FB200 Start-up Process ...

Today's cook is baby backs.  Since I like to nap on a Sunday afternoon, the FB200 was employed to take care of the temps.  A question was raised last week about start-up with the FB.  Some like to bring the egg up to temp and then add the electronic baby sitter, others install it right up front.  Thought I'd share my process and show you the results.

I fill the egg with lump and smoke wood.  Add the adapter plate to the bottom vent without installing the blower.  Then start the lump with an electric starter - I substitute Mapp/Propane if it's raining.  As soon as the electric starter is pulled, I install the plate setter and pit probe - the pit probe goes on the grill where the protein goes.  The lid is closed, the SW cap is closed halfway, the fan is installed, and only then is the FB200 powered up.  After about five minutes, when the pit temp reaches ~150*, I close down the SW cap to what my final cap setting will be.  On my older egg, that leaks quite a bit, the final setting is usually "just closed."  On my newer egg, that is reasonably tight, the final setting is usually "just open."  Then I walk away to prep the protein.

Here's a graph of today's start-up:



The pit was at 55* on start-up, looks like I was a little late closing the SW cap to it's final setting - notice the change in slope of the pit temp at about 170*.  Within 30 minutes the pit temp was at target with no overrun.  At the 45 minute point the ribs were put on the grill.  The lid open feature stopped the fan until the lid was closed again, and then, the FB took the temp up to target.

A quick peek at the ribs ... notice that one of the plate setter legs is facing forward to shield both the dome thermometer and the FB probe from IR.



 Thanks for looking ...