BGE to get to or stay at temperature.  I followed all of the YouTube videos I could find, but none that addressed the BGE at altitude.  
Like I previously mentioned, I'm having a difficult time getting my grill to get hot enough.  I have made my "piles" like instructed and use firestarters. I use the wiggle sticks when necessary. My grill is mounted and (without knowing not to do so) it's blocked from wind. I need to find the right tool to increase the airflow.
So, should I light my fire and use a hairdryer/etc at the top until it's started and then switch to the small fan at the bottom?  Or do you think that just using the fan at the bottom would help.  
I have an especially difficult time in the winter months.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!  Thank you

Heather, @Heather1226

Is the air hole in the fire box aligned with the vent hole on your base? 

You really don't need any devices to am egg to temp.  

SamIAm2

Little Steven said:

Abelman,

I keep a shop vac handy for cleaning the ash. If in a hurry I just move the hose to the exhaust and point it at the intake.

Steve

Used to do the same. Works well! The heavy duty extension cord was hooked up to electric starter. 

Logger

I've got one but, don't have to use it unless I'm really pressed for time.  I didn't like the batteries always going down so, I found an AC to 9v DC adapter, and a connector for the front hole that I wasn't using and hooked it up.  One note...you have to supply a ground wire or it won't work.  Now it spins all the time at full power.
A buddy of mine just uses his battery powered leaf blower but, stands at a distance.