heating issues

Polish Q said:
... volume too low and air flow minimal for that to be of any significance (re: bottom shelf cookie sheet)... from a heat transfer analysis air flow negligible and there is no medium to transfer any heat except the outlet vent ... Once system stable what you say makes sense but it would be in the 0.01 deg F kind of range.
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This is a great theoretical explanation, and makes perfect sense.  But, the historical reality doesn't seem to support the theory.  If you read about this issue not only here, but on other forums as well, the consensus seems to support not using a large pan below the meat.  I'm not sure what the technical explanation is, but many times it has been the culprit that seems to have caused the heating issues.  Not throwing darts - just lending to the healthy discussion!  Like Rick said so well - there are no right or wrong answers, just answers!
 
I think that an overall "just big enough pan" would help with the heat exchange issues that are being explained. If the aluminum pan is just big enough to slightly cover the element house, then it shouldn't effect the heat that much. If it is really big, then yes, it will block the heat a bit. But again, if the internal temp reaches the set point, then there is really no "flow" inside other than the extremely small bottom hole and the vent at the top. This wouldn't create enough eddy currents to cause bad readings. This might just be my opinion but seems pretty logical.
 
Good point, Ben!  One thing that's overlooked, I think, is the "Venturi" effect.  That is, the flow through a smaller hole is greater than a larger hole, if the amount of air passing through both is the same.  If you see smoke flowing from the top vent hole, the air coming in the small hole in the bottom has to be somewhat equal, which would make it flow faster.  So, we really don't know what is going on inside the box, from an airflow perspective.  I would think that the heat of the smoke box is drawing the air in through the bottom at a much higher rate than the air blowing out the top hole, so the lower part of the smoker probably has higher air currents than at the top, where it's diffused. 
 
True but with this rectangular enclosure with the intake just below the heat box, then the air would hit that surface and have to mitigate to other areas after hitting it. Thus it wouldn't be a perfect flow. God I wish I had that particle software to make a graphic of how the flow would work inside these units. Can Ben or Steve make that?
 
You are still limited to the max temp of the stock controller (250 deg).  This limit is present on all 4 models of smokers, regardless of the element wattage. And it will fluctuate (see the FAQ section).  Check some of the posts regarding the Auber units.  Some of the folks using the Auber and bypassing the stock controller may have been able to reached a sustained higher temperature.  But smoking is generally a lower temperature with a long, slow cook time.
 
Dave is definitely right.  Something else to remember about the heating elements is size.  The wattage is driven by the surface area of the element; a small element (like in the #1) needs much less wattage to heat the space in a model 1.  The 700 watt element in a 2 is due to the length of the element (about 3" longer).  The 3 is even bigger yet.  Putting a larger element in a unit that doesn't need one could be overkill, at best, or disastrous at worst.  If the element heats way too fast for the enclosure, it will likely be hard to control.
 
You guys said it perfectly ... But if a (stock or Auber) controller were to fail and the stock element were stuck on ... That would be disastrous because components would start to fail.
 
I do think you would experienced some sort of issue if the unit was stuck on full blast:

ACHTUNG!!!

Das machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben.  Ist easy
schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und corkenpoppen mit
spitzensparken.  Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen.  Das
rubbernecken sightseeren keepen hands in das pockets.  Relaxen und
vatch das blinkenlights!!!
 
I made the temperature adjustment in the mod section and I was able to get another 10 degrees out of the smoker.  the smoker was in my garage but I maxed the temp and on my maverick it hit 261.  thats all that I was looking for to compensate for the colder weather.
 
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