When do you attach your controller?

[Attjack]

Haven't had mine very long. Using with a Primo XL. Do you wait after lighting until it's say 100 degrees shy of you target?

[EdF]

Seems about right to me.

[vandy]

I usually start mine right after I start the charcoal lighter then if I need a little more help with bigger air flow I use my BBQ Dragon to get the charcoal going.

[Troutman]

I let controller and fan go right after I fire up the fuel.

[customtrim]

When I shut the lid on mine, but I set it in increments of going to 225 I will set it at say 180 then210 and so on. This tells me where it will settle in at being you still need your vents somewhat close to being right

[Polarbear777]

I start the fan, then light. Gets it going faster. With the pit barrel with no other intake I have to use the fan once the lid is on anyway.

[Mosca]

I had to think about it. I set mine when the temp is close to where I want it to be: if I’m going for low 200s, I’ll attach it and set it at about 180.

Kamados are different from other cookers, though. You might get serious overshoot doing that on a Weber Kettle.

[Jon Solberg]

Seems like there’s no wrong no way, right?

[LA Pork Butt]

I usually bring my cooker upnto target temp before attaching the controller.

[RonB]

Whatever works for you is right. For me, I plug it in after I add lit coals to the unlit coals in the SnS. I want the initial burst of air to move any ash it can before I put the meat on. OK - it's a tiny burst of air, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.