Thinking up another PBC mod......

[Hondo]

That looks great! I've been considering adding something like this to mine... I'll be curious to hear how well this works for you...

[Jerod Broussard]

Yeah, not sure when my next big cook will be.

[boftx]

Actually, rather than go through all that work to cut accurate shapes and whatnot, why not continue with the pipe theme and use valves Say a couple of 1" - 1.5" ball valves that give you precise openings.

[Jerod Broussard]

I have ball valves on the two pipes I have. I get way more response with a lid crack when it is overloaded. I'm thinking of wrapping some insulation around the pipes since they cool off considerably half way up.

[jecucolo]

Amazing.

[Jerod Broussard]

This thing kicks some serious tail!!!!!!!!

Put barely a small crack, not much, opened up a little more, next thing I know temps are at 300. I was running 250 with some very humid weather. Woohoo!!!!

[Thom Emery]

Nice idea!

[Jerod Broussard]

And it came at a good time. My lid is starting to warp some, so cracking it and sealing back is getting to be a chore. Real test will be when 24+ pounds of pork butts stall.

[MBMorgan]

This thing kicks some serious tail!!!!!!!!

Put barely a small crack, not much, opened up a little more, next thing I know temps are at 300. I was running 250 with some very humid weather. Woohoo!!!!

Cool! Congrats, Jerod ... now this is a mod I might just need to seriously consider (I'm not fond of that lid-cracking business). I'd be curious to hear just how much hotter than normal you can get the PBC to run using only the new mod (no pipes) after a good light.

[Jerod Broussard]

Wow, too hot. I cracked it the other day to burn off charcoal and warped my grate. Course that was some B & B. The pipes can help a little, but nothing compared to this dude. Be awesome with chicken.

[MBMorgan]

Is this what you used?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BBQ-Smoker-Supply-ajustable-grill-stove-vent-pinwheel-damper-4-inch-STEEL-QTY1/181914989360?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150313114020%26meid%3D541c9660d2744694a3dd4034d00c2e67%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D181914991412

[Jerod Broussard]

That looks to be the exact same one. My only thing is I already had a hole for a Tel-Tru that is slightly bigger than the hole to attach the vent. So I have a little play in the system but nothing major.

[MBMorgan]

Thanks, Jerod! ... and you might try a (tiny) bit of high-temp silicon around the bolt to take out the excess play if it's bothersome.

[JPP]

Jerod, Would you recommend the vent to the smoke-stacks then?

[Jerod Broussard]

Definitely. I cut mine with a Dremel tool no biggie.

[Spinaker]

Jerod, Would you recommend the vent to the smoke-stacks then?

The daisy wheel would probably be easier. But I love having the stacks on mine.

[Obi-Dan]

It's like the Pit Barrel Cooker's evil cousin.

[BriggsBBQ]

If you could make those pipes look like six shooters that would be sweet. Already cool but would be even cooler.

[Spinaker]

That is a true story. BriggsBBQ

[Jerod Broussard]

This vent is soooooooooo the real deal.

I hung three butts this morning around 0300 hrs and set the Auber for 250. The barrel settled around 270, but I knew with time it would creep down with 18 pounds of meat. At 1000 hrs it was 247 with the Auber trying to keep up. I turned off the Auber with one of the butts almost ready and the 2 others plenty tough, in fact they are still on at this time (1334 hrs).

The barrel slowly cooled to 228, at which time the butt that was almost ready was ready to be removed. I slid the other butts over to the middle of the barrel and cracked the vent. In no time the barrel was running 250+ and I just cracked it down some to run about 270.

Definitely going to remove the pipes.

[MBMorgan]

This vent is soooooooooo the real deal.

I hung three butts this morning around 0300 hrs and set the Auber for 250. The barrel settled around 270, but I knew with time it would creep down with 18 pounds of meat. At 1000 hrs it was 247 with the Auber trying to keep up. I turned off the Auber with one of the butts almost ready and the 2 others plenty tough, in fact they are still on at this time (1334 hrs).

The barrel slowly cooled to 228, at which time the butt that was almost ready was ready to be removed. I slid the other butts over to the middle of the barrel and cracked the vent. In no time the barrel was running 250+ and I just cracked it down some to run about 270.

Definitely going to remove the pipes.

OK ... so now you need to add a servo motor to the new vent ... controlled by the Auber of course ... ...

[Jerod Broussard]

It's funny you mention that. Few years ago, a guy somewhere on the net had an actuator arm controlling the vent on something like a BGE, and he did a time laps video showing it in operation. Exactly what this needs. Give me 20 years to pass a course in electrical engineering and I am on my way.

[HawkerXP]

Or, Jarod, get one of your daughters to do it for a "school" project.

[Jerod Broussard]

Haha HawkerXP

[lschweig]

I've been trying not to mod my PBC, but this one I will probably do particularly for poultry as well as I get tired of cracking the lid as it is such a imprecise method.

[Jerod Broussard]

Exactly. With lots of meat you end up needing more airflow even with hot B&B charcoal, and the lid setting really isn't precise enough to be able to leave it alone for a good while. Though I have gotten lucky a few times.

[lschweig]

I now have the vent you recommended and just have to install it, which should be pretty easy with a jigsaw. I was lucky enough to find the proper sized compression spring at Home Depot and will show pictures when done.
I am really looking forward to this as my last long cook close to a week ago I had to crack the lid, close the lid, crack the lid, and so on.

[CandySueQ]

Interesting! Nice work, Jerod Broussard. Why install the pipes so high? On the Gateway Drum the vent stacks are out of the bottom on either side of the charcoal basket.

[Jerod Broussard]

More lift and draw.

[Tim E]

I am definitely moving forward with this upgrade. Thanks for the great idea Jerod Broussard !!