PID on number three smoker needed?

[Bigjo]

I am planning on ordering a number 3 smoker as soon as they get more in.  Is the PID needed to better control temp spikes or is the standard control good enough.    Along with the usual butts and loins I plan on smoking a fair amount of sausage.  And later on jerky. 

 

[SuperDave]

The PID is just so much more than a temperature swing controller.  But in any event, I do think that the Auber would be beneficial in the sausage department if you like to smoke them low.  Without it, you could get 20 degree swings.  I'm not a sausage expert so I don't know if that is enough to split skins or not. 

 

[NDKoze]

It is a very nice add on, but is definitely not necessary.

I have smoked a lot of snack sticks, jerky, butts, poultry, cheese etc. And haven't sprung for the Auber yet nor have I thought that my results suffered. The temp swings are not a big deal for sausages.

The one exception I would make is for fish. A 20 degree swing on fish can be a really big deal.

Aubers have more advantages than just for controlling temp swings. You can program various steps. For example, maybe you want to smoke at 140 degrees for 45 minutes, then increase the temp to 225 degrees, to an internal temp of 190 degrees, and then reduce the temp to 140 degrees and hold. You have four steps in this example that can each be automatically programmed.

 

[Pork Belly]

I advise against buying the PID for now. With the money you save you can afford a great deal of meat. Do plenty of smokes and then decide if you need to spend the extra $. I don't have one and likely never will, other folks like the programing and control.

 

[1stlink]

Hi bigJo, all of the above is very true in my opinion it comes down to "what's in your wallet"
It certainly is not a necessity but it is a great luxury addition. It opens up so many options one of which Gregg described above. Higher temp settings for poultry and other items that you would like to smoke above 250° 
With it or without it I'm sure you will be very happy with your model 3.

 

[DivotMaker]

Hey Jo, definitely not required, but I love it.  Plenty of smokes with the stock controller, then with the Auber, and I definitely prefer the Auber control.  Everyone has great points and opinions, and I agree with the point of letting your wallet make the decision.  If you're kind of a precise person, who likes a little more control over your smoker, the flexibility of 6 programmed steps, and tight temperature tolerances provide that.  If you're more of a "measure with a micrometer & cut with a chain saw" guy, you probably don't need it.   Personally, I think it makes a great smoker absolutely phenomenal!

 

[es1025]

I concur with DM.

The precision of temperature control is worth the cost.

 

[Limey]

For me the great advantage of the Auber is to go into an automatic hold at 140 degrees once you reach a preset IT. This is the ultimate in hands off lazy Q. All the rest is really nice to have techno-geeky stuff but by no means essential. If you babysit your smoker then pass on the Auber and, like Pork Belly says, spend the money on meat. If you cannot always be around(or like me are really, really lazy) then go for the Auber.

 

[DivotMaker]

For me the great advantage of the Auber is to go into an automatic hold at 140 degrees once you reach a preset IT. This is the ultimate in hands off lazy Q. All the rest is really nice to have techno-geeky stuff but by no means essential. If you babysit your smoker then pass on the Auber and, like Pork Belly says, spend the money on meat. If you cannot always be around(or like me are really, really lazy) then go for the Auber.

Roger, you are now officially a "Full Member" of Club Lazy Q! 8)

 

[SuperDave]

Limey, chime in on my thread about temp creep between set IT and box temp drop to 140. 

 

[Libohunden]

Call Auber.  Mine wouldn't work properly.  They told me it won't work on a model 3 or 4 unless you bypass the controller.  They refunded my money.