Last week while walking through Walmart I see a little WSM sitting all alone in the garden center. Has a clearance ballon from its top handle. Sign taped to the body claims "last one-display" $100, figure what the heck. As I get to the register I ask if they happen to have the cover laying around. Couldn't find it so I got it for $75.
With all the money I saved (haha) I looked online for a ATC and settled on the PartyQ. Mainly for the fact that it runs on batteries and is a simple clean install and hookup. Also figure I will bring the 14.5 camping a few times a year. Tried it once with the 22" and it was a hassle.
Ok now onto my first cook.
Picked up a 10lb butt and figured I'd do an overnight now that I have the PartyQ. Filled the ring up to the top with Kingsford blue, a few chunks of Apple and top it off with about 1/4 full chimney of charcoal when it's white with ash. This was about 11pm.
At 1am I figure it's bed time and the PartyQ is showing 220 and it was set for 225.
Wake up at 6am to let the pups out and notice the PartyQ is showing the battery low icon. It's also at 219 on the gauge. Thought maybe the batteries that came with it were bad so I throw in a set of new ones along with about 8-10 new pieces of charcoal.
Come out again at 11am and now the battery indicator is showing again. This time I checked the level (not the first time) and it's showing 17%. Had to go out so I throw in another set of batteries The charcoal is looking pretty weak at this time so I add about 20-25 new pieces and another 8-10 that were burning. This time I set the PartyQ to 250.
Left the house and came back at 2pm to this:
The issue is the battery life on that PartyQ...4-5 hours cannot be normal. I truly thought I'd get 10-12 ((I'd be ok with that) also wish the 14.5 could take a bit more charcoal but maybe as I use it it will be a bit more efficient.
We will see
With all the money I saved (haha) I looked online for a ATC and settled on the PartyQ. Mainly for the fact that it runs on batteries and is a simple clean install and hookup. Also figure I will bring the 14.5 camping a few times a year. Tried it once with the 22" and it was a hassle.
Ok now onto my first cook.
Picked up a 10lb butt and figured I'd do an overnight now that I have the PartyQ. Filled the ring up to the top with Kingsford blue, a few chunks of Apple and top it off with about 1/4 full chimney of charcoal when it's white with ash. This was about 11pm.
At 1am I figure it's bed time and the PartyQ is showing 220 and it was set for 225.
Wake up at 6am to let the pups out and notice the PartyQ is showing the battery low icon. It's also at 219 on the gauge. Thought maybe the batteries that came with it were bad so I throw in a set of new ones along with about 8-10 new pieces of charcoal.
Come out again at 11am and now the battery indicator is showing again. This time I checked the level (not the first time) and it's showing 17%. Had to go out so I throw in another set of batteries The charcoal is looking pretty weak at this time so I add about 20-25 new pieces and another 8-10 that were burning. This time I set the PartyQ to 250.
Left the house and came back at 2pm to this:
The issue is the battery life on that PartyQ...4-5 hours cannot be normal. I truly thought I'd get 10-12 ((I'd be ok with that) also wish the 14.5 could take a bit more charcoal but maybe as I use it it will be a bit more efficient.
We will see
