Originally posted by jfmorris
View Post
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
New to PK360- Controlling Temperatures- Direct and High Indirect.
Collapse
X
-
One of the non-obvious keys to maximizing temps is to ensure every bit of intake has to go through the coals. In a Weber kettle with a vortex, putting foil outside the vortex accomplishes this and can get you over 500F.
My plan to maximize indirect temp in the pk would be to foil coat the left 50% of the charcoal grate, and add a wall or steel firebox so the incoming coals could be stacked up all the way to the cooking grate. Open both lower vents and upper left fully. Close upper right fully. Light fully three full chimneys of coals and fill the right side of the pk with those. The lit coal bed would be 4†high and take up the right 50% of the pk between the charcoal and cooking grates.
Indirect on the the left side should be maximized.
What is that max indirect temp and how long? Don’t know yet. Might try when I get a chance.
- Likes 1
Comment
-
Originally posted by Polarbear777 View PostOne of the non-obvious keys to maximizing temps is to ensure every bit of intake has to go through the coals. In a Weber kettle with a vortex, putting foil outside the vortex accomplishes this and can get you over 500F.
My plan to maximize indirect temp in the pk would be to foil coat the left 50% of the charcoal grate, and add a wall or steel firebox so the incoming coals could be stacked up all the way to the cooking grate. Open both lower vents and upper left fully. Close upper right fully. Light fully three full chimneys of coals and fill the right side of the pk with those. The lit coal bed would be 4†high and take up the right 50% of the pk between the charcoal and cooking grates.
Indirect on the the left side should be maximized.
What is that max indirect temp and how long? Don’t know yet. Might try when I get a chance.
Also, here is a photo of the charcoal basket I'm using instead of the PK version. The PK version doesn't seem very well ventilated and clogs with ash. It also will only hold about 3/4 of a chimney. I bought this one is from Smokin Hot BBQ @Smokinhotbbqs on Facebook. (Made in Fort Collins, CO, very friendly to deal with)
It's much larger than the PK Basket and comes with two dividers. With the center divider in will hold about 1.5 chimney's and still allow the hinged grill to close. It doesn't follow the radius perimeter of the grill but is otherwise a perfect fit coming all the way up to the base of the grilling grill. I would say it is still not as cool as Polarear's custom basket that probably holds even more as it follows the rounded contour or the perimeter.
Last edited by Winchester44; September 13, 2019, 09:01 AM.
Comment
-
I put most of my pk360 calibration tests here:
18.5 hours at 225F. Did short ribs for he first 7 hrs. Left it running. Ambient temps around 30-40F. No refuel at all. pk360 with fireboard and pit viper control. Guess I can’t
I’m running a max indirect test now. It’s starting to level off at around 475F. I’ll post the results in this linked thread.
Comment
-
Club Member
- Mar 2017
- 333
-
https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/grills-and-smokers/charcoal/460226-bbq-guru-pit-viper-fan-to-pk360-tutorial
When I’m running manual (without a fan) if I want to increase temp I’ll crack open the top vent above the coals just a smidge. On average a L&S cook will rise 1 degree per minute on the indirect side doing this.
I Got the idea from owning a Pit Barrel. The bottom vent did nothing, if you needed heat you crack the lid. It works here too, but with that said I use a fan for poultry so I can’t offer great advice. Killer Hogs has some PK videos and he uses competition briq’s, maybe try some of that with the cracked top vent.Last edited by Larry Grover; September 14, 2019, 02:04 AM.
Comment
-
My max test made it just over 500 but not for long. Sustained was 450F for a few hours.
If you want to do a lot of indirect over 500, a 22†kettle with a vortex is a lot more efficient.
If if you are happy with 450F indirect, a fan will do that for a couple hours in the pk360 with 1/3 less charcoal required than without the fan. But without also works.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Polarbear777 View PostMy max test made it just over 500 but not for long. Sustained was 450F for a few hours.
If you want to do a lot of indirect over 500, a 22†kettle with a vortex is a lot more efficient.
If if you are happy with 450F indirect, a fan will do that for a couple hours in the pk360 with 1/3 less charcoal required than without the fan. But without also works.
"My plan to maximize indirect temp in the pk would be to foil coat the left 50% of the charcoal grate, and add a wall or steel firebox so the incoming coals could be stacked up all the way to the cooking grate. Open both lower vents and upper left fully. Close upper right fully. Light fully three full chimneys of coals and fill the right side of the pk with those. The lit coal bed would be 4†high and take up the right 50% of the pk between the charcoal and cooking grates."
Comment
-
Posts 11-12. Have pictures of the set up. Did it with upper right closed and the rest wide open and also with everything open.
https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...80-convenience
you can get 50F extra by opening the top right vent, but at the cost of about an hour extra runtime at 450F.Last edited by Polarbear777; September 16, 2019, 05:28 PM.
Comment
-
Club Member
- Mar 2017
- 333
-
https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/grills-and-smokers/charcoal/460226-bbq-guru-pit-viper-fan-to-pk360-tutorial
Nice testing as always Polar! Lots of good data in that "Convenience" thread as well. Love that picture of 3 chimney's blazing!Last edited by Larry Grover; September 18, 2019, 04:35 PM.
Comment
-
-
Here is the charcoal going in. I lit the first chimney of Weber briquettes and gave them a full 40 min to fully ash over. I immediately closed the lid with all 4 vents wide open and refilled the chimney with the B and B lump. The factory thermometer temp rapidly climbed to almost 400, but then stopped just under 400.
Comment
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Comment