[Steve91T]

This is mine. My wife still doesn't know how much I spent.

Here's what it does. Close off all air leaks to the smoker (mine has a lot), and hook this thing up. It is a computer controlled fan with a temp probe that you stick inside the grill, near the meat. It controls the amount of air to the coal to control the temp of the grill.

Here is the set up. Notice the "box" with the brains and the fan with a hose to the dog bowl (manifold) that blows air into the air vent of the smoker.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/2012-08-02_19-24-53_774.jpg)


Notice the solid green light....right on temp

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/2012-07-24_19-19-15_942.jpg)
Ribs 2 hrs into it.


(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/2012-08-02_19-25-04_62.jpg)


Beer can chicken......so good.


(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/2012-07-24_22-34-14_627.jpg)


So let's take today for example. I light the coals, let it get going with the lid open while I prepare the ribs, then put the ribs on the grill and close the lid. The box will allow just enough air to enter the smoker to raise the grill by a certain amount of degrees per minute until it reaches the preset temp. This way it doesn't over shoot it's temp. Once it's up to temp, the fan will run just enough to maintain the temp. So, I put the ribs on the grill and close the lid and leave the house to go for a run, even though the grill wasn't up to temp yet. I come home 50 minutes later (almost died from running in 95 degree temp), took a shower, grabbed a beer and checked on the temp. After 2 hours, it was still holding 275. I freaking love this thing!

This post has been edited by Steve91T: Aug 3 2012, 04:40 AM

[trackbird]

I have that same charcoal chimney and I had a very similar grill (mine eventually rusted enough to go to the big scrap recycler in the sky...or across town actually). That's a pretty cool device. I could see that for cooking ribs or a whole chicken, but otherwise I can't think when I'd use it. Sadly I stick to grilling more standard stuff (steaks, burgers, chicken, shrimp) and nothing that takes too long.

My TIG welder is probably my favorite impulse buy. I saw one for sale and decided I needed one...but I missed it. A week or so later another of the same model popped up (and 3,000 miles closer) so I bought it. I'd been reading a little bit about TIG, but buying one was a "sure, why not?" kind of purchase.