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Theories on Small BGE Temperature Range Differences?
wmcguire93
Posts: 53
When researching weather or not to get a Small to accompany my LBGE, I read several posts where there are some forum members that have difficulty getting the small in upper temperatures. Quite honestly, it almost deterred my decision to get one. Fortunately, most of my cooks are 450 or below so I figured it would not be an issue for me.
Unintentionally, I found out my small will get to the upper temps and quite quickly, too. I lit the small with the DW and the bottom vent opened all the way. I went inside to get some burgers ready for the grill and when I went out to check it, the temp was at almost 700. I wasn't inside more than 15 - 20 min. So apparently I am one of the lucky ones who don't have a problem getting to higher temps on the small.
The question I have is, why the difference on temp ranges with some SBGE owners? In theory, if the Egg is designed the same, then they should all perform the same or close to it. However, I remember reading post where some people have trouble getting temps above 400. I find this interesting.
Any theories as to why?
Unintentionally, I found out my small will get to the upper temps and quite quickly, too. I lit the small with the DW and the bottom vent opened all the way. I went inside to get some burgers ready for the grill and when I went out to check it, the temp was at almost 700. I wasn't inside more than 15 - 20 min. So apparently I am one of the lucky ones who don't have a problem getting to higher temps on the small.
The question I have is, why the difference on temp ranges with some SBGE owners? In theory, if the Egg is designed the same, then they should all perform the same or close to it. However, I remember reading post where some people have trouble getting temps above 400. I find this interesting.
Any theories as to why?
Texas Aggie transplanted in Georgia
Large BGE, Small BGE, more accessories than I'm willing to tell the Mrs. about.
Large BGE, Small BGE, more accessories than I'm willing to tell the Mrs. about.
Comments
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What brand of lump, please?Large BGE and Medium BGE
36" Blackstone - Greensboro! -
For the particular cook I mentioned above I was using BGE lump, but I have used a Kroger brand lump with similar results. Everything else with my small is stock BGE parts.
Texas Aggie transplanted in Georgia
Large BGE, Small BGE, more accessories than I'm willing to tell the Mrs. about. -
I had the same concerns, but also chose to get a small. So far I have not had any issues, with BGE lump and RO lump.
On a few cooks My thermometer was going well past 650 when I started shutting it down.
I do have the highque grate in my egg. No idea why others have had issues.Fighting Sioux Hockey -
My small cooks are also 450 or lower. This has got me thinking of doing a clean burn and see how high it goes and how long it takes to get there.Flint, Michigan
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I think people mentioned something about how the fire box fit in their's, affecting air flow. I'm not sure if it was too small or tight-fitting in the base.
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Never had an issue getting my small up to temp. High-que for the win! I've honestly never cooked on my small without so high temps have always been easy to reach.Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
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Eggcelsior said:I think people mentioned something about how the fire box fit in their's, affecting air flow. I'm not sure if it was too small or tight-fitting in the base.
This is correct for me. My small has a larger gap ratio around the internals than the other eggs i own. I have a medium that I bought from another person on the forum. His fire box and ring were too narrow. He could not get the medium hot, and he knows what he is doing with eggs. I bought a fire ring and a firebox, and they had a tighter fit. That medium went from a slouch to a absolute jet engine. If it is has fuel, and is left alone with the vent wide open, it will wrap the thermo around. I have modified my small before with a foil rope around the firebox to fill the gap, and expanded metal for the fire grate. This turned my small into a hot burning egg like the medium (and the others). I have considered ordering a new firebox, but I just leave my small to low heat duties while the other four sizes go nuclear. Another aspect of my small that I hated, but now love is its low heat steadiness. I pretty much leave the vent wide open, daisy wheel off, and it holds 400-500 steady every time. It gets to that temp quick too, and just stays. I cook a lot at that temp on a raised grid high into the dome, I love how everything cooks at that height and temp (except steak and pizza, those go on the big boy eggs). -
Fred19Flintstone said:My small cooks are also 450 or lower. This has got me thinking of doing a clean burn and see how high it goes and how long it takes to get there.
If you are going to do a clean burn, you better have gaskets on order. I blew the gaskets on our small after a clean burn.....Large, small and mini now Egging in Rowlett Tx -
Da, Da, Dit, Dut, Ta, DAHHHH!!! @RRP to the rescue! I have no gasket to speak of except the Rutland I got from RRP last month. After the clean burn, I think I'll be ready to install it.Austin Egghead said:
If you are going to do a clean burn, you better have gaskets on order. I blew the gaskets on our small after a clean burn.....
Flint, Michigan -
Small Clean Burn Report
This test was anecdotal. In other words, YMMV.
I did a clean burn in my small today and noted the temp every five minutes. I started out with the egg completely cleaned out. I used new GFS lump made by RO and filled the egg to the top of the firebox. The bottom vent was wide open (screen too) and the DW was off. I lit the lump in two places and the dome remained closed for the entire test. 5 minutes - 150 10 minutes - 280 15 minutes - 420 20 minutes - 510 25 minutes - 590 30 minutes - 660 35 minutes - 680 40 minutes - 680 45 minutes - 710 50 minutes - 700 55 minutes - 740 60 minutes - 710 65 minutes - 700 70 minutes - 680 75 minutes - 650 80 minutes - 640 85 minutes - 610 90 minutes - 580 95 minutes - 550 100 minutes - 510 105 minutes - 480 End of Test As suspected, whatever I had for a gasket got toasted during the burn. The bad smoke cleared after 15 minutes and it appears I could have had over an hour cooking pizza.Flint, Michigan -
After comparing the chimney on small to the large I noticed quite a bit of difference in height givin the size difference of course but still not proportionate. I stopped at a dealer today that had all the sizes except mini and the small just seemed to have a smaller stack when trying to visually compare. Maybe crazy thinking but this could effect the draw. A few months ago someone posted a video of getting your egg to 700* in 5 mins and that guy added a length of pipe to his chimney.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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I hope you had plenty of beer while watching that burn... and a spare gasket waiting in the wings. Having said that, I just love it when someone goes the extra mile in the name of BBQ science!Fred19Flintstone said:Small Clean Burn Report
This test was anecdotal. In other words, YMMV.
I did a clean burn in my small today and noted the temp every five minutes. I started out with the egg completely cleaned out. I used new GFS lump made by RO and filled the egg to the top of the firebox. The bottom vent was wide open (screen too) and the DW was off. I lit the lump in two places and the dome remained closed for the entire test. 5 minutes - 150 10 minutes - 280 15 minutes - 420 20 minutes - 510 25 minutes - 590 30 minutes - 660 35 minutes - 680 40 minutes - 680 45 minutes - 710 50 minutes - 700 55 minutes - 740 60 minutes - 710 65 minutes - 700 70 minutes - 680 75 minutes - 650 80 minutes - 640 85 minutes - 610 90 minutes - 580 95 minutes - 550 100 minutes - 510 105 minutes - 480 End of Test As suspected, whatever I had for a gasket got toasted during the burn. The bad smoke cleared after 15 minutes and it appears I could have had over an hour cooking pizza.
Texas Aggie transplanted in Georgia
Large BGE, Small BGE, more accessories than I'm willing to tell the Mrs. about. -
@ Mattman: Interesting comment about extending the chimney. I'll have to look that video up, because I might have to try that on the Large.
Texas Aggie transplanted in Georgia
Large BGE, Small BGE, more accessories than I'm willing to tell the Mrs. about. -
Here is the link http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mPsRJCJTf0M&desktop_uri=/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mPsRJCJTf0M-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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Beers are plentiful and for some reason the formatting has gone bad. I increased the font because I was too lazy to find my glasses and I think that's what did it.wmcguire93 said:
I hope you had plenty of beer while watching that burn... and a spare gasket waiting in the wings. Having said that, I just love it when someone goes the extra mile in the name of BBQ science!
Flint, Michigan -
FixedFred19Flintstone said:Small Clean Burn Report
This test was anecdotal. In other words, YMMV.
I did a clean burn in my small today and noted the temp every five minutes. I started out with the egg completely cleaned out. I used new GFS lump made by RO and filled the egg to the top of the firebox. The bottom vent was wide open (screen too) and the DW was off. I lit the lump in two places and the dome remained closed for the entire test.
5 minutes - 150
10 minutes - 280
15 minutes - 420
20 minutes - 510
25 minutes - 590
30 minutes - 660
35 minutes - 680
40 minutes - 680
45 minutes - 710
50 minutes - 700
55 minutes - 740
60 minutes - 710
65 minutes - 700
70 minutes - 680
75 minutes - 650
80 minutes - 640
85 minutes - 610
90 minutes - 580
95 minutes - 550
100 minutes - 510
105 minutes - 480
End of Test
As suspected, whatever I had for a gasket got toasted during the burn. The bad smoke cleared after 15 minutes and it appears I could have had over an hour cooking pizza. -
You are a gentleman sir! I don't care what anyone says!Flint, Michigan
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Graphs are always good...I assumed 80F starting temp.
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Any one know where that post or video is off hand, regarding the extended chiimney on the small? Sound's like something I might try, "just cause"... RicklesssssS in Oregon
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5 post previous-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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