So be sure that you consider this added amount of required space that your newly modified smoker grill will need.įor a lot of users with outdoor space, this shouldn’t be an issue, but for people who grill on their patio or balcony, it’s worth keeping in mind. Once the kit is mounted on the grill, it will sit about 12 inches out from the grill. In general however, you will need to cut a rectangular hole on the side of your grill chamber, measuring about 4-5 inches in width and height, depending on the conversion kit.
#SMOKER AUTOMATIC FEEDER HOW TO#
How to install a pellet smoker conversion kitĪ lot of brands offer conversion kits, so installation instructions will vary from kit to kit. If you want to maintain temperature then the auger will often pause. When you need more heat the auger will speed up, and when you need less it will slow down. The PID controller effectively controls the temperature of your grill by adjusting the rate at which the auger feeds the grill. It holds pellets and slowly feeds them onto the auger, which in turn feeds pellets into the firebox in your grill for burning. This is a box that sits on the side of your grill chamber. Once the conversion kit is fixed to your grill, you can load in wood pellets into the hopper. Usually these settings are between 5☏ and 10☏ at a time, but some go as low as a single degree. They also have a temperature increment settings to allow you to easily adjust your target temperature at any moment. This classic time-defying smoker holds a unique automatic feed system which enables you to load up your smoker for nine hours. The majority of PID controllers (such as the Savannah Stoker) allow you to grill anywhere between 150☏ and 500☏, and also smoke within that range. They’re basically magic, and are one of the greatest introductions to the barbecue world in modern times. It then measures the discrepancy between the two, and adjusts accordingly. They have a PID controller, which is a system that sets a cooking temperature, and uses heat sensors to monitor the actual temperature. The added advantage is that you can also continue to use your grill as a grill, but just with the added capability of being a pellet smoker.Ĭonversion kits tend to work by being fixed to the side of your grill. Using a conversion kit will make things easy as you won’t need to top up your smoking wood pellets whenever they run out, thus disturbing the cooking temperatures of the grill. Some are made specifically by manufacturers, and some are generic. These might sound hard to find but these are in fact easily available online. You can do this with an existing barbecue grill, and with the use of a pellet smoker conversion kit. Let’s start with the most common, and easiest way to make your own DIY pellet smoker. It also has a slide-out tray that allows for easy access to drips.How to convert a grill into a pellet grill Because they use gravity to heat the coal and chips, the temperature will be controlled by the smoke and heat. Another great advantage of gravity feed smokers is that they automatically regulate the temperature. These smokers can hold up to 20 pounds of charcoal, which means you don’t need to replace it every few hours. A gravity feed smoker’s best feature is its ability to smoke meat, fish, or vegetables without worrying about ash.Īnother major advantage of gravity feed smokers is that they allow you to add wood chips or charcoal as needed. Smoke and heat rise through the chamber’s bottom, giving food a smokey taste. A simple mechanism lets you open the smoking chamber and allow the smoke to circulate. Gravity feed smokers have fewer moving parts than electric counterparts, which means they are easier to repair. The smoker is heated to approximately 250☏/120☌ using dampers. Unlike electric smokers, gravity feed smokers require a simple airtight chute filled with charcoal or wood chips. This type of smoker uses gravity to heat the food, and requires less care than gas or pellet smokers. If you want to smoke meat without burning the house down, then you might want to learn how to build a gravity feed smoker.