Smokin-It User Forum!
Smokin-It Smokers => Smokin-It Announcements! => Topic started by: DivotMaker on January 23, 2015, 08:19:22 PM
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All Model 2s now come standard with a 800 watt element. This is upgraded from the original 700 watt element.
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Just curious when did this go into effect ( date ) , and could my Model 2 that I got around Christmas have the new element ?
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Will they be for sale at the website, and is there a problem with the 700w we should know about?
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is there a problem with the 700w we should know about?
I agree because 100 watts more is a whole lot of X-tra juice opposed to the old element .
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I've always thought that the watts rating didn't make a lot of sense. In my mind, heat = btu's. It is also a unit of measure that I know regarding "a little heat" or "a lot of heat". Has anyone seen what the output of these units are? Coming from a propane smoker background, 10,000 btu's was on the light side and 15,000 btu's was a solid output. My gut tells me that the 700W & 800W elements are going to be in the 5,000 - 7,000 btu range. If anyone sees the information in print, please post.
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According to my converter program 700 watts is around 2400 BTUs per hour and 800 watts is 2700 BTUs/hr.
If this conversion is correct then I suspect that we get away with so little compared to a propane smoker because the SIs are so well insulated and have so little air exchange compared to propane which needs air for combustion.
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The new elements have been phased-in with current stock, over the last couple of months, so I'm not sure who got what. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 700 watt element. Mine works perfectly, as do others. Steve is simply doing an "upgrade" that will give a little better performance, come up quicker to temp, and be more competitive in the market place. Nothing wrong with a little more "overhead" when it comes to heat. ;)
Last year, he upgraded the #1 element to 400 w, vs. the original 350.
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I know it is not important but our human nature makes us want to know what we have. I like Ginger have bought the model two very recently and I'm curious.
Is there a way to determine which element is installed in our smokers? Is the physical size identical? And ohmmeter would tell the difference if you had a sample of each or if you knew the resistance reading of either element.
I will be doing additional mods to my model 2 shortly and I will nose around the element to determine the size if possible.
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Since this post is about the heating element, I thought that it might be a good place to bring up a question that has been on my mind.
Do any of you guys keep a back-up element on hand?
How long does an element typically last?
I have had mine since September 2014, so it is still relatively new, but I would hate to lose an element in the middle of a critical (company is coming) smoke.
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Since this post is about the heating element, I thought that it might be a good place to bring up a question that has been on my mind.
Do any of you guys keep a back-up element on hand?
How long does an element typically last?
I have had mine since September 2014, so it is still relatively new, but I would hate to lose an element in the middle of a critical (company is coming) smoke.
Back up element? Heck, I have whole back up smokers. LOL!
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I'm curious what a source for elements might be. For Auber users, it would seem like the element could be upgraded to the limits of the Auber?
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Back to OP:
I know it is not important but our human nature makes us want to know what we have. I like Ginger have bought the model two very recently and I'm curious.
Is there a way to determine which element is installed in our smokers? Is the physical size identical?
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Back to OP:
I know it is not important but our human nature makes us want to know what we have. I like Ginger have bought the model two very recently and I'm curious.
Is there a way to determine which element is installed in our smokers? Is the physical size identical?
Not sure, Ralph. Probably going to have to ask Steve that question! Shoot him an email, or just call him - he'll know. Might even be able to look at the build date on your unit and tell from that.
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Ok, thanks Tony. I'll check my serial number and give Steve a jingle..
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There's always a "transition" period, when a change is made (deplete old stock, mixed with the new stuff), but he should know when it was made with the new element, and when the old stock was gone.
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My number 2 is the new style with handles on the side so perhaps they changed the element at the same time. Of course Steve will know that one way or the other.
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My number 2 is the new style with handles on the side so perhaps they changed the element at the same time. Of course Steve will know that one way or the other.
Based on that, I'm pretty certain you have the 800 w element.
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700 W or 800 W either way it is definitely much hotter then did #1 as I learned in my first smoke with it. Wood chunks have to be foiled. :-\
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Me too, Ralph!
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I installed the 800w element in my #2 last weekend. During the re-season (I do a complete strip with EZ-Off about once a year), the temp climbed to 250 in about 20 minutes! This would have taken around 45 with the old 700w element. I can't believe 100 watts makes that much difference in the #2, but it does! ;D
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Yes it makes a difference and my auto tune numbers were significantly different also.
800 W element is definitely a big improvement.
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Yes it makes a difference and my auto tune numbers were significantly different also.
800 W element is definitely a big improvement.
I haven't done a new autotune yet. I did move my wall mount sensor up to 1" from the top, too. During the seasoning run, it held temp good, so your comment about the AT numbers being significantly different kind of surprises me! That's why I did the seasoning without a new AT; I wanted to see how the old numbers worked with the new element. I'll let you know what the new AT does.
So far, I'm very impressed with the bigger element!