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a temperature control question

stevesails
stevesails Posts: 990
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
I have seen the electronoic devices to control temp, and the do it your self units that look kind of fun to build and use.
The confusion I have; is that I hold 270 degrees for a long time with only a 1/4 inch opening in the lower vent.
Again, not a wise ass question, but why is one of these electronic devices required or recommended?
XL   Walled Lake, MI

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Comments

  • NC-CDN
    NC-CDN Posts: 703
    It just makes things a bit easier. The EGG will hold a temp fine without it as you've seen. Even much lower than the 270 you use.

    I also find I can go longer without reloading with more lump when I use my pit controller. The air vents are more closed/sealed, which makes it more efficient.

    Overall, they are not needed. That said, I have one and I love it. I went for years without it and did great too.
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  • Smokin' Stogies
    Smokin' Stogies Posts: 177
    It is more for peace of mind and un-interupted sleep. I use it mostly for Lo/Slo overnighters and for when baking in the egg when it is critical to hold temp. Other than that, I trust the old reliable egg to do it for me. The best part is putting a butt on at midnight, setting temp, sleeping soundly, going to work and coming home to see a beautiful 18 hour cook that is perfect. It take out the "let me check" anxiety.

    Smokin'Stogies in Exton, Pa with my wife and our four dogs; Sully and Boo the Newfoundlands, Murphy the Irish Setter and Alli the Beagle/Lab mix. 

    Eggers Prayer-

    Our egg, which art in sizes, hallowed be thy smoke, thy will be grilled, at home as it is at eggfest. Give us this clay our daily brisket and forgive us our rubs, as we forgive those who gas grill against us, and lead us not to flashback but deliver us from overnighters. For thine is the grill, the smoke, the egg. Let's eat!

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  • asianflava
    asianflava Posts: 313
    I've done it both ways and I'll never go back to manual control unless I have to.
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  • stevesails
    stevesails Posts: 990
    ok.. so if I make one, using the below item http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=170&zenid=4a12950ddc6d105ac18ab557ccbf0a6b
    I would need a pretty airtight seal, except when it blows air, I see the fan leaking more air in than the 1/4 inch opening in the lower vent.
    XL   Walled Lake, MI

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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,565
    i would have to keep getting up to see if the power was working :laugh: and then i would have to reset my windup alarm clock B) my alarm clock is over 60 years old and works like a champ :laugh: bet the load soothing ticking of the clock would irritate those with an electrical computerized egg :laugh: :laugh:
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
    Smokin' Stogies wrote:
    ... It take out the "let me check" anxiety.

    That's my excuse too. :) But I still wake up once in a while to check things out.

    GG
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  • Jeffersonian
    Jeffersonian Posts: 4,244
    No, it doesn't work that way, at least not at the conditions we cook at. My Egg has precisely zero gasket left and you can see it leak smoke when my Guru's blowing, but I've controlled temps down to 150* with no problem.

    I'm sure there's air being drawn when the fan is off, but it's not enough to cause the Egg temp to rise to any significant temperature.

    Personally, I use the Guru to:

    1 - overcome long-term temp drift
    2 - compensate for lump burning out (the Guru "gooses" the air flow to catch more lump)
    3 - get some shuteye on overnight cooks
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  • Smokin' Stogies
    Smokin' Stogies Posts: 177
    Agreed but now I can do it without going outside, just looking at the scrolling Pit/food on the DigiQ makes it reassuring.

    Smokin'Stogies in Exton, Pa with my wife and our four dogs; Sully and Boo the Newfoundlands, Murphy the Irish Setter and Alli the Beagle/Lab mix. 

    Eggers Prayer-

    Our egg, which art in sizes, hallowed be thy smoke, thy will be grilled, at home as it is at eggfest. Give us this clay our daily brisket and forgive us our rubs, as we forgive those who gas grill against us, and lead us not to flashback but deliver us from overnighters. For thine is the grill, the smoke, the egg. Let's eat!

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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
     
    The gasket leaking isn't all that big of an issue. However, the free air passing through the fan is an issue. You will need to develop some type of slider choke or damper to restrict the free air passing through the lower vent or you may well continually fighting temperature overshoot in the pit.

    Stoker uses a gravity door (something like a pet door in a house). The Guru Folks use a slider after the fan and before entering the lower vent. Both the stoker and the Guru methods work very well. I close the guru blower vent to 1/4 open on my 10 cfm blower. I don't need to worry on my Stoker 10 cfm blower.

    GG
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
     
    :laugh: :laugh: Yup, the egg holds temps just fine without being electrocuted.

    GG
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