Not getting to temp

[iamimdoc]

I have the Smokin it Model 3 smoker and the •Model: WSD-1500H-W Auber device.  Never "tuned" but has worked well with desired temp with in a few degrees of my 225 set temperature.  Smoker about 3 years old and worked fine as of Xmas

Probe is held up with a clip form Auber that goes into the top grill.  Always in the same position

Yesterday, tried to do 5 racks of ribs.  Usually do 2-3.  After more than 2 hours, temp is  < 200.  Smoker was not opened during that period and ambient air temp was about 60.

Kicked set temp to 240 and go to be about 210 internal temp.  At 275 got to about 230 finally

Suggestions as to issues or solutions what to look for?

Thanks

 

[old sarge]

A couple of questions and I am by no means an expert at trouble shooting.
1.  If you fire up the smoker empty in the dark, does the element have a uniform glow or are there some dark areas? If you have dark areas you may need a new element.
2.  Are the temps you are reporting read from the Auber or a separate thermometer?  If a separate thermometer is used, does it register correctly in ice water and boiling water?  If from the Auber, you may need to do an auto-tune.
3.  When using the Auber, do you have the analog controller maxed out to 250? Anything less and the Auber and analog will be in conflict.
4.  Is the Auber temp probe clean?
5. Is the smoker's built in probe clean?

I hope some of this helps. 

 

[pappabear]

Sure am glad I bought the analog smoker!

 

[Stevegardner]

I am with you Gary. I really like the offerings and things digital has to offer. But, posts like this keep me from going that route.

 

[iamimdoc]

A couple of questions and I am by no means an expert at trouble shooting.
1.  If you fire up the smoker empty in the dark, does the element have a uniform glow or are there some dark areas? If you have dark areas you may need a new element. - will look
2.  Are the temps you are reporting read from the Auber or a separate thermometer?  Auber  If a separate thermometer is used, does it register correctly in ice water and boiling water?  If from the Auber, you may need to do an auto-tune.  OK, but all seemed fine until now without tuning
3.  When using the Auber, do you have the analog controller maxed out to 250? Anything less and the Auber and analog will be in conflict. at 250
4.  Is the Auber temp probe clean? prob not
5. Is the smoker's built in probe clean? where is smokers probe?

Thanks for suggestions

 

[old sarge]

The built in probe is on back wall probably down low mut could be toward top, on back wall.

 

[iamimdoc]

So, I cleaned the temp probe.  Did nothing else

Ran smoker with factory settings for PID and got results below under Standard PID settings (P=6, I=600, D=150) as I remember 
Reset the Auber to the suggested settings by Steve Lanier (P=60, I=800, D=150 ).  Results below under Adjusted PID settings.
Both were done in  45 degree weather with no load (ie no meat) in smoker

My comments are
1) Both seemed to work quite well
2) I don't see much difference in the cycling (but I am not sure what I am looking for)
#) should cleaning the temp probe make a difference?

Any comments from others as to why everything seems up to snuff now.  I presume having cold meat in the smoker makes a difference but I had a 13 pound brisket at XMAS that had no temperature issues.  Thus it seems to me that 5 racks of ribs last weekend would have not been a challenge (which is when I  did not get up to temp).

Thanks for looking

 

[Walt]

The meat load wasn't your issue. I have cooked 9 racks in my#2 with no issues.