I’m thinking about switching out my Grilla Alpha controller on my Silverbac for a third party like Smoke Daddy or Savannah Stoker. Any thoughts on whether the juice is worth the squeeze or any other third party controller suggestions?
The Alpha controller is ok. In PID mode it uses timing instead of adapting via temperature and I want something that can also generate some good smoke.
I don’t know if other controllers would perform any better.
I find it hard to believe that any 3rd party controller will do any better at producing smoke than the Grilla controller running in the original non-PID mode.
I just don’t know. It’s frustrating. You need low temps to generate decent smoke in PID or non-PID mode. The controller can be set as low as 180, but the actual temp in the grill is closer to 210 or 215. I think that can make a huge difference with pellets.
I had the set point at 195 PID. 40 minutes later the controller itself is at 215 , I can hear the auger dropping more pellets and the actual grate temp is 240. I can adjust PID timing but that’s a PIA because it loses the setting every time you unplug the unit.
The cooker is built like a tank. I like that part of it. Even a PID controller that self-adapts by temperature might be more effective at holding a lower temp.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
While modding is fun and we often can't suppress our desire to mod, I think your best bet for more smoke is to find ways to add more smoke such as chunks of wood under the drip tray on the diffuser, or the like. Pellet grills will be pellet grills.
Cooking gadgets
Weber Summit Charcoal Grill Center
Weber Summit Platinum D6
Blue Rhino Razor
Dyna-Glo XL Premium Dual Chamber
Camp Chef Somerset IV along with their Artisan Pizza Oven 90
Anova WiFi
Thermometers
Thermapen Mk4 - ThermaQ High Temp Kit - ThermaQ Meathead Kit - ThermaQ WiFi - ThermoWorks IR-GUN-S - ThermoWorks Signals & Billows - ThermoPop -ThermoWorks ProNeedle - ThermoWorks TimeStick Trio x2 - and a Christopher Kimball timer - NO, I do not work for ThermoWorks...I just like their products.
Other useful bits...
KitchenAid 7-qt Pro Line stand mixer
A Black & Decker food processor that I can't seem to murder
A couple of immersion blenders, one a "consumer" model & the other a "high end" Italian thing. Yes, the Italian one is a bit better, but only marginally
Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 8-qt + accessories like egg-bite & egg holders
All-Clad pots & pans, along with some cast iron...everything from 7" Skookie pans to 8.5qt Dutch ovens
Weber GBS griddle, pizza stone, and wok
Knives range from Mercer to F. Dick to "You spent how much for one knife? One knife?!" LOL
This is exactly why I purchased an A-Maze-N tube for my father’s Traeger. It improved the smoke profile immediately...and it was a cheap & easy fix. Best "mod" that thing has ever seen.
I don’t have the alpha, but the original controller gives me pretty good smoke at low temperatures. The temps do swing up and down, but that helps it produce the smoke. Much lighter smoke at higher temperatures which is also ok with me.
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