PCB with Heat Beads

[Podicle]

Hi all,
Just bought a PBC last weekend after years of using a ProQ. I have the ProQ figured out to the point where I can get it going and then do essentially nothing for the next 8-10 hours apart from maybe top up the water. I went to the PBC for the bigger capacilty, as even in rib racks I was quite limited trying to do larger cooks (I only have the small one). Anyway, bought the Kingsford Standard for the first cook, and things worked a treat. The ribs were ready much quicker than in the ProQ due to the higher temp, but they turned out great.

Anyway, here in Australia the Kingsford is very expensive compared to our local Heat Beads brand, and to be honest, Heat Beads burn hotter and far longer. For my second cook (a small 4lb brisket) I used Heat Beads but only lit 30, and it seemed to work fine. Last night I tried doing doing 2 chickens and lit the 30 Head Beads, but it took forever. I had also used fewer unlit briquettes in the basket, as I thought it would be a shorter cook. I entually took them off after 4 hours, but the PBC didn't seem to come to temp unless I had the lid cracked. Probably something about the lower thermal mass.

Anyway, all of this makes me realise that the PCB is quite sensitive to fuel type and volume, which is a bit of a bummer when the Kingsford is an imported 'boutique' brand over here. Next time I am going to test the Heat Beads by using a full basket and lighting 40. I anticipate it will run way too hot, but I need to start from there and work back.

Anyway, I thought I'd post this so that the next Aussie trying to do the same at least has a reference point, as I could find no threads on the net discussing this. The PBC is very rare over here.

Matt

[TBoneJack]

Just curious: did you order yours direct from the PBC company in the US? I'll bet the shipping was outrageous.

Mine seems fine-tuned to Kingsford Blue, although I've run other brands successfully. Royal Oak Chef's Select for one.

[FireMan]

What about baby steps & lighting 34? Just wonderin.

[jecucolo]

There is a sticky that fzxdoc put together on the charcoal Ugly Drum Smoker subchannel on lighting techniques. Try the "10-10-10" method next time.

[Podicle]

Thanks for all the feedback. T-Bone, I bought it from one of the only places in Brisbane that stocks them. Jecucolo, I've never heard of that method so will explore.

[Oakgrovebacon]

Welcome to the pit from Southern Illinois

[Skip]

Welcome Podicle from Minnesota USA. I too got a PBC a couple months ago. The PBC and I are learning each other's quirks together. The 10-10-10 method is in this link. Lots of posts to read on this site. fzxdoc is the current Queen/Master of the PBC! https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...g-temperatures

[FishTalesNC]

I don’t think the PBC is sensitive to fuel type per se, it’s just that the instructions for lighting and the expected/known temps are based on results from KBB. I think it’ll do fine with Heat Beads, you’ll just have to come up with your own recipe for lighting it, just as you did with the successful brisket cook. When I hang Chicken I notice a LOT of drippings onto the charcoal basket. This can impact your ambient temp, as can the amount of meat in there, so just be aware. I REALLY noticed it when I did 3 chickens one time. I also plan/expect to crack the lid to get higher temps when cooking poultry (tho that’s with KBB). Poultry cooks for me are not the time to start with less fuel, I still fill that sucker up even tho Chicken is ready in 1.5 - 2 hours.

Good luck on that PBC journey!

[fzxdoc]

I agree with FishTalesNC that the PBC should function fine with your Heat Beads brand, Podicle , especially since it has served you well in the past with other charcoal cookers. The key to the PBC running predictably and consistently well is getting a good light on the initial fire. Follow the technique recommended by others in the links they provided in the previous posts on this topic or come up with one that works for you, but work steadily at it until you are satisfied, changing only one parameter at a time for each lighting of the PBC. That way you can dial in the best method pretty quickly.

The second recommendation that FishTalesNC made is also a good one: now is not the time to try to skimp on the charcoal. Wait until you have several cooks under your belt to do that. I find I can cut down to just over half a basket of coals for a single fryer-type chicken but not for a chubby 5 pound roaster chicken. Chickens put out a lot of moisture--so much that they can douse a section of the fire if they feel like it. So keeping a super hot fire with lots of coals will get around that common situation and give you a moist chicken with crispy skin in an hour or so.

Chicken cooks are best at 350-400°F temperatures; to achieve that for one or two chickens leave one rebar out and place the other one on the diagonal or, better yet, get a thinner stainless steel rod (3/8 inch will do) and place it on the diagonal in lieu of the rebar provided. That way you get a lot of air flow which stokes the fire nicely.

Have fun with your PBC cooks, and welcome to The Pit!

Best wishes,
Kathryn

[PinoyBbq]

Have had troubles with Heat Beads on the PBC as well. No problems with Kingsford but you're right, they go for about $25/7.5kg compared to $13 / 7.5kg for heat beads.

However, since i've purchased the smart-fire (thermostat controller), i haven't had issues maintaining temp even on the Heat Beads.

Only advice i could give with heat beads is that they take a long time to get going. Probably fire them up on the side gas burner on your bbq (on a chimney) until they're ashed over. It's a lot quicker than using traditional fire starters.

When placing them on the unlit coals in the PBC, leave the cover of the PBC for a good 15 minutes and then covered for another 10 minutes.

Also, you'll need to adjust the bottom vent. With heat beads you'll need to open them up more than what's recommended.

Another thought, mix the heat beads with kingsford briquettes 70/30. As kingsford's tend to light up faster, they will help ignite the heat beads over a longer period of time.

[AverageJoe]

Keep us in the loop on how you do. I just picked up a PBC a few weeks ago as well. I have gone through a turkey, chicken, and did as texastweeter calls it a broskit (aka chuck roast), and doing two racks of beef ribs tomorrow. I am curious about how it will run on different fuels. I do have my eye on the pitmasterIQ 110 temp controller that is made for the PBC as well though, but that is a bit down the road.

[fzxdoc]

I saw that the Pitmaster IQ 110 Temp Controller has a PBC adapter, but no photo of it. Wonder why. Must be a new addition.

Kathryn

[Elton's BBQ]

Welcome to the Pit!
I also use Heat Beads in my Slow nSear and Wsm. Great quality compared to my lokal brands there in Norway.. i pay just about 16.44 AUD for 9kg..
Cheers from Norway

[Mr. Bones]

Howdy from Kansas Territory, an Welcome to Th Pit!
Lookin forward to some of yer cooks...

I'll freely admit, I don't know doodly squat bout no pbc's...

Reckon I'll freely admit, further, I don't know doodly squat boutta whole lotta things, now that I stop, an assess th overall..., but I'm always workin on learnin me some stuff...

[AverageJoe]

Wanted to add the direct link to this on amazon for all the PBC crew

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

[Troutman]

Talk about confused, I thought the OP was talking about burning "Printed Circuit Boards" in the cooker, or had some new electronic gadget. Much to my dismay it was just a typo