Charcoal placement in the PBC 18.5 using signals and the billows fan?

[garyo1675]

I recently purchased the Thermoworks signals controller and the billows fan along with the kamado adapter to install on my PBC 18.5 cooker. One tip i picked up from this group was to place the lit charcoal in a pocket formed in the un-lit charcoal opposite of the vent. It has worked well in the past for me. My question is with the billows do I want to reverse this technique meaning form my pocket in front of the billows fan instead of opposite of the vent? Any information from billows users would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance

[HawkerXP]

I don't have a fan. Watching.....

PBC, PBC, PBC!

[dpearce]

I have the billows fan (run by Signals unit) for the my PBC (not the jr.).

A couple suggestions I got here, when I was trying to dial in a lower and slower temp was to buy the baffle that ThermoWorks sells for the Billows and only open it about 5-7 clicks. That seemed to allow the fan to control the temp much more accurately.

Lighting wasn't that complicated. I usually use Kingsford briquettes and add some wood for smoke. I literally have cooked with a half-charcoal starter of lit coals (for faster, higher temp cooks), a hand-full of briquets started first (little slower starting out than the first method), and with a wax starter (very low and slow start, you'll have to wait, wait, wait to add in your wood for smoke, good for when you're prepping meat and want to get the exact temp before adding the meat).

All of these I do in the center of the basket.

Your mileage might vary, depending on your altitude though, so you might need to do a few test cooks and see what happens! Wish you success with whatever technique you use!

[TripleB]

Wow, you guys are PBC pitmasters. I just load the basket, put some wood on top, toss on some lit coals and let er rip. Did a butt on my PBC this weekend. Came out great. Kudos to you guys

[HawkerXP]

+1

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I prefer this method. K.I.S.S.

[Spinaker]

Same here. I kinda like messing around with the PBC if I have too. But for the most part it just chugs right a long with out any intervention. I also do not care if it is riding perfectly at 275 or 225. If it jumps around a bit, that is just fine.

[garyo1675]

Thank you dpearce. I did purchase the damper when I purchased the billows, after reading about it on this site and talking with the very helpful staff at Thermoworks. I actually own two of the regular size 18.5 pbc's. One stays at our seasonal campsite and one at home. Plan on transporting the signals and billows as required. I also own two weber performers one at the camper and one at home the the pbc's are pretty much used for ribs, brisket, pork butt and this year 1/2 chickens at the camper. I must admit I have a slight addiction because I also have one of the first Sns Kettles at home also. Thanks again! Camper is in michigan and home is Indiana so same altitude.

[HawkerXP]

Agree with your use of PBC. Wibs, brisket, poultry are my regular cooks. I have 3 performers and 1 pbc. I am waiting to win the monthly drawing so I can get a second pbc for the lake house.

[gbwsmoker]

I use the DigiQ on both my PBC and Weber kettle with the SnS. I don’t worry about charcoal placement and temp stays rock solid at whatever I set. Have a turkey on the PBC as I write this.

dpearce - Weber has parts for all of its grills. I basically rebuilt my kettle. They sent me a new bottom when my ash catcher failed. The new ash catchers did not fit the old kettles. I have also obtained parts for my Weber Summit.

[BFlynn]

I also got the SnS kettle when it first came out.

With only two of us at the house, I use the SnS way more. But I love the PBC the most

[Murdy]

The following is not PBC specific:

On my kettle, I try to keep my vent on the opposite side of the burning charcoal (requires me to rotate it throughout the day using the snake method) so that the smoke is drawn across the food. Perhaps this was the purpose of the original advice you received to place the lit charcoal opposite the vent. If so, it would make sense to continue to do something similar. Since the billows is pushing air in, you probably want the source of the smoke near it.

Just speculating here.