How to mount a Pit Viper fan adapter on the PK300

[Henrik]

So, I recently purchased a PK300. I want to automate long cooks on it just like I do on the kettle. The tools I use are the FireBoard 2 and the Pit Viper fan. To mount the fan you need an adapter. I bought mine from BBQ Guru.

To mount it you need to drill a hole. I do that with a step drill bit. It’s easy since all PKs are made out of aluminum which is a soft metal.

Where to mount it? Well, it depends. Thanks to jfmorris who linked to "heavy metal barbecue" (a YT channel) I could see that guy mounting the fan over the probe holes, as he wanted to avoid drilling. I don’t mind drilling 😄

After some thought I figured the hole at one end of the lid, which is where you can mount an optional thermometer, is the best place. I just tapped out the plug that was there and went to work with the step drill bit. It was real easy, done in 30 seconds.

Before doing that I obviously checked for clearance, so I knew I could open the lid with the fan in place. But that wasn’t an issue, there are a few inches of clearance, so all good.

Here are a few photos, just in case it helps someone else planning on doing the same thing.

[fzxdoc]

It's topics like this that make The Pit such a good resource. I don't have a PK, but those who do will really appreciate the great photos and how-to.

Kathryn

[jfmorris]

Henrik I am surprised you put this on the lid and not the body just below the cooking grate. Was there just insufficient clearance down there? Or I bet in looking at those photos, the hinge was going to hit the fan or adapter if you put it on the bottom of the capsule?

I guess the BBQ Guru adapter is like the one on my kettle, and has a deflector on the inside of the grill, which you have oriented to send the incoming air down the end of the grill and to the charcoal?

[Henrik]

Well, there was already a hole (a pilot) for the thermometer, so it was easy to drill. Plus I direct the air down and to the side, which means it follows the curvature of the grill and blows up underneath my snake divider, or regular coals banked to one end. It just made the best sense given the air flow.

[jfmorris]

Henrik I figured you had this all thought out. And it makes sense to just enlarge the hole that was already there for a thermometer.

[Polarbear777]

Yeah all my mods have been through the bottom lid. Plenty of clearance. No prob. Of course I’m using a 1/3 side coal basket with the fan on the opposite underside with the charcoal grate covered in foil so the air goes across and up through the bottom of the coals.

[bbqLuv]

Pellet grills don't need no stinking fan add-ons.

[Polarbear777]

True but if my fan fails I just open the lower vents and keep cooking. :-)

[Alphonse]

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