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Saturday, August 25, 2007

Electronic Temperature Controllers

I have mixed feelings about electronic temperature controllers used in conjunction with bbq cookers. I do not currently own any type of thermostat control device used in conjunction with any of my smokers, but I do understand why some folks like them.

I personally know someone that owns a Backwoods Smoker, a WSM, an original FE pellet cooker, a Dominizer, a Stumps, and a Caldera knock down design "box" smoker. All are good smokers and all cook excellent bbq, but some are newer designs than others and some have more little tricks and gadgets involved than others.

I tried to convince myself that I need to give in and purchase an electronic temperature controller too, but reached the conclusion that it's something I just don't need. My cookers will hold a steady temperature for hours and hours on end without a thermostat to control them.

As far as I can tell, there are only three reasons you absolutely have to buy a thermostat controller for your bbq cooker.

1. You like to play with the newest and most trendy "gadget" available.
2. You have a lot of extra money burning a hole in your blue jeans.
2. You own a bbq cooker that is so poorly designed it won't hold a steady temperature without an electronic thermostat.

Competition BBQ Secrets

4 comments:

Hogwild said...

I agree, BBQ guy. A thermostat would take a lot of the fun out of it for me. I don't like to have to fight the fire for a whole cook, but I like to at least have to go out there and smell the smoke once in a while to check the temp.

Anonymous said...

I use a guru and love it. I have a large offset and the guru lets me get some sleep at comp's, rather than tending the fire every 90 minutes or so. I don't use it on my WSM, but it is a necessity for the stick burners.

The BBQ Guy said...

I've seen them used mostly on upright charcoal cookers. What kind of stick burner do you have?

Anonymous said...

I use a guru competitor on my meadow creek TS250. Works like a dream! Just picked up the new Guru Digi-Q at the Bridgeton comp last weekend, can't wait to try it out.