Power by volume

SuperDave

SuperDave

New member
After contemplating this on the 800 watt element for the #2 thread I did some calculations for a FYI.

#1 - 2700 cubic inches, 400 watt element, .148 watts/cubic inch
#2 - 4500 cubic inches, 800 watt element, .178 watts/cubic inch
#3 - 6600 cubic inches, 1200 watt element, .182 watts/cubic inch
#4 - 14341 cubic inches, 1500 watt element, .105 watts/cubic inch

Looks like I need another 1000 watts of power to be on the same playing field. 
 
Very interesting, it does look like the #4 needs more watts to heat as well as the others. But it looks like the #2 and #3 are pretty close.

Greg
 
Interesting analysis, Dave!  I don't recall hearing any #4 owners complaining about their units not heating fast enough, so I wonder if there's more to it than just a "watts per cubic inch" calculation?
 
DivotMaker said:
Interesting analysis, Dave!  I don't recall hearing any #4 owners complaining about their units not heating fast enough, so I wonder if there's more to it than just a "watts per cubic inch" calculation?
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Tony, that's because there aren't enough of us participating here.  I've mentioned more than a few times that it takes over an hour for me to get to set temp.  It eventually gets to full temp plus and can hold it but it just takes a while to get there.  Doing the analysis on the #2, it is interesting that the new element was added to an already serviceable smoker. 
 
Gotcha, Dave!  Guess I hadn't remembered you mentioning that.  Might want to shoot an email to Steve with your analysis; I'm sure he'd find it interesting! 
 
In other homework that I'd done, it looked like 1500 watts was the limit for 120v elements. The higher rated elements all appeared to be 220.
 
SuperDave said:
In other homework that I'd done, it looked like 1500 watts was the limit for 120v elements. The higher rated elements all appeared to be 220.
Click to expand...

Bet that's your answer, right there!
 
My mind just went to... "Install a second element under the first and wire it with a long coord to hook up to a secondary circuit". I'm sure that's a bit ridiculous though.
 
DivotMaker said:
Interesting analysis, Dave!  I don't recall hearing any #4 owners complaining about their units not heating fast enough, so I wonder if there's more to it than just a "watts per cubic inch" calculation?
Click to expand...

I did my crispy chicken skin cook last night.  set the auber to 350 degrees for xxx hours.  I manually watched chicken temps to pull out when ready.  The chicken finished after about 2 hours with IT at 160.  The smoker got up to 270 degrees in that time.

Of course, what i should have done is to preheat the smoker but then there would be complications with smoke in my eyes while I load the chicken and I hate that feeling.

so yes, I wish I had more wattage but at the same time, I am glad I do not have to run 220 to my deck.
 
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