Automatic Temperature Control

[MrJaba]

I use a 12v blower controlled with a low current gate pin triac. I power the system with 12v then regulate down to 5v for the IC circuitry

And what are you using to provide the 12v? Car battery? .. also.. what is a "low current gate pin triac"??

[thesmokingpenguin]

At the moment, 12v is from a wall wart, but i'll probs buy a leisure battery type thing

this is a triac - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIAC

[ConorD]

Well I decided to buy the PartyQ, following some research, and will let you know how I get on.

[keith157]

At the moment, 12v is from a wall wart, but i'll probs buy a leisure battery type thing

this is a triac - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIAC

Silly me of course it is................

[MrJaba]

At the moment, 12v is from a wall wart, but i'll probs buy a leisure battery type thing

this is a triac - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIAC

Silly me of course it is................

Yup, that's pretty much my expression too! I've got a lot to learn!

[thesmokingpenguin]

At the moment, 12v is from a wall wart, but i'll probs buy a leisure battery type thing

this is a triac - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIAC

Silly me of course it is................

That's 7 years and counting doing university level engineering / comp. sci. My geekyness leaks out every now and then I'm afraid.

[thelawnet]

Agree with the point that a sleepless night tending the fire sounds very lame.......to follow the logic through, why wouldnt you use gas or electric then as this takes the temp management off the table?

I am not looking to offend anyones sensibilities, I know often when we try and debate and discuss BBQ philisophical issues it does become a little vexed, who can forget the "proper bbq" thread", but I am genuinely interested in folks thinking on this, as we have learned before there are no right or wrong answers only opinions..........

I don't particularly like the process of smoking. It takes too long and requires too much babysitting.

On the other hand on my charcoal grill, I can cook a whole chicken start to finish in under an hour, sit outside with family while I cook, and so on. So I do like that process. It doesn't take longer than an oven.

The fact is that if you want to smoke meat, you need a smoker, and the obvious starting point is the WSM, which cost me £250.

If you like what you get from that, then the next step is to spend the same amount again on some electric doo-dads from the US to make the process more convenient and reliable.

I believe cheap gas smokers are widely available in the US, but not here, so the WSM makes sense as an entry point.

Re controllers, I've not got one yet, but what I am looking at is:
https://github.com/CapnBry/HeaterMeter/ ... 0-Assembly

with a Raspberry Pi

http://raspberrypi.rsdelivers.com/default.aspx?cl=1

I think it comes to around £100.

[keith157]

At the moment, 12v is from a wall wart, but i'll probs buy a leisure battery type thing

this is a triac - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIAC

Silly me of course it is................

That's 7 years and counting doing university level engineering / comp. sci. My geekyness leaks out every now and then I'm afraid.

Never decry knowledge, it's probably what's paying the bills

[Nick]

Agree with the point that a sleepless night tending the fire sounds very lame.......to follow the logic through, why wouldnt you use gas or electric then as this takes the temp management off the table?

I am not looking to offend anyones sensibilities, I know often when we try and debate and discuss BBQ philisophical issues it does become a little vexed, who can forget the "proper bbq" thread", but I am genuinely interested in folks thinking on this, as we have learned before there are no right or wrong answers only opinions..........

I don't particularly like the process of smoking. It takes too long and requires too much babysitting.

On the other hand on my charcoal grill, I can cook a whole chicken start to finish in under an hour, sit outside with family while I cook, and so on. So I do like that process. It doesn't take longer than an oven.

The fact is that if you want to smoke meat, you need a smoker, and the obvious starting point is the WSM, which cost me £250.

If you like what you get from that, then the next step is to spend the same amount again on some electric doo-dads from the US to make the process more convenient and reliable.

I believe cheap gas smokers are widely available in the US, but not here, so the WSM makes sense as an entry point.

Re controllers, I've not got one yet, but what I am looking at is:
https://github.com/CapnBry/HeaterMeter/ ... 0-Assembly

with a Raspberry Pi

http://raspberrypi.rsdelivers.com/default.aspx?cl=1

I think it comes to around £100.

I'd be really interested to hear how you get on with this - pics and tutorial?

[aris]

Agree with the point that a sleepless night tending the fire sounds very lame.......to follow the logic through, why wouldnt you use gas or electric then as this takes the temp management off the table?

I am not looking to offend anyones sensibilities, I know often when we try and debate and discuss BBQ philisophical issues it does become a little vexed, who can forget the "proper bbq" thread", but I am genuinely interested in folks thinking on this, as we have learned before there are no right or wrong answers only opinions..........

I don't particularly like the process of smoking. It takes too long and requires too much babysitting.

On the other hand on my charcoal grill, I can cook a whole chicken start to finish in under an hour, sit outside with family while I cook, and so on. So I do like that process. It doesn't take longer than an oven.

The fact is that if you want to smoke meat, you need a smoker, and the obvious starting point is the WSM, which cost me £250.

If you like what you get from that, then the next step is to spend the same amount again on some electric doo-dads from the US to make the process more convenient and reliable.

I believe cheap gas smokers are widely available in the US, but not here, so the WSM makes sense as an entry point.

Re controllers, I've not got one yet, but what I am looking at is:
https://github.com/CapnBry/HeaterMeter/ ... 0-Assembly

with a Raspberry Pi

http://raspberrypi.rsdelivers.com/default.aspx?cl=1

I think it comes to around £100.

I'd be really interested to hear how you get on with this - pics and tutorial?

Looks overly complicated to me. I prefer the KISS methodology