High Que stainless steel charcoal grate

I'm new, hadn't seen the Hi Q, thanks for that. 

I see the dome concept providing more surface area to provide more holes for ash to plug and feed the fire. But at the same time the dome would tend to disrupt how the inverted cone pattern that the lump wants to burn. 

The Hi Q grate looks like it would be more difficult to clog. It also looks like it would pass more unburned lump. 

There've been plenty of '+1's' FOR the Hi Q grate. But nobody's mentioned whether unburned lump, or how much more unburned lump drops through, if it does. 

And, no one's mentioned anything about the unburned lump that drops through, if it drops through, and whether it burns in the bottom of the Egg. 

So, WHY BGE, does your warranty not apply if the Hi Q grate is used? What's the concern? Why don't you use a Hi-Q design grate?  

I'm sure it depends on your lump (avg size distribution of the pieces, how careful you are in arranging them).  I have a Hi-Q and only used it a couple of times.  It totally solves the ash clogging the grate issue...but I kept ending up with lots of burning lump down on the floor of the egg and it seemed like even not fully burned bits would fall into the ash and smother.  I went back to using the original grate and made a wiggle rod from wire hanger that I use to poke the grate holes during a cook if I think they're clogging.

I have not noticed a lot of unburned lump in the bottom a,though there's some. No issue with burning pieces falling through that I can tell.

None here either. Haven't had the fire choked since I got the Hi-Q grate.

I have had the High Que grate for some time and have done both low and slow and high temp cooks on it.

Of course larger lump falls through than would fall through the factory provided drain cover.  Not an issue to me.

I can get a MUCH higher sear temp with the HQ than the factory BUT I find it a bit more difficult to do low and slow.  I can no longer maintain 200 degree dome temp (not that I have much need to do that anyway) as the fire goes out (twice out of two attempts) with the HQ.

Is the High Que grate bought through a BGE dealer?  If not, where do you buy them? I have looked through BGE website and don't see anything that looks like the picture posted above.  (newbie)

probe1957 said:

I have had the High Que grate for some time and have done both low and slow and high temp cooks on it.

Of course larger lump falls through than would fall through the factory provided drain cover.  Not an issue to me.

I can get a MUCH higher sear temp with the HQ than the factory BUT I find it a bit more difficult to do low and slow.  I can no longer maintain 200 degree dome temp (not that I have much need to do that anyway) as the fire goes out (twice out of two attempts) with the HQ.

This has been my experience too.  Henceforth, I will be putting the cast iron grate back in when I do low and slow.

My grate has holes drilled with a chamfer.  Do you put the small size hole on top which I think helps the ash fall through.  If large size hole is on top i think more charcoal will get stuck.   Is this right?  Visualize a funnel where it is large on top and small on bottom.

gumbo_bill said:

My grate has holes drilled with a chamfer.  Do you put the small size hole on top which I think helps the ash fall through.  If large size hole is on top i think more charcoal will get stuck.   Is this right?  Visualize a funnel where it is large on top and small on bottom.

when I used the CI plate, I put it in as it said somewhere, larger hole on bottom for the very reason you stated. 

Dave in Florida said:

I have the High Q and have yet to have a fire go out or need a wiggle rod to open any clogged holes. I have no problems cooking lo and slo or high heat, it doesn't matter with the High Q.

+1 here. Also can keep grate and dome under 275, not an issue, just make the bottom vent look like a coin slot. 

Old thread.

SteveWPBFL said:  Conclusion: The larger grate holes are slightly less prone to being plugged/blocked by ash/lump and will allow slightly more unburned lump to fall through. The primary benefit of a ‘higher flowing grate’ is not that it allows more grate flow area but that it allows more grate area (i.e. more holes) to be plugged/blocked with ash/lump before it becomes smaller than the inlet flow area. 

How’s that for rocket science? 

I agree that the High-Q is much less prone to clogging, but comparing "flow areas" isn't quite as simple as it sounds.  First, the velocity of the air has a huge effect on the mass flow rate, ie air coming in an 8 square-inch hole at 30 feet per second would equal the air mass going through a 16 square-inch hole at 15 feet per second.  And, secondly, even that's not necessarily true as air is a compressible fluid.  It would actually take a pretty neat, sophisticated set of experiments/measurements to see what the High-Q actually gives you.