Offset Power Draft

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Has anyone ever put a power draft on a offset stick burner? Up here in the great white north winters get pretty cold and I'm trying to find a way to generate enough heat from the FB to maintain 225-250.

Let me know your thoughts.....

[PetesMeat]

What's a power draft? Sounds interesting.... Sorry, I know that dons't answer your question.....

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Power draft is a fan that blows air into the FB to increase the temp of the fire / cooker

[El Gato]

Like a bbq guru?

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Yep like a guru

[jaybird302]

Are we talking about an existing rig or building a new one? If it's a new build, would you be better off insulating it vs forced induction? I am curious about putting a supercharger on a smoker....

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Nope this is on an existing smoker. I will be doing a cold weather test on Saturday to see how the power draft performs. It's going to be a wonderful 7 degrees.

[Gizmo]

CRS I'm thinking a squirrel-cage type blower so you've got a little better velocity.
Could you rig a duty cycler for the blower? 4 seconds on then 15 seconds off … etc.
All that "off time" would allow the smoke to drift by at a natural convection rate because I'm afraid during an "on" cycle the smoke is gonna be screamin' by.
Then you could play with those settings to get the minimum "on time" that brings the heat level up AND the smoke level.

I think it's a fantastic idea for cold latitudes….

…or maybe I'm over-thinking it …. yeah that's it ….

[PetesMeat]

I've also thought about a super charger... Although if we were using exhaust gas to power it, it would technically be a turbo charger.

What about NOS or oxygen injection? Hahahaja.

[El Gato]

7degress!
no thank you!
I LOVE TEXAS WEATHER!!

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

My plan is exactly that Gizmo. A squirrel cage with a controller that can be set the cycle. I will let everyone know how it works out.

[Smurf]

Looking forward to the results. Hope it works well for you.

[Gizmo]

I would like to see some progress pics of your design/build …. I'm funny that way

I'm sure your winters outperform mine for being cold but I seem to have a knack for hitting 24F freezing rain days with my cook schedule….. Might need one of these myself

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

You got it Gizmo

[Rodcrafter]

I don't know how well it works CRS but; https://www.rocksbarbque.com/Guide.html sells what they call the stoker for the large offset. This maybe what your already looking at I don't know.
WiFi Stoker Kit - 25cfm

This package includes:

WiFi Stoker controller
4ft Pit Sensor w/ clip
4ft Food Probe (not shown)
Blower (25 c.f.m.)
2" Silicone Hose
A.C. Power Adapter
A Blower Adapter is also required to attach the Blower to your cooker.

$445.00

[Grabber70Mach]

Could build your own if you are inclined too.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 37&t=18142

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

That is so funny Grabber. We've been playing around with raspberrypi at work. Never thought about making into a controller.

[bluecatfish]

That RaspberryPI is very interesting Grabber. Sounds like it can be used for a lot of things. I had never heard of it.

[love2flymn]

I'm not exactly sure what the Raspberry Pi thing is but I don't think it's necessary. I think using an Arduino (http://arduino.cc/, $30 cost) and a computer cooling fan ($10-15) or two would get you by, no?
Basically with the Arduino you would plug a compatible thermometer into it and program (with your computer) it to turn the fans on whenever the temp hits a certain temp and turn on when they hit a certain temp.
Not sure if you have any programming experience, though. I was going to play around with this when I (finally) finish my patio cooker. I have been working on a fish house and a garage stove recently.

Otherwise just put a heat rated blanket over your pit.

[love2flymn]

Apparently Raspberry Pi is a mini computer, Arduinos are just microprocessors. All you would need for this application is the Arduino, I believe.
I have a friend who is a robotics designer/programmer who will help me with this when I do it and I can certainly share whatever info I find if everyone is interested?

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

It's going to take a lot of CFM for a big stick burner. Not sure if a computer fan is big enough. Another option I'm looking at is to use a PitmasterIQ and duct it directly into the bottom of my fire grate.

[love2flymn]

For more power you could use something other than computer fans then

[Rev.Mike]

wondered this myself,

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Another consideration is AC vs DC. Computer fans are all DC.

[love2flymn]

Yeah I was thinking it would be either battery powered or you need a converter for the arduino