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DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
#6848438
08/07/17 05:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,654
MacDaddy21
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OP
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For Guy and others who are interested. This is the controller I built for my 350 gal propane tank offset smoker. It was inexpensive and does a great job keeping my pit within 5 degrees of set temp. I usually see a 2-3 degree fluctuation over the course of a few hours. My pit leaks around the doors a little and I haven't run any high temp gasket yet, but plan on getting it done asap. It's raining here so I didn't actually hook it all up. The smoker The PID controller in a project box. The black and white wires are the wires that supply power to the CPU fans, the extension cord end provides power to the PID controller and the temp probe goes inside the cook chamber and lays on the grate. Built these fan mounts with square tubing (think its 4"x4" ID), some c channel and diamond plate. The fans are 60 cfm, and there is one on either side of the firebox. I plug an extension cord into the plug that hangs below the outlet box, and plug the PID into one of the outlets. This pic shows the set temp of 250 and the current temp as measured by the temp probe that would sit on the grate in the pit, in the hottest area (close to where the firebox is connected to the cooking chamber) This pic shows the current temp as measured by the temp probe, and also shows the percentage of fan power. It isn't hooked up to the fans, but if it was they would be running full speed because the current temp is so far from the set temp. Once it gets close, it drastically reduces power to the fans and provides air as needed. Whenever I open a door to remove meat to wrap or take a peek, the temp will drop and the fans will kick on full power, and as soon as the temp starts climbing the fan power will reduce so it doesn't overshoot the set temperature because it is tuned properly. That is the hardest part but just takes some tinkering with the P, I and D values.
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6848572
08/07/17 08:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,550
Guy
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Are you like an engineer or something? I never even heard of a PID controller till today. That's looks great, but I don't think I have the skills to do this lol.
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: Guy]
#6848816
08/07/17 11:16 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,315
bobcat1
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Okay. Glad you understand that. Congrats!
Bobby Barnett
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: bobcat1]
#6848851
08/07/17 11:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,550
Guy
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Ok so I understand the concept now. lol
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6848867
08/07/17 11:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,654
MacDaddy21
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Not an engineer...Not even close. I am terrible at math lol. Google was my friend on this one. I found a blog post about it and copied the design and used different fans.
Bobcat, which part was hard to understand? Perhaps I can explain better.
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6849109
08/08/17 03:36 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,315
bobcat1
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Not an engineer...Not even close. I am terrible at math lol. Google was my friend on this one. I found a blog post about it and copied the design and used different fans.
Bobcat, which part was hard to understand? Perhaps I can explain better. All of it. It's Monday and work was taxing on the brain and now I have consumed some libations.
Bobby Barnett
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: bobcat1]
#6849113
08/08/17 03:47 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,654
MacDaddy21
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Not an engineer...Not even close. I am terrible at math lol. Google was my friend on this one. I found a blog post about it and copied the design and used different fans.
Bobcat, which part was hard to understand? Perhaps I can explain better. All of it. It's Monday and work was taxing on the brain and now I have consumed some libations.
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6855295
08/14/17 02:40 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 429
texas_sooner
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That's impressive! Great work. Need (or want) makes you do great things.
"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it." William Munny "What's right is right." Billy Batts
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: texas_sooner]
#6855320
08/14/17 02:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,622
HMK
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That's impressive! Great work. Need (or want) makes you do great things.
back when we used to eat housecats we marinated them in louisiana hot sauce and soy sauce then season them with lemon pepper........then onto the grill slow cooking them 3 hours........excellent folded in tortillas and pico de gallo----Newgulf
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6856010
08/14/17 06:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 44,066
Stub
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Like your setup
“I never forget a face—but in your case, I’ll be glad to make an exception.” —Groucho Marx
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6856194
08/14/17 09:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,654
MacDaddy21
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Thanks guys! I built it when I was a poor college student and couldn't afford a fancy temp controller. It works so well I've never felt the need to replace it with something else even though I could afford to. If it ever quits working I'll either replace the PID controller itself or build a new one.
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: MacDaddy21]
#6856202
08/14/17 09:21 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,178
HoldPoint
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I'm surprised the fans don't overheat or melt - slick setup though
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Re: DIY BBQ Pit Controller with Fans & PID
[Re: HoldPoint]
#6856345
08/14/17 11:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,654
MacDaddy21
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I'm surprised the fans don't overheat or melt - slick setup though Thanks. I was also kind of surprised the first time I used it. The fan housings are 7" off the side of the firebox, and the actual expanded metal rack that the coals and wood are on is in the very center of the 4ft long firebox. I just measured and the distance from the fans to the metal rack is about 21" on each side.
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