Pit Viper + Fireboard fan mod for PBC

[dshein01]

Wanted to share approach adding pitviper to PBC, had done some reading from older posts and wanted to attempt to mod PBC slightly with a pit viper fan and attachment for the fireboard since I didn't see anything in past 2 years for people adding a fan to the PBC

Approach:

- Bought some high-temperature flue tape (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to close up any leaks
- Took off the opening at bottom (fairly easy) and lined up the XL Grill Dome Adapter (https://www.bbqguru.com/storenav?ProductId=17) and "attached" it to PBC just using the tape (surprisingly it held well with a fairly minimal leakage about 1.5 hours into the cook



First cook:

- Had some people over so cooked 8 chicken halves marinated the night before with some homemade harissa (figured this would be a good test to see if I could keep the PBC running in the 325-350 range with that much meat hanging)
- Started off the PBC with 42 kingsford briquettes in a 10/10 lighting method (the first 2 steps of @fxzdoc method)
- Put in rebar and temp probe and set fan for 375 to start to deal with temp drop
- Added chickens and dropped target temp to 335 (was hoping for 325-350 range)



Overall

- Surprised how well and easy the cook was, had been dealing with some temp issues myself suddenly and for such a high volume cook was incredibly easy to keep the temp up in the PBC
- Chicken came out perfectly cooked and juicy with bite through skin that everybody raved about
- The fan did a great job of stabilizing temp (the times it turns off and temp drops is me opening the barrel), was great to just set-it and forget-it but still be able to get that PBC flavor
- May end up attaching the dome adapter more strongly to the PBC with some screws and sealing it a bit more, but excited to try this on a longer cook (thinking a hybrid carnitas style pork shoulder)


(I realized with all the people over I forget to take a picture of the actual chicken...but since I also made some burgers on the Napoleon I have about 2.5 chickens of leftovers for me + fiancee for the week...life is rough )

[RonB]

Congrats on figurin' it out.

[Jerod Broussard]

Great, neat job. Mods by other folks look to be more well-planned than mine, or just plain planned.

[RichRybak]

Did you find that it was steady as if you did screw it in? Can you give a little more detail on the install? Thank you!

[dshein01]

Assuming you are referring to attaching the adapter directly to barrel (let me know if not).

Put on a good amount of the flue tape to hold it down fairly tightly and tried to bend the adapter slightly to match the curvature of the barrel. Ended up using tape around each edge for a full cover and then also added a second layer of tape to keep it secure.

[dshein01]

It felt secure to me (attaching the pit viper to the adapter requries it of elbow grease), but I also treated it fairly gingerly to make sure it wouldn't fall out.

At the end of the cook, when I tipped over the barrel and shook it a bit to get rid of some leftover ash, the dome adapter did not move at all

I may end up screwing in the adapter for a more secure fit, but it worked perfectly now!

[RichRybak]

The big part of the adapter inside or outside of the barrel? Thank you!

[dshein01]

I just attached it on the outside of the barrel, the way the adapter lined up there would have been no way to get any decent seal / connection inside

[dshein01]

I did use the tape to try and make it as air tight as possible, but to be honest, even wit ha slight gap there was little issue with temp control

[RichRybak]

Thank you!

[Spinaker]

Nice! Who doesn't love a good mod?

[fzxdoc]

Bringing this back up to the top. I read on a post that AverageJoe made on another topic that Pitmaster IQ temp controllers has an adapter specifically for the PBC. I went to the website, but there's no photo of it up yet. I wonder if I could use a Pit Viper+Fireboard Controller with it.

Anyone used this adapter yet?

Kathryn

[AverageJoe]

fzxdoc and gdsim1 this is the link

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MRUWGKY/?coliid=I26MBOLCH3C748&colid=1OU9Y05K21T7S&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[fzxdoc]

Thanks, AverageJoe . I don't want the whole Pitmaster IQ setup. I just want to know if the PBC adapter can work with non-Pitmaster IQ products, since I already have a Pit Viper and a Fireboard.

Kathryn

[gdsim1]

Shouldn’t... must not... CAN’TTTTTT....

Yeah, I just pulled the trigger on this. 😂😂😂 Thanks for the link AverageJoe

[JimLinebarger]

When you say "attached" using the tape, do you mean on the outside? (For the PartyQ) I removed the vent cover, installed the XL grill dome adapter on the inside (after bending the sides to form better to the curve of the barrel), shoved the bottom of the adapter plate into the seam of the barrel, drilled a hole in the adapter where the barrel cover screw hole was. Didn't have to make any mods or new holes. Haven't checked if there is much leakage but it seems to work well. Putting the plug in at the end of the cook (with the rebar in also) snuffs out the fire very quickly. This method was recommended by BBQGuru since at that time, they didn't have a posted setup for the PBC like they do now.

[dshein01]

Tape was attached on the outside, was going to drill holes to attach it but tried it just with the flue tape and it has continued to work well.

Continue to use the adapter and this works well, in order to stop the temps from fluctuating more than I want I just go into the advanced settings for the fireboard and limit it to 60% (or 70%) depending on the external temp and it fluctuates within 5 degrees of the target temp the entire cook (spikes are me opening lid to check on the ribs)

[fzxdoc]

Good to hear that your mod is still working well, dshein01 , after nearly a year, and that you are pleased with the performance.

Kathryn

[supergas6]

Kathryn

I posted a month or two ago on my experience with the Fireboard thermometer and my PBC.

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/grills-and-smokers/charcoal/pit-barrel-cooker/681565-fireboard-thermometer-fan-control-with-pit-barrel-cooker

I’ve done several cooks since then that have been spot on. A great combination.

[fzxdoc]

Yes, supergas6 I saw that. I'm following that topic. Do you miss running the PBC "old school", especially for short cooks?

Kathryn

[supergas6]

You know, not really. Believe me, running a controller is absolutely not needed for the PBC. But sometimes it is really, really nice. For example, I'm going to have a brisket tomorrow, and my daughter has to leave to head home early. But I have to head to work tonight and will spend the night. I'll pop it on around 11pm or midnight, ratchet it down a little to about 225-235, and check on it when I get home at 7pm. Did it once before and it was one of the best I've ever made!

[fzxdoc]

Sounds perfect, supergas6 . If you don't mind, let us know how that brisket turns out.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

supergas6 , you may want to pop over to this topic where New2Cue is asking questions about a temp controller for his PBC. He'd appreciate your input, I'm sure.

K.

[Tman4024]

Bringing this back up to the top. I read on a post that AverageJoe made on another topic that Pitmaster IQ temp controllers has an adapter specifically for the PBC. I went to the website, but there's no photo of it up yet. I wonder if I could use a Pit Viper+Fireboard Controller with it.

Anyone used this adapter yet?

Kathryn

Did you ever find just the adapter piece so you can use the fire board?

[BFlynn]

I installed it yesterday. Will post pics soon.
You need the XL Dome Adapter along with the pit viper fan
​

[fzxdoc]

The XL Dome Adapter from BBQ Guru works perfectly, Tman4024 . I asked about the one specific to the PBC from PitMaster IQ back over a year ago and there was not a lot of info about it, so I went with the XL Dome Adapter. You have to put a slight curve in the adapter to mimic the curve of the barrel, which is quite easy to do.

Kathryn