Temperature control

Unknown

I am having trouble getting and maintaining low cooking temperatures. I have no trouble stabilizing the temp at 300 degrees or more, but I can't seem to get to a temp of 250. Am I using too much charcoal, or what?

RRP

sue becht, the secret to a low temp is to sneak up on it since once you're above the ceramic makes it more difficult to bring the temp down - quickly that is. When I'm shooting for say 225 or 240 I leave my bottom vent wide open and my top also wide open, but when I get to 200 I start restricting the air flow from the bottom to about only a 1/2 inch. Also I'll put Miss Daisey in place in a bit and sneak up on the 225 or 240. Gook luck - but practice makes perfect and BTW the amount of lump isn't really and issue it's the air flow.

tn slagamater

sue becht, you should always use enough charcoal to keep Humpty Dumpty loaded above the air holes in the firebox.Do not use less charcoal. To achieve low temperatures, you need to close the bottom vent so that it has the opening about the width of a credit card. It should be almost completely closed.The opening of the lower vent controls the temperature. Less opening is lower temperature, more open is higher and hotter temperature.

The Naked Whiz

sue becht,
I have a web page on temperature control that might help you out. The main trick to getting low temp's is to approach from below and then start closing the vents as the temp rises to your target. Here's the link:[p]TNW
[ul][li]Temperature Control On The BGE[/ul]