I have a good 2 channel thermometer with remote (a Thermoworks Smoke) and I also have a thermostatic controller from BBQguru.com (a discontinued model called the PartyQ). For the Smoke, I also have their Wifi gateway, but find myself rarely needing to monitor the cook when away from home these days, so I tend to just use the dedicated remote to keep an eye on things.
I've got a Weber Performer Deluxe (22" kettle) that I sometimes use the thermostatic controller on - only if its a long overnight smoke. And I have a kamado (SNS Deluxe Kamado). I've never bothered to use the thermostatic controller on the kamado, as it is very stable once I get the vents adjusted right. With the kettle I can get 8-12 hours of burn time on a load of charcoal in the SNS, in my kamado, I've easily gotten 18-20 hours on a load of lump.
The thermostatic controllers are more convenience than necessity in my opinion. They make it easier to get to a specific temperature without fiddling with the vents, and in the case of the kettle, they can also help get every last BTU of heat extracted from the charcoal. I've had it set to 225 on the kettle before, and come out to find the kettle still at 225, the fan running full blast, and only 3-4 lit coals remaining in the Slow 'N Sear!
If you are on a budget, nothing wrong with getting the thermometer now, and worrying with temperature control down the road, if and when you need it. With that Summit, being basically a metal kamado, it tend to be more stable than the kettle you have now. That is what I am seeing anyway.
I've got a Weber Performer Deluxe (22" kettle) that I sometimes use the thermostatic controller on - only if its a long overnight smoke. And I have a kamado (SNS Deluxe Kamado). I've never bothered to use the thermostatic controller on the kamado, as it is very stable once I get the vents adjusted right. With the kettle I can get 8-12 hours of burn time on a load of charcoal in the SNS, in my kamado, I've easily gotten 18-20 hours on a load of lump.
The thermostatic controllers are more convenience than necessity in my opinion. They make it easier to get to a specific temperature without fiddling with the vents, and in the case of the kettle, they can also help get every last BTU of heat extracted from the charcoal. I've had it set to 225 on the kettle before, and come out to find the kettle still at 225, the fan running full blast, and only 3-4 lit coals remaining in the Slow 'N Sear!
If you are on a budget, nothing wrong with getting the thermometer now, and worrying with temperature control down the road, if and when you need it. With that Summit, being basically a metal kamado, it tend to be more stable than the kettle you have now. That is what I am seeing anyway.
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