[RobOConnell]

I have been working with my ProQ as of late. I first did a full fire basket on my first cook about 3 months ago. I had trouble keeping the temp down below 300. I had all the vents closed and no changes. I suppose I could have used the waterpan to help, but I wanted to have all the control from the fire aspect first. Over time and several tries, I found that its best to just start with about a half basket and add to increase temps. My last cook used the half basket and it stayed at 225 range the entire cook. What does everyone else do? Crash... I know your the guru here on these?

[jmcrig]

Robin, I'm not an expert on the Pro-Q, but I would start the learning curve with the water pan in and water in it. Maybe one of the Pro-Q wizzes can jump in.

[KidCurry]

I have been working with my ProQ as of late. I first did a full fire basket on my first cook about 3 months ago. I had trouble keeping the temp down below 300. I had all the vents closed and no changes. I suppose I could have used the waterpan to help, but I wanted to have all the control from the fire aspect first. Over time and several tries, I found that its best to just start with about a half basket and add to increase temps. My last cook used the half basket and it stayed at 225 range the entire cook. What does everyone else do? Crash... I know your the guru here on these?

Are you using the minion method or is the entire fuel basket a blazz'n?

[RobOConnell]

I start it using the minion method. But once they all take off.. thats when I get the control issue. Does the waterpan make that big of a difference?

[jmcrig]

I start it using the minion method. But once they all take off.. thats when I get the control issue. Does the waterpan make that big of a difference?

On the WSM it does.

[KidCurry]

For clarification...

You are starting with an almost FULL fuel bin of UNLIT coals. 
Then you dump in, at the most, a 1/4 of a LIT chimney on top of the unlit.
You then put the smoker together.
At this point even with the lower vents closed (all the way) your fire shoots up and your temps will not stay below 300?

Is this all correct?

[RobOConnell]

When I start my coals, I use a coffee can with holes put in it with about 6-10 charcoal lumps in it. (I dont have one of those lovely starters most use.) Then when they are going good, I add them to the center of my fire basket in the Pro-Q, assemble the smoker and open the vents until the coals get going in the smoker and temps get to where I want them. At this point, I notice that if I have a full basket of charcoal, temps keep going to 300. So instead of a full basket, I only fill the charcoal to about half a basket. This keeps my temps down to about 225 as the high. If I want higher, I will add more to the fire. Since I have not yet used the waterpan, I have not seen the benifits of use yet. I thought that was mostly used for adding moisture to the food. From what I hear, its a big temp control device too..? So I will be adding water to my pan when temps rise? This is an entirely new concept for me to grasp. Seeing as I use the UDS for most of my applications, I have never used one of these new fangled gadgets.... lol

[jmcrig]

Another question Robin, have you verified your thermometer is reading the correct temperature. There was some talk on here about calibrating the Pro-Q thermometers.

[azkitch]

Large bucket of water will absorb heat, heating the water to boiling...Water will continue to suck up the energy to keep the water hot, thus keeping less heat from the rest of the workings. That's my interpretation.
Alton--I have a new show idea...

[jmcrig]

Large bucket of water will absorb heat, heating the water to boiling...Water will continue to suck up the energy to keep the water hot, thus keeping less heat from the rest of the workings. That's my interpretation.
Alton--I have a new show idea...

Send it to him, he's a rocket scientist.

[KidCurry]

When I start my coals, I use a coffee can with holes put in it with about 6-10 charcoal lumps in it. (I dont have one of those lovely starters most use.) Then when they are going good, I add them to the center of my fire basket in the Pro-Q, assemble the smoker and open the vents until the coals get going in the smoker and temps get to where I want them. At this point, I notice that if I have a full basket of charcoal, temps keep going to 300. So instead of a full basket, I only fill the charcoal to about half a basket. This keeps my temps down to about 225 as the high. If I want higher, I will add more to the fire. Since I have not yet used the waterpan, I have not seen the benifits of use yet. I thought that was mostly used for adding moisture to the food. From what I hear, its a big temp control device too..? So I will be adding water to my pan when temps rise? This is an entirely new concept for me to grasp. Seeing as I use the UDS for most of my applications, I have never used one of these new fangled gadgets.... lol

I never use water in the PROQ or the WSM...

...so you leave the vents open until you reach the desired temps?  

I usually start to close my vents at around 190-200 degrees (top therm. in the eyelet) because I like to smoke around 230-245.  If you leave the vents open until the smoker reaches smoking temps my guess would be, yea the temps would get our of hand...need to start the cutting the air before the temps get where you want them.  You can always ad more air for more heat but as you already know its difficult to get it back down.

But on a side note adding fully lit coals to the smoker to keep the temps where you want them is just fine...I am pretty sure thats what the wsm instructions say...it just wont stay at temps without a lot of adding coals.

[RobOConnell]

As far as I know the therms are pretty accurate, But I will recheck them based on the thread for calibration. As for closing the vents BEFORE desired temps, I guess I should try do that as well. I am still working on this toy. I will not give up on it yet.. lol.

[AzJohnnyC]

Mine needs a playmate when you give up and decide to sell yours.

[KidCurry]

As far as I know the therms are pretty accurate, But I will recheck them based on the thread for calibration. As for closing the vents BEFORE desired temps, I guess I should try do that as well. I am still working on this toy. I will not give up on it yet.. lol.

Bug buddy...this i beleive is the key to your problems!!!  Close her down BEFORE it gets to the temps you want...lots of air still in there when you close the vents...that way it usese the air in the smoker to continue to climb to the desired temp and not above it.

Keep playing youll get it!

[Crash]

It looks like you've got a lot of useful info here to work with.  I suggest you try a cook with the water pan with no water in it.  Make sure to wrap the water pan in foil though.