First time with Guru. Any tips?


 
J

Joe - theqguy

TVWBB Member
Hey guys, I just got my BBQ Guru DigiQ DX2 system for my 22.5" WSM. I'm gonna do a whole turkey breast today and wanted to get any tips or advice for using these together before I start. Should I use lump charcoal instead of briquettes? I normally use the minion method of lighting. I have two chimneys, one without the "grate' in the bottom and I usually sit it in the center of my fire grate and surround it with briquettes then I take about 1/3 of a chimney of lit and pour it in and take the chimney out. This works really well but I don't want to start with too much lit charcoal and have my heat get too high. Let me know what you think. I appreciate any tips or advice. Joe
 
Sorry for the non-response. Unfortunately, I don't have an ATC so really can't help but hopefully someone who does will come along to assist. However, I think you can use either lump or briquettes -- the ATC should adapt. And I think your normal method will work because, again, the ATC should adapt.

Hope this helps. Good luck and be sure to tell how it went.
 
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Also sorry for being slow, I just now saw your question.
I'm no expert, but this is how I set mine up:
full ring of lump, light one spot with either a Weber cube or torch on the opposite side from where the ATC will be. I learned this doesn't cause as much problems with ash. I put the WSM together and let the ATC take over long before I reach smoking temp, if you overshoot it will take a while to come back down, easier to catch it on the way up. I usually end up closing my top vent 1/3 to 1/2 once it settles in, bottom vents all sealed. (except for the one the ATC is in of course)
Let us know how it goes (or went if that's the case)
 
x2. Although I have only used Kingsford so far, just because I bought a ton of it on sale, lump will work fine. I usually do the minion method, with an empty coffee can in the middle where I dump the lit chimney full. I then add the wood chunks, the meat, set the probes and close it up asap. The quicker you close it, the less you risk over shooting. As I'm waiting for the chimney brickets to get to ready - about ~20 to 25 minutes, I get the DX2, Maverick, and probes all ready, so it's a bang, bang assembly.

When I close it up, the top vent goes wide open, the two lower vents get closed, and the DX2 takes over. Do note that when you first turn on the DX2, the fan will not operate for a couple of minutes, even as the probes report less than dialed pit temps, so don't get alarmed. As I get to around 10 degree below pit temp, I'll close the top vent to 1/2 open. I will then set the maverick to monitor the pit temp, with alarms at +/- 10 degrees, and obviously the food temp at the appropriate set point. Then it's all DX2. For longer cooks, after the 12 hour mark, I'll peak in the door and see how much of the charcoal is used, and if needed, I'll just toss in a a couple of handfuls of unlit brickettes. Also, from time to time, I'll take a soft rubber mallet and tap the lower to help dislodge the ash and let it fall.

Just read the manual quick to familiarize yourself. I will mention that I've not bothered using the end temp ramp, but that functionality does exist.
 
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Aha. Maybe more response in the ATC section - http://tvwbb.com/forumdisplay.php?107-Automatic-Temperature-Control-Systems

An ATC is a device that keeps your smoker at an even temperature. How you want to use the ATC depends on if you are doing high or low temperature.

For low temperature 225-250, minion works best. 1/3 chimney to start is fine. Lump vs briquettes won't make much of a difference (except for small flavor differences) as the ATC is controlling the fire.

If you are going high 325-350, you need to start with enough lit to keep the temps up. As you seemed concerned about temps too high, it doesn't seem you are going this way.

Don't overthink it. Just let the ATC do it's job.
 
We do it exactly like Greg said. Pretty much the same for any atc. We have Guru, Auber, and IQ 110 on the team and start the WSMs the same regardless of which atc is on that cooker.
 
We do live in an era of instant gratification. :) I've sent Joe an email, hopefully he'll check back for these helpful replies. Who knows what he's had going on in his life these past few days.
 
Chris Allingham said:
We do live in an era of instant gratification. :) I've sent Joe an email, hopefully he'll check back for these helpful replies. Who knows what he's had going on in his life these past few days.
Click to expand...

hopefully he's okay and just busy. tough thing about forums(unless you know the person "in real life") is not knowing what's going on in their world.
 
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