Auto tuning

[willjr]

It seems the instructions for running autotune  on this forum, reocommend
setting up a program before running autotune.
140 for .5 hours
225 for 2 hours
140 for .5 hour

It appears that auber's instruction for autotune don't involve a program. You just set the temp for the temp you will be cooking with, and run autotune.

What is the advantage of setting up a program prior to running autotune?

 

[DivotMaker]

Hi Will,

If you don't tune with a program, with a "dummy" load in the smoker, you'll ruin meat.  Sometimes, the autotune takes a long time to "figure out" what the appropriate settings are, and will spend a long time between program steps.  Run the autotune as described in the instructions, and don't risk ruining expensive meat.

 

[willjr]

Thanks,  If I were to use a dummy load instead of meat, should I still run a program, or just set temp to around 225 and run auto tune?

 

[FunkedOut]

The only part of the program that matters for the auto tune is the set temp for step 1.  That is the temperature the PID will attempt to hold the box at, and auto tune for.
For your example in the original post, it will auto tune for 140F, regardless of how long it takes.
Once auto tune completes, the Auber will run through the program inconsequentially.

Not sure what happens if you engage auto tune mode while the Auber is in the second step of a program; never done it.

That said, the temperature chosen will affect the outcome tuning (PID parameters).  Probably best to pick a temp you usually cook at.  If you are a 225F man, set step one to 225F.

I usually run a program like this for safety.  Set the program, enable auto tune.  It will perform the auto tune, then run the set temp for 6 minutes and shutoff.

225F for 0.1hours
0F for 0.0hours (steps 2-6)

 

[FunkedOut]

Look at the table in this post to see how set temperature affects auto tune results:
http://smokinitforums.com/index.php?topic=1285.msg31112#msg31112

 

[willjr]

Thank you

 

[DivotMaker]

Will, Funk is right.  You can just set the program to C01 225  e01  t  t01  3.0.  It will work fine.  I used the program in the instructions because that's how a lot of us used to prevent wood catching fire (slow ramp up on temp).  I've also ran several autotunes with that program, and never had a problem.  I think either way works fine, so just flip a coin.

 

[elkins20]

Hey WillJr. This is the program I used to do the Auto Tune on both my smokers.. Which is from the instructions in the Auber section of this forum and mine works fine. As the saying goes "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Will you will find Tony/DivotMaker has a great knowledge of these machines.
Autotune must be performed with the PID unit and smoker setup for “actual” cooking conditions. This procedure uses a “simulated” cooking setup, and is intended only for tuning. The following steps apply to all models:
1. Program the PID as follows:
C01 140 E01 t t01 .5
C02 225 E02 t t02 2
C03 140 E03 t t03 1
C04 0 E04 t t04 0
C05 0 E05 t t05 0
C06 0 E06 t t06 0