Pit Viper + Fireboard fan mod for PBC

[BFlynn]

XL dome adapter for pit viper fan attached to PBC

[fzxdoc]

That looks like a permanent addition, BFlynn . Nice job.

The XL Dome Adapter can also be attached to the inside of the barrel, FWIW. I have mine on the inside of the barrel secured with the one bolt that held the vent cover in place. That way I can always go back to the original setup whenever I like.

Kathryn

[JimLinebarger]

+1

[BFlynn]

I tried to mount from the inside but I was having trouble getting everything lined up and it was hot, and my head was in the PBC and all I could smell was bbq.
So I mounted from the outside.

By my rough estimation, the opening on the dome adapter is close to the same area as the PBC opening set to 1/4. So it should run pretty close to default without the fan attached. Figured the "permanent" attachment couldn't hurt.

I also put some high temp sealer to keep it from leaking around the edges

[fzxdoc]

You did a really neat job of it, BFlynn . It looks like it belongs to the PBC instead of an add-on.

I know what you mean about climbing inside the PBC, practically, to mount the adapter from the inside. I'm 5'2" and felt as though that any minute I might just topple in as I tried to position the adapter and affix the bolt.

From what I read here, once most folks have attached an adapter, they use the PBC in ATC mode all the time. They don't switch back and forth. I'm all about leaving my options open, so I'll go with the install approach I have made until I see a reason not to. I've so enjoyed using my PBC in original mode over so many years that I wonder if I'll enjoy the fan assist method as much.

I guess that makes me more of a helicopter PBC parent.

Kathryn

[cgrover60]

It would great to get your thoughts after a few pit viper cooks fzxdoc. I confess I am a gadget guy but so far have resisted any PBC mods.

[BFlynn]

I'm doing a test run with the Fireboard V2 drive and pit viper fan.

So far, I've been able to maintain temps of
225 ish, 240, 260, 280, and 350.

I'll have a more detailed post about lighting and adjustment.
But overall - this is easy to set up, easy to use, and doing what I expected it to do.

[BoomerSooner]

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

You can buy just the adaptor. Here is the photo of it installed on a PBC and the current price is $21.95 [link]. By looking at the photo it appears that a Pit Viper fan should attach directly to it... what do you think? Are these adapters a standard size for most fans to attach to?

[fzxdoc]

Are these adapters a standard size for most fans to attach to?

Not sure. But if you contact the Pitmasteriq folks and get a dimension of the inside diameter of the adapter and talk to BBQ Guru to see what the outside diameter is of the Pit Viper fan port for the size of fan you're interested in, you may be closer to an answer. I suspect you may have already done this. And the verdict is???
K.

[BFlynn]

Realize that I'm about a month late to this party, but here is my install of the fan port and probe port.



Put the fan port directly across from the original intake. I was worried about wanting to go back and run without a fan. Which I do sometimes. It turns out though the area of the port opening is damn near the same area of the original port, set for near sea level

Put the probe port in line with the fan, so all my wires are on the same side. I just got a new probe from Fireboard to permanently I stall. It I'll go to the right of this one.

[BFlynn]

Didn't realize this was a continuation of a thread I'd already posted on ..... Waaayyyy back.....

Ha! My squirrel brain syndrome is running high today

You can see the difference from when I repainted the PBC to now. So that's fun

[fzxdoc]

I still enjoyed your current writeup, BFlynn and liked seein the photos of both the ATC mod and your probe port.

I love the look of your PBC. It has had quite the history, moving from Jerod Broussard 's domicile to yours. It must still smell like JB's brisket cooks.

There's a soft spot in my heart for well-used OG PBCs like the one you and I have. Cosmetically, mine looks a bit better than yours, but then I've babied it over the years, keeping it well cleaned and covered. It definitely is showing signs of cosmetic wear, but it keeps plugging away. 10 years in PBC years is like dog years, I'm thinking.

BTW, the ATC has spoiled me over the past few years. I bet I do 90% of my cooks with it nowadays. It truly makes the PBC as set/forget as it gets in the real world.

I smoked 2 Peruvian-recipe chickens last night with a half-dozen banger sausages for added flavor. Used the Pit Viper/Fireboard Drive combo. My husband was still raving about that meal at breakfast this morning. Such juicy chicken, he kept saying, while I quietly was thinking that I was glad he doesn't eat the skin because I got his portion of it as well as mine. That skin over the breast crackled when I ate it! Unusual for a marinated bird, but it did. I heart that PBC.

Kathryn

[mrichie1229]

All hail the PBC Queen! 👑

I have thought about doing this mod for some time. Seeing this thread makes me wonder why I haven't yet.

[BFlynn]

Yeah, it's still running great. I don't use it as often now. Got a SnS kettle a couple years ago.
Since it's just the wife and me, (and she doesn't really dig leftovers) I mostly use the kettle.

But I did 8 racks of ribs at the start of the summer for a birthday party.

It's such a great cooker. This one has forgotten more about brisket than I'll ever know