Model 2 Heat Element

[Carp210]

Did a test this morning on my #2 to see how fast it heats up.
My smoker is a 800 watt, by passed with a fixed probe 2" from top and auber controlled. Outside temp was 74 degrees.
Set auber for 325 degrees and time 2hrs. Foil on wood box and bottom.  No wood, water, or heat sink.  Empty cabinet.

Results;

15 minutes    152 degrees
30 minutes    240 degrees
40 minutes    285 degrees  (pulsing starts at this point)
45 minutes    297 degrees
60 minutes    312 degrees
75 minutes    324 degrees
76 minutes    325 degrees  target hit (1 hr 16 min)

Auber over ran by 1 degree and held steady at 325-326
During a regular cook, times will be different than above.  A lot has to do with air temp, target setting and amount of meat in smoker.
Last rib cook was done at 63 degrees.  It took 1 hr and 10 minutes to hit my 235 target.
If I averaged my cooks I would say it takes right around 60 minutes to hit a 225-235 target with a 1 degree over run.

Hope this helps those thinking about upgrading their heating element.

[1stlink]

very good work thanks for sharing. achieving cooking temperatures with a 800 watt element is much quicker.

[gregbooras]

Really good info.

If am reading this right without the Auber the rest of us can expect to hit around 250 degrees in around 35 minutes.

I realize that with food and temp, that will change the outcome!

Thanks for sharing Greg

[DivotMaker]

Dave, nice work!  One question, raised by your data "pulsing starts" at 285:  Did you autotune, or adjust your P, I and D settings at all?  This seems low to start pulsing the power.

[SuperDave]

Tony, my P value in auto tune is 42.  I start pulsing at around 40 degrees prior to set temp.  I've read a definition on here where cycling is supposedly to start at 10% of the P value in degrees but have always been at the actual P value. 

[DivotMaker]

Super Dave, my values are 62, 102 and 912 in the #2.  I'm going to have to see where it starts pulsing, but I don't think mine starts 40° below target temp.  I'll check, though.  Never really thought about this one before!

[SuperDave]

When mine blinks, it must happen in micro seconds.  I think the power output is super graduated in order to keep such a tight control on temp.  As we know, a lot tighter than an oven.

[1stlink]

Super Dave, my values are 62, 102 and 912 in the #2.  I'm going to have to see where it starts pulsing, but I don't think mine starts 40° below target temp.  I'll check, though.  Never really thought about this one before!

Tony, for what it's worth, my Model 2 numbers after change to 800w element: P-64 - I-675 - D-168 As I recollect mine does start pulsing well before target temp. I'll watch in the future for exact time.

[Carp210]

Dave, nice work!  One question, raised by your data "pulsing starts" at 285:  Did you autotune, or adjust your P, I and D settings at all?  This seems low to start pulsing the power.

Tony,
After I had my Auber replaced I did not like the new auto tune settings I was getting.  I put my original numbers in from my old Auber and that is what I have been using.   
P=57
I=826
D=206
Those are the settings I used for this test. They seem to settle best on target with 1 to 2 degree over run.
I would like it to get to target, during a normal cook, a little faster but do not want to change how it settles right on target and stays there.

[Carp210]

Really good info.

If am reading this right without the Auber the rest of us can expect to hit around 250 degrees in around 35 minutes.

I realize that with food and temp, that will change the outcome!

Thanks for sharing Greg

Greg,
I don't know if that would be true.  When I got my smoker I by passed and Aubered before I used it.  I'm not sure how the original controller handles the ramp up and at what point it starts to pulse (If it does).  Maybe someone else can answer your question that has taken the time to document this.

I can tell you this , if I set for 250 I will not get there at 35 minutes.  Later today I'll set for 250 and give you the exact readings every 15 minutes so you can compare.

[gregbooras]

Really good info.

If am reading this right without the Auber the rest of us can expect to hit around 250 degrees in around 35 minutes.

I realize that with food and temp, that will change the outcome!

Thanks for sharing Greg

Greg,
I don't know if that would be true.  When I got my smoker I by passed and Aubered before I used it.  I'm not sure how the original controller handles the ramp up and at what point it starts to pulse (If it does).  Maybe someone else can answer your question that has taken the time to document this.

I can tell you this , if I set for 250 I will not get there at 35 minutes.  Later today I'll set for 250 and give you the exact readings every 15 minutes so you can compare.

Hey Dave,

That would be great, I plan to do the same this weekend. At some point the heating element will start to go bad and if I know what the temp will be at 30-1 hr it will give me a benchmark.

Greg

[Carp210]

Here are the results I promised.
Everything is the same as above except target now is 250 degrees and air temp is 80 degrees.

15 minutes  155
23 minutes  210 pulsing starts (again 40 degrees from target)
26 minutes  225
30 minutes  234
45 minutes  247
52 minutes  250 Target hit
60 minutes  250  no overrun

[gregbooras]

Here are the results I promised.
Everything is the same as above except target now is 250 degrees and air temp is 80 degrees.

15 minutes  155
23 minutes  210 pulsing starts (again 40 degrees from target)
26 minutes  225
30 minutes  234
45 minutes  247
52 minutes  250 Target hit
60 minutes  250  no overrun

Thanks Dave,

I will run a test on my #2 this weekend and let you know.

Greg

[DivotMaker]

Super Dave, my values are 62, 102 and 912 in the #2.  I'm going to have to see where it starts pulsing, but I don't think mine starts 40° below target temp.  I'll check, though.  Never really thought about this one before!

Tony, for what it's worth, my Model 2 numbers after change to 800w element: P-64 - I-675 - D-168 As I recollect mine does start pulsing well before target temp. I'll watch in the future for exact time.

I haven't re-tuned after the 800w upgrade yet, Ralph.  The old numbers are working fine, so I just left it.  I'll probably re-tune soon, just to see if they change.

[gregbooras]

Here are the results I promised.
Everything is the same as above except target now is 250 degrees and air temp is 80 degrees.

15 minutes  155
23 minutes  210 pulsing starts (again 40 degrees from target)
26 minutes  225
30 minutes  234
45 minutes  247
52 minutes  250 Target hit
60 minutes  250  no overrun

Dave here are the results from my test on my #2 smoker tonight.



Greg