Cool temps. Cook time

[seahag]

I seem to be getting 2hrs max from 50 plus bricketts

It is rather cold. 14 degrees

Also. Water is boiling. Not simmering.
Am I getting the fire to hot to combat the cold weather?

[ecripps]

What is the temperature at the dome? What are your vents set at? The more you open the upper vent, the faster you burn fuel. What type of coals are you using?

[ncsmoker]

I agree with Ed we need a little more info. I live in the mountains of NC and often smoke in the teens and 20's in the winter. Don't know when you added your coals but you don't need to add them until they are outside the round holes. The SN is based on the Minion system and lets the hot coals start the new coals. Just knock the ash off the lit coals and push them up against the new coals. I have done a 6hr burn this way without adding coals. When you add coals after 3-4 hours push the lit coals to the center and add the new coals through the round holes and then stack them up through the rectangle opening. Then push the lit coals up against the new coals. Adding coals to soon can cause heat to spike. Follow page 8 in the instructions for more info on loading coals.

I have been smoking since the 80's with a Weber and one of the first things I do is install a thermometer in the hood. I get them at Walmart or on line but they have an 1 1/2" probe and never fail to give me an accurate dome temp. I use the upper vent to keep the temp at about 240 or 250. I don't mind the higher temp that the book recommends. I have checked the grill temp and it is still only 225 or 230.

[seahag]

Sorry for lack of details.
I was trying to see how long a load lasted
Temps were 230. Which is good. Bottom vent wide open
Top at 3/16
All of which is in line.

One thing I did with the lit coals was spread them out among the smokenator. I will try the suggestions here.

Thanks!

[ncsmoker]

Good deal. Yeah just put all 60 of the coals in the SN and then 12 to 15 out depending on the outside temp. Light them and then replace them. This will automatically start the minion method and you'll just have to knock the ash off the lit coals every hour and push them back up against the unlit coals.

Best wishes and good luck.

[ncsmoker]

Feb 13, 2014 18:15:44 GMT -5 ncsmoker said:

Good deal. Yeah just put all 60 of the coals in the SN and then pull 12 to 16 out depending on the outside temp. Light them and then replace them. This will automatically start the minion method and you'll just have to knock the ash off the lit coals every hour and push them back up against the unlit coals. One thing I did when I got the SN was keep a notebook and kept notes for a while as I was learning how to use it. It did take a little time to adjust to depending on the weather etc. But I do really like it.

Best wishes and good luck.

[seahag]

tested today. Works great. There's definitely a nack to it.

Got 4hrs on one load. Added 16 more. Got cpl mpre hrs

Thanks !

[seahag]

Spoke too soon. After the first batch of coals. I had to constantly add bricks. I'm almost thinking after the first batch. Stop. Reload and start over.

[ncsmoker]

After the first four hours totally refill the SN. Not just add 16 coals that is only 8 coals on each side. Add them totally to the top through the round and square holes. Sweep any coals with white on them to the center first. Don't forget to sweep the coals from the bottom of the Weber at this point also. Then just push the white coals back up against the new coals. It may take a few minutes for the temp to come back up, so you might want to open the top vent a little but be careful you don't want your temp to spike to high. Don't be afraid to add excess coals, remember when you shut the Weber down it will snuff out the fire and you won't lose many coals.

Yep there is definitely a nack to it. Took me a while also. Gusting winds can still give me a problem.

NC

[kenny]

I go an extra step. Neatly stack briquettes against kettle wall. Place Smokenator, and add any more briquettes you can. I can get 70-75 in there this way. When refilling the burning Smokenator I can never get so many to fit, dropping them in willy nilly. I don't get 4 hours burn on the refills. 14 degrees is cold and it will take a hotter fire to heat the poorly insulated kettle to a given temperature. I have only smoked in the low 40s outside, and do seem to use more charcoal. I monitor temps at the food grate, not worrying about the dome.