Help! Automatic temperature control and ceramic saucer


 
R

Richard Diaz

TVWBB Pro
I'm doing a butt tonight and I will be using a Auber temperature controller. I normally use water but I'm thinking of using a clay saucer in place of the water pan. Do any of you have suggestions? For or against it? And any methods. I want to save some K. I plan on cooking at 250. Thanks.
 
I have never seen an Auber but if it is at all like a Guru, or similar, nothing should be used in the pan. One should not use - and an ATC does not need - a heat sink.
 
Over the last four years using my Stoker, I have found that using a clay pot base for a heatsink really helps stabilize the cook. The few times I have only foil wrapped the water pan I have found that the ATC chases the temp more.

Either method works, I just prefer using the cp base.
 
I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'chasing the temp'. ATCs are designed for use without a heat sink., generally. If the blower is coming on too often the intake needs to be moderated more to the open side.

Certainly one can use ceramic. But it should not be necessary.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'chasing the temp' </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What I have seen is that without a heatsink (water, claypot base, sand, etc...) the temp varies more drasticaly withing the cooker. The temp swings with the smoker are greater and faster without a heatsink. This results in the control algorithm having to compensate more.

In a smoker it's not a big deal because these temperature variations are usually only a few (+/- 6°) degrees either side of the setpoint.

the only reason it matters to me is that I've been a controls guy for almost twenty years and I like to see my setpoint maintained as smooth as possible (yes I'm a geek when it comes to this). If I had more time I probably would've created my own controller and spent hours working on the PID loop to smooth out the control wave. But I love my stoker and will stick with it.
 
Bob,

I didn't follow that last paragraph, but it sounds hard core.
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">What I have seen is that without a heatsink (water, claypot base, sand, etc...) the temp varies more drasticaly withing the cooker. The temp swings with the smoker are greater and faster without a heatsink. This results in the control algorithm having to compensate more. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I get you.

I bought an ATC, a Guru, several years ago. I never used it with a heat sink - just played with the blower intake till it cycled on for a second every 6-8 seconds or so. Never had swings. But I did not use it very many times. It sits in a drawer somewhere. It worked great but I soon decided I didn't want to bother. I'm not that concerned with targeting a specific temp.
 
QUOTE] It sits in a drawer somewhere. It worked great but I soon decided I didn't want to bother. /QUOTE]

Hey Kevin, are you interested in getting rid of it for cheap?
 
I have an Auber but have only used it on My Green Egg. Jeff B also has an Auber and he has tried it on his Primo. Both of these cookers are "insulated" if you will and we've seen some pretty significant (+/- 15 or more) swings in the temp from the set point.

The other day I was talking with a guy and he had a guru that was rock stable on the WSM, but when he used it on his Bubba Keg (Another insulated cooker) he saw the same temperature swings.

Our theory is that the insulated cookers don't give up the heat as fast as an uninsulated cooker which causes a high spike and the unit doesn't have enough time to adjust.

As Kevin points out, the temp controller is really overkill, you can get rock stable temps from the WSM for any length cook you need. Just see the examples from Chris' cooking topics to see how stable the temp of an uncontrolled cooker can be.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Hey Kevin, are you interested in getting rid of it for cheap? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Contact me at the end of the month, 27th or 28th. I'll be there then and can see if all parts are there and if it's still working. Should be.
 
Any PID controller (I know the Auber does, I own two of them) can be tuned to their use. This would prevent the swings you talk about.

PROBLEM, tuning for a rack of ribs would be different than 4 10# butts.

SO pick a normal load and tune.

Auber wil also provide custom setting depending on the use.
 
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