Vertical Smoker Temps

[J-S]

Hello, new here and have a few questions. We've got a PBVS5 vertical smoker that we've been using for about a year now and really enjoy it. My first question is about cabinet temps.

I was having some trouble with cooks taking longer than expected so installed an analog themometer in the side of the smoker at the midpoint level. Just as I suspected the temp was reading about 75* lower than the controller setpoint. For a good while I just used this a a refrence and would adjust the temp but never could get them to match. I got to thinking about how the smoker blows air from the bottom and decided to try and run a test without the water pan in the cabinet. With the smoker set at 275* with no water pan or food the temp gauge I installed matched the controller setpoint and held perfectly. Has anyone else experienced this or cooked without the water pan?

Next question is about the stack cap. I've always kept it pretty low, is this correct?

 

[Mike From R.I.]

I have the PBV4PS2 I have my stack cap halfway open and always use water in the pan. I have adjusted the temp if it is cold out in the winter to 300 deg to maintain 250-270 deg.
Might want to call customer service and see what they think, maybe clean the temperature probe or replace it.
Mine after it's been running for some time, the temperatures from my separate Wi-Fi thermometer and the controller temp are pretty much the same.

 

[J-S]

I called customer service before I tried running it without the water pan. They said the temp probe was probably bad and offered to send a new one if I could get them the model and serial number. I could be wrong on this but if the controller and temp gauge I installed maintain 275* without the water pan installed I'd say the issue isn't with the controller or sensor but more with the sensor placement. The sensor is about 1" long and locatated right by the water pan at the bottom of the cabinet.

 

[Dab942]

I have the PBV4PS2. I keep the stack at least two fingers widths open. Are you cleaning the probe?

The water helps stabilize the temp in the box, since it the water can't get above boiling without vaporizing. It helps cool the temps as the water evaporates -- since many smoke around 225 ish -- this is not too far above boiling. It also helps in keep temp up as air gets gets cooler quicker, so it can help maintain heat, as well, for those minor swings.

I let my water pan run dry last week and I had an inferno with pork belly burnt ends.

I found swings in temps as well. My probe is in the top right of the cabinet, where the meat is generally in the middle. I did notice that the temps seem to normalize after some time, especially if you have a big honkin slab of cold meat in the box.

Having said all of that, I noticed my temps are much better since replacing the controller -- I couldn't connect with Smoke IT and had temp issues.

 

[J-S]

I'll try keeping the stack vent open more. The water pan definitely helps. Seems like we will go through about a gallon every 3-4 hours. Would yall recomend just turning the controller temp to 325* to get the cabinet temp to 250* or using going by the controller temp?

 

[Mike From R.I.]

I'd go with a trusted separate thermometer, then compare it to the controller temperature. I always have water in my pan.

 

[Dab942]

I'll try keeping the stack vent open more. The water pan definitely helps. Seems like we will go through about a gallon every 3-4 hours. Would yall recomend just turning the controller temp to 325* to get the cabinet temp to 250* or using going by the controller temp?

I put a couple thermometers in the cabinet -- one close the internal probe just to check.

 

[J-S]

We smoked this beef ribs a few weeks back and they turned out great. Believe controller was at 300* and cabinet temp showed 225* took 6-7 hours. Thanks for the help and I'll report back with what I find.

 

[J-S]

Well we smoked a couple racks of ribs and a tri tip yesterday. The tri tip turned out good but the ribs got a little too much heat. I tried something a little differently to see how temps would look. I took the factory water pan out and put a cake pan full of water that was just bigger than the burn pot cover on the lowest rack. The controller temp stayed around 275* and the cabinet temp hung out about 15* lower. This is a big change from the 75* difference I was seeing. Also opened the stack more. Thinking I'll run it with the factory water pan next time and just adjust the controller to get cabinet temp I want.