Temp issue 18.5

[John Elliott]

I have, successfully, smoked a Boston Butt and BB Ribs. I attempted to smoke two butts last night and was not successful in maintaining the desired avg temp of 225 degrees. At start, I filled the charcoal ring and added 4 chunks of smoke wood. I then added a tower of lit coals and it didn't take long to get up to 200 degrees. I closed the lower dials to 25% and lid dial was closed. This was around 5:30pm. I live in upstate NY. Temp was around 50 degrees. A short time later a steady breeze picked up and a light rain ensued. The MSM was under cover but think the wind may have affected the charcoal. I struggled to keep the temp at 150 degrees. I added charcoal around 11pm. I awoke at 5am and there was almost no heat. I moved the entire smoker, in stages, to the wind/rain protected side of the house. I added another lit tower of charcoal but it only reached a lid temp of 170 degrees. Thoughts on why I could not reach the desired temp range?? The butts are finishing in my oven as we speak...

 

[Bob Sample]

Your lid damper has to remain open or you are smothering your fire.

 

[John Bridgman]

and lid dial was closed

Yep, that's the problem. Top vent always needs to be open -- AFAIK most people leave top vent wide open and control draft with the bottom vents, although I know a few people who partially close the top vent to "keep the smoke in".

If you have some vents closed, I also find that it helps if you have the upwind vent open rather than the downwind one. Never thought about it before, but I guess having all vents partially open rather than one vent open and the rest closed would result in more stable temps when the wind is blowing (??).