Smobot-Another Success

RajunCajun · December 2018

Today I cooked a brisket and the ole Smobot performed flawlessly, again! My brisket was beginning to probe like butta and I wanted to pull it at around 190. I had to leave for a bit and was monitoring the temp remotely. To slow the temp down, while away from home, I lowered the temp to 200 and it's pretty cool how fast the egg responded....very nice to be able to do that remotely. Ya can't do that with just a daisy wheel.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/pu/d2vsqhqrzzb8.jpg

SaintJohnsEgger · December 2018

I may have to get one for my MiniMax. I like the fact that it doesn't use a blower like my Flameboss does.

RajunCajun · December 2018

SaintJohnsEgger said:

I may have to get one for my MiniMax. I like the fact that it doesn't use a blower like my Flameboss does.

@SaintJohnsEgger

You will never regret it. I have had a DigiQ for years, and still do, but I have not used it a single time since going Smobot. I no longer see those big swings I did with the fan. These guys have truly designed something that is reliable and very repeatable. I still have my original pit and food probes and I checked their accuracy yesterday and they are still spot on. Customer service is second to none.

SaintJohnsEgger · December 2018

I may move the Flameboss over to the electric smoker without the blower. I'll replace the pit probe with another meat probe so I can monitor two pieces of protein.

I sold my Large BGE with my Ceramic Grill stuff for $1600. So its the MM and the electric smoker for now.

cookingdude555 · December 2018

SaintJohnsEgger said:

I may move the Flameboss over to the electric smoker without the blower. I'll replace the pit probe with another meat probe so I can monitor two pieces of protein.

I sold my Large BGE with my Ceramic Grill stuff for $1600. So its the MM and the electric smoker for now.

@s@SaintJohnsEgger, what kind is your electric smoker? I bought a smokin it #3 about four years ago. I really like it.

SaintJohnsEgger · December 2018

@cookingdude555 Its a cheap CharBroil electric smoker that the kids got me a few Christmas is ago. It has a small dial on the cord that has bars on it and "low/mid/high" so there is no way to set an accurate temp without using an external thermometer. - https://www.charbroil.com/electric-smoker

It also doesn't produce much smoke so that was why I am incorporating the Amazin Smoker tube. My experiment yesterday got me 3 hours of smoke so that should work fine. The whole cul-de-sac smelled of mesquite smoke.

Moved three racks of ribs from the freezer to the fridge this morning for a Christmas Eve smoke. Kids all home for Christmas and they like ribs. SWMBO doing a roast and Yorkshire pudding for Christmas day.

I told my son I wanted a Masterbuilt propane smoker for Christmas but I doubt I'm going to get one.

cookingdude555 · December 2018

SaintJohnsEgger said:

@cookingdude555 Its a cheap CharBroil electric smoker that the kids got me a few Christmas is ago. It has a small dial on the cord that has bars on it and "low/mid/high" so there is no way to set an accurate temp without using an external thermometer. - https://www.charbroil.com/electric-smoker

It also doesn't produce much smoke so that was why I am incorporating the Amazin Smoker tube. My experiment yesterday got me 3 hours of smoke so that should work fine. The whole cul-de-sac smelled of mesquite smoke.

Moved three racks of ribs from the freezer to the fridge this morning for a Christmas Eve smoke. Kids all home for Christmas and they like ribs. SWMBO doing a roast and Yorkshire pudding for Christmas day.

I told my son I wanted a Masterbuilt propane smoker for Christmas but I doubt I'm going to get one.

Sounds like a good plan for Christmas dinner. My electric is basically an insulated outside oven that generates smoke. Its tight too, so it’s smoke draft is minimal. It generates a light smoke profile, but the food is excellent from it. I bypassed the stock controller and installed an Auber PID:

https://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_28&products_id=702

This allows me to tightly control the temp of the smoker (with my phone even). The PID basically pulses the on switch so that if you set it at 275, it stays exactly there. This was a side benefit tho, the main reason was to hit temps over 275. Anyway, there are lots of mods out there. Electric smokers are a great tool in the arsenal.

Good luck with your Christmas meal, maybe demonstrate that an additional cooker would provide even more ribs.

SaintJohnsEgger · December 2018

Thanks @cookingdude555

I'll take a look at that PID. May be a good mod to the CharBroil. May also mod it for better air flow. I was concerned about the pellet tube not having enough air to keep burning but that wasn't the case.

My smoker is kind of small (14" grates) so it won't handle a full rack of ribs without cutting them in half.

But that is what happens when the kids get you something forChristmas without really knowing what they are doing. Still, its the thought that counts and I'm going to use it more now.

Dondgc · December 2018

I'm glad you find your smobot to be responsive. Mine is exactly the opposite. Very slow to respond either up or down. Easier to just control the temp myself.

RajunCajun · December 2018

Dondgc said:

I'm glad you find your smobot to be responsive. Mine is exactly the opposite. Very slow to respond either up or down. Easier to just control the temp myself.

I would bet $20 your lower vent setting is the problem. How wide open and what temp are you trying to achieve?

cookingdude555 · December 2018

@SaintJohnsEgger, using it tonight for some sausage for Christmas gifts.

SaintJohnsEgger · December 2018

Thanks @cookingdude555.

That's definitely on my radar. The PID and a Little Chief smoke generator would be a great combination. My only problem at the moment (besides lack of money) is that my current electric smoker is too small to make the upgrade practical. U will need to get a larger smoker or build a cabinet.

Question: Do you just turn the smoker to its highest setting and the PID then controls the voltage to the smoker's power cord?

alaskanassasin · December 2018

RajunCajun said:

Dondgc said:

I'm glad you find your smobot to be responsive. Mine is exactly the opposite. Very slow to respond either up or down. Easier to just control the temp myself.

I would bet $20 your lower vent setting is the problem. How wide open and what temp are you trying to achieve?

I got one for Christmas, what is the lower vent supposed to be set at? Also do you change the top of your daisy wheel every time or just buy another?

RajunCajun · December 2018

@alaskanassasin
Fow low temp ~3/4" works for me higher temps like 350-400, about halfway open works for me. Don't get all caught up in the "open all the way" theory. I just bought a new daisy wheel and dedicated it to the Smobot. Good luck with your Smobot!

cookingdude555 · December 2018

SaintJohnsEgger said:

Question: Do you just turn the smoker to its highest setting and the PID then controls the voltage to the smoker's power cord?

Kind of. I opened the smoker up and bypassed the the rheostat that controls the temp of the smoker. Essentially when the smoker is plugged in now, the element turns on 100% and would just run to max temp without control. Before hardwiring the smoker and adding the PID in the circuit, 275 was the max temp. The manufacture has said he supports going to 350 using the mod, but doesn’t recommend higher. Now the PID Just pulses the power and controls the voltage going into the smoker as well. When it’s running the power light is flashing on and off as the PID tightly controls the temp. I set it at 200 last night and it doesn’t move a degree or two in either direction from that.

SaintJohnsEgger · December 2018

The rheostat on mine is built into the end of the cord. Have to either figure out how to bypass it or turn the rheostat p to full and let the PID adjust the AC power.

cookingdude555 · December 2018

Cut off the rhesostat, wire a three prong cord into it, and then plug it into the PID. Done.

Smobot-Another Success

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