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Theory

CP92
CP92 Posts: 318
Got a new LBGE just recently. First cook was a couple of weeks ago and I did ribs in the 250 range. Using Rockwood. Vents were open much farther than my previous LBGE (broken during a move). Got a Kick Ash basket over the weekend, and seasoned a wok today using Rockwood again. Vents wide open and it barely reached 550. Thoughts on ceramic being white (not sooted over) keeping the egg from reaching higher temps?
Chris
LBGE
Hughesville, MD
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Comments

  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    edited May 2022
    Obvious questions...did you check the calibration of your dome thermometer? And are you sure the bottom of the firebox was properly aligned with the bottom vent?
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Have not checked the cal of the thermo. Out box I just assume it's good. Yes, the firebox is aligned correctly.
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • loco_engr
    loco_engr Posts: 5,759
    plz report back after calibration . . . might help other new owners
    aka marysvilleksegghead
    Lrg 2008
    mini 2009
    XL 2021 (sold 8/24/23)
    Henny Youngman:
    I said to my wife, 'Where do you want to go for our anniversary?' She said, 'I want to go somewhere I've never been before.' I said, 'Try the kitchen.'
    Bob Hope: When I wake up in the morning, I don’t feel anything until noon, and then it’s time for my nap
  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 30,869
    CP92 said:

    Thoughts on ceramic being white (not sooted over) keeping the egg from reaching higher temps?
    Unlikely to be a significant factor. 
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
  • Hansm
    Hansm Posts: 214
    I calibtrated my GBE thermo in boiling water, it was off by a few degrees
    LG BGE,  Weber Genesis gas, Weber 22" Kettle, Weber Smokey Joe
  • RyanStl
    RyanStl Posts: 1,050
    So I take it no flames shooting out of the top with lid off?
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    Hansm said:
    I calibtrated my GBE thermo in boiling water, it was off by a few degrees
    A few degrees off shouldn’t make that much of a difference and you already said your firebox opening is properly aligned…and a kick ash basket is no hindrance so the only other variables point toward
    1) what restricting cap were you using on your dome or was it un-restricted?
    2) how much lump did you have in?
    3) how long had it been burning?
    4) how big is that new wok you were seasoning? I mean it in itself might have been acting as a heat sink and if too big then it could have been choking off the air flow!
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • Begger
    Begger Posts: 569
    SOME Materials.....In the case of what I'm certain of....become transparent to infrared at some very high tempreture.
    In my 'past life' as a semiconductor process guy?    The Silicon Wafer used as 'start material' becomes tranparent at (IIRC) about 1000c......
    This is somewhat beyond where you can get your egg.....but I don't know the specifics of the ceramic used making the egg.

    When I have done 'full speed' burn offs in the past?   A real pale blue flame comes out the top.   You can't get NEAR the darn thing.   And when done?   Dome ceramic is a LOT cleaner and the 'lower end' almost looks like new....

    As for a wok being a 'heat sink'?    True, until it gets HOT, than not so much.
    I remember doing PIZZA and when I get it cranked up?   Dome temp of 600+ is not uncommon......but Charcoal use is considerable compared to just burning up some dogs and burgers....
  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Fire box was full to the top, just below the ring that sits on top. No flames shooting out of the top. I owned an egg for 7 years and routinely ran my old egg up to 750+ to sear steaks and do pizzas. Was surprised I couldn't get over 550. Did fried rice on the wok/egg Sun; same results. Just can't figure it out.  Plan on doing more woking this summer to keep the heat out of the house so we'll see. 

    Chris
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 30,869
    CP92 said:
    Fire box was full to the top, just below the ring that sits on top. No flames shooting out of the top. I owned an egg for 7 years and routinely ran my old egg up to 750+ to sear steaks and do pizzas. Was surprised I couldn't get over 550. Did fried rice on the wok/egg Sun; same results. Just can't figure it out.  Plan on doing more woking this summer to keep the heat out of the house so we'll see. 

    Chris
    It is almost always air flow.  Somehow the lump you had loaded up was restricting it.  

    Do a clean burn, put in a new pile of lump and try again and I can almost guarantee you won't have any issues getting up to temperature.
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Only thing I can think of is I dumped the lump in a trash can and am mostly using small pieces as that's what ended up on top of the pile in the trash can.  I'll try bigger pieces next burn. 
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • Hansm
    Hansm Posts: 214
    not the size of the chunk it is airflow through the firebox

    LG BGE,  Weber Genesis gas, Weber 22" Kettle, Weber Smokey Joe
  • RyanStl
    RyanStl Posts: 1,050
    CP92 said:
    Fire box was full to the top, just below the ring that sits on top. No flames shooting out of the top. I owned an egg for 7 years and routinely ran my old egg up to 750+ to sear steaks and do pizzas. Was surprised I couldn't get over 550. Did fried rice on the wok/egg Sun; same results. Just can't figure it out.  Plan on doing more woking this summer to keep the heat out of the house so we'll see. 

    Chris
    When doing direct, all I have to do to get flames shooting out of top is go inside for a minute and then look out the kitchen window. Everytime, like old faithful.
  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Hansm said:
    not the size of the chunk it is airflow through the firebox


    There is zero issue with airflow to the firebox. The egg has a total of 3 cooks on it, and have experienced the issue in each cook. The ash area is cleaned out each time and new lump placed in it. In addition, the last two cooks have used the Kick Ash basket. 
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    I'm going to jump in the deep end with an unexplainable theory...just like some of us who can go nuclear with our Small eggs there have always been others who couldn't get much past 400º no matter what! There was never a plausible explanation - so you might have the same issue with your new large. Sorry
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Langner91 said:


    I know you are an experienced egghead, based upon this being a "replacement" egg for one that was damaged.  So, don't take this personally.



    Definitely not taking it personally, but appreciate the nod. Yes, have kept the lid up and it just never goes nuclear. It's mind boggling. I was very close to grabbing the air dryer/lawn blower at one point to accelerate the whole thing. Will definitely be in on hand next time. Will advise.

    @RRP I hope it's not idiopathic. I love my steaks too much and really want to do more woking and pizzas.  Thanks for the thoughts and support however.

    Chris

    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • Langner91
    Langner91 Posts: 2,120
    CP92 said:
    Langner91 said:


    I know you are an experienced egghead, based upon this being a "replacement" egg for one that was damaged.  So, don't take this personally.



    Definitely not taking it personally, but appreciate the nod. Yes, have kept the lid up and it just never goes nuclear. It's mind boggling. I was very close to grabbing the air dryer/lawn blower at one point to accelerate the whole thing. Will definitely be in on hand next time. Will advise.

    @RRP I hope it's not idiopathic. I love my steaks too much and really want to do more woking and pizzas.  Thanks for the thoughts and support however.

    Chris

    I will be curious to see what happens.  I just can't understand what would be happening.  Good luck!
    Clinton, Iowa
  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Turned out to be the screen on the lower vent. Opened it up and shot to 750. Closed the screen and dropped to below 600. Never had that issue on the older model. 

    Chris
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • danhoo
    danhoo Posts: 675
    Interesting...

    After I got a warranty base last summer I've noticed it wasn't heating as fast. Thought it was the lump, or how I was lighting it. 

    First pic is my new screen that came with a 2021 base, and the second pic is the screen of my 2011.

    The new screen has thicker wire and a tighter weave. 





    My cracked base is going to be an herb planter. 




    current: | Large BGE |  Genesis 1000 | Genesis E330 | 22 inch Kettle | Weber Summit Kamado
    sold:| PitBoss pro 820  WSM 22 
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,432
    I'm quite surprised that the weave of the screen makes such a difference.  Learn something here all the time.  
    _____________

    "I mean, I don't just kill guys, I'm notorious for doing in houseplants."  - Maggie, Northern Exposure


  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    Botch said:
    I'm quite surprised that the weave of the screen makes such a difference.  Learn something here all the time.  
    I would have argued it all day. I was shocked when that's what it turned out to be. 
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD
  • danhoo
    danhoo Posts: 675
    edited May 2022
    CP92 said:
    Botch said:
    I'm quite surprised that the weave of the screen makes such a difference.  Learn something here all the time.  
    I would have argued it all day. I was shocked when that's what it turned out to be. 
    the numbers geek in me wants to calculate the delta for the restriction difference between new, old and none, yet I probably won't get to it and it won't be accurate without measuring the air flow volume.

    But just comparing open area:
    new screen has 20 vertical wires. Old has 18. 
    new screen wire looks thicker, so the open space is not only smaller due to a tighter weave but the wire blocks more air.

    Rough guess is the new screen is at least 10 percent more restrictive than the old, maybe 20 percent.

    current: | Large BGE |  Genesis 1000 | Genesis E330 | 22 inch Kettle | Weber Summit Kamado
    sold:| PitBoss pro 820  WSM 22 
  • paqman
    paqman Posts: 4,660
    I changed the screen on my large last year and it did make a difference but not as drastic as what you are seeing @CP92

    I still have the original somewhere in the shed, I’ll try to find it to compare it side-by-side 

    ____________________
    Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage. •Niccolo Machiavelli
  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    danhoo said:
    CP92 said:
    Botch said:
    I'm quite surprised that the weave of the screen makes such a difference.  Learn something here all the time.  
    I would have argued it all day. I was shocked when that's what it turned out to be. 
    the numbers geek in me wants to calculate the delta for the restriction difference between new, old and none, yet I probably won't get to it and it won't be accurate without measuring the air flow volume.

    But just comparing open area:
    new screen has 20 vertical wires. Old has 18. 
    new screen wire looks thicker, so the open space is not only smaller due to a tighter weave but the wire blocks more air.

    Rough guess is the new screen is at least 10 percent more restrictive than the old, maybe 20 percent.

    The more useful exercise (imo) would be to calculate the delta between the mesh barrier and no barrier. I can assure you the barrier previous to this one also made a difference. It’s absolutely possible it was less drastic, but I’m 100% sure it existed. If you want real high temps you have to remove the screen as an obstruction. My egg is @20 yo. I definitely notice the difference between open and closed screen. The real old ones never used a screen (spark arrester). It’s fairly significant in my experience. This might be a job for grad students as I’m sure there are a multitude of variables not being discussed such as the state of the fire, wind direction, etc. 
  • TWags15
    TWags15 Posts: 71
    CP92 said:
    Turned out to be the screen on the lower vent. Opened it up and shot to 750. Closed the screen and dropped to below 600. Never had that issue on the older model. 

    Chris
    Unfortunately it was at your expense, man, but this was one mystery novel for which I couldn’t wait for the conclusion! Read every troubleshoot response word for word, hoping there’d be something I could add … and there just wasn’t. Glad you’re through the stall!
    Tim
    Large BGE (2020), Outdoor Kitchen (Summer 2021)
    Aurora, IL
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    danhoo said:
    CP92 said:
    Botch said:
    I'm quite surprised that the weave of the screen makes such a difference.  Learn something here all the time.  
    I would have argued it all day. I was shocked when that's what it turned out to be. 
    the numbers geek in me wants to calculate the delta for the restriction difference between new, old and none, yet I probably won't get to it and it won't be accurate without measuring the air flow volume.

    But just comparing open area:
    new screen has 20 vertical wires. Old has 18. 
    new screen wire looks thicker, so the open space is not only smaller due to a tighter weave but the wire blocks more air.

    Rough guess is the new screen is at least 10 percent more restrictive than the old, maybe 20 percent.

    The more useful exercise (imo) would be to calculate the delta between the mesh barrier and no barrier. I can assure you the barrier previous to this one also made a difference. It’s absolutely possible it was less drastic, but I’m 100% sure it existed. If you want real high temps you have to remove the screen as an obstruction. My egg is @20 yo. I definitely notice the difference between open and closed screen. The real old ones never used a screen (spark arrester). It’s fairly significant in my experience. This might be a job for grad students as I’m sure there are a multitude of variables not being discussed such as the state of the fire, wind direction, etc. 
    well, said, Pete and a challenge made to some university with graduate students looking for a challenge…BUT aren’t such challenges normally made by corporate underwriters? SO do you think…or never mind!

    BTW the other variable which I know I have experienced has been how loose the screen slides and rests in the track. I know mine and other eggers as well had loosely-goosey doors which had issues riding in the track behind the doors. I for one would often suggest using a slotted screw driver to tighten or loosen the track to slide better…
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,170
    @RRP and others here regarding the closing comments about tightness of the screen in the track-Not quite three years ago I was shutting the screen cover with the dome open (LBGE) to get the across the lump fire for a paella cook.  
    Down to the last 1/4 inch of travel and getting resistance.
    You guessed it, with the last  (for the BGE) push the BGE toppled off the roofed porch and dropped around 2 feet into a few shrubs but the major parts nailed the aggregate concrete.  Most expensive paella I ever cooked.  Grabbed the nearby garden hose, killed the fire, fired up the SBGE and completed the cook.  My best ever F' me moment with a BGE.  
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • Ybabpmuts
    Ybabpmuts Posts: 917
    @lousubcap

    "You guessed it, with the last  (for the BGE) push the BGE toppled off the roofed porch and dropped around 2 feet into a few shrubs but the major parts nailed the aggregate concrete"

    Before you buy another egg you should plant more shrubs under the porch. I'll be honest with you, there was just no way only a few shrubs were gonna catch that egg safely. I have maybe 16 shrubs around my yard and in almost all of them, the birds always make their nests down at the very bottom of the shrubs. Even birds know the tops of shrubs suck at catching falling eggs, and they're all basically living in shrub basements, in case an egg falls out, just to give it a small chance at survival.

    Wait a minute ..umm forget growing more shrubs, that takes too long. I'm thinking you can solve this by moving your porch down near the bottoms of your shrubs. Watch out for the birds down there though, if you're in America bring a shotgun, if you're in Britain, bring some tuppence to the old hag on the steps of Saint Paul's, for a bag of crumbs, before you use the new porch. 


    StumpBaby

  • CP92
    CP92 Posts: 318
    TWags15 said:

    Unfortunately it was at your expense, man, but this was one mystery novel for which I couldn’t wait for the conclusion! Read every troubleshoot response word for word, hoping there’d be something I could add … and there just wasn’t. Glad you’re through the stall!
    @TWags15. Always good for the collective to come together on issues like this. Glad you benefited as well. 

    Chris
    Chris
    LBGE
    Hughesville, MD