Pellet Fan

All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: dk117 on April 10, 2018, 08:39:31 PM

Title: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: dk117 on April 10, 2018, 08:39:31 PM
Why are there no offset pellet cookers?  Hopper assembly into a firebox.   Sear station above.  Smoke, cook, oven chamber next.   Instead Pellet cookers have the fire in the middle of the pit.  Hope this question makes sense.

DK
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: Bobitis on April 10, 2018, 08:44:16 PM
My Traeger JR's pot is against the left wall.  It works fine for me. 
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: dk117 on April 10, 2018, 08:49:28 PM
I think Louisiana does the same as your JR.  I'm talking about an offset firebox outside of the cooking chamber.  Why hasn't anyone done that yet?

DK
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: Bentley on April 10, 2018, 08:53:21 PM
I think efficiency would be main design concern.  Also temperature control in main chamber.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: dk117 on April 10, 2018, 09:02:40 PM
Yes, efficiency would be the main concern (more pellets spent to achieve temps).  Maybe also temp control in the main chamber.  But stick burners have it figured out, I'm still not understanding why not for pellets?  If this is an ignorant question feel free to let me know  ;D

DK
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: Bentley on April 10, 2018, 09:05:01 PM
I think it is scale also.  You are dealing with much greater volumes of fuel being burned to achieve the same temperatures.  And one is primarily forced air while the other relays on a natural convection.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: okie smokie on April 11, 2018, 11:57:49 AM
Why are there no offset pellet cookers?  Hopper assembly into a firebox.   Sear station above.  Smoke, cook, oven chamber next.   Instead Pellet cookers have the fire in the middle of the pit.  Hope this question makes sense.

DK
Isn't the PG500 what you are talking about? :help:
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: Brushpopper on April 11, 2018, 12:54:33 PM
I've studied on converting my old and now unused offset stick burner with a hopper assembly from Smoke Daddy.  I haven't gotten permission from the boss to buy one yet, but a boy can dream.  My main concern is efficiency.  I think it'd have to burn hot to keep the cooking chamber at the desired temps.  But I've got two perfectly good pellet grills that cook great food.   :bbq:
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: dk117 on April 11, 2018, 02:46:37 PM
here's what I was thinking, please forgive the sloppy image, but I hope this gets the point across better than my initial post.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

DK

PS I concede PG500 has similar capabilities.  Thanks for sharing that. 
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: triplebq on April 11, 2018, 03:06:27 PM
The Yoder Cimarron Pellet Cooking is pretty much what you described. All except for the sear station above the firebox.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: triplebq on April 11, 2018, 03:08:42 PM
Yoder Cimarron Pellet is in the front
http://www.bbqeurope.com/uploads/2/3/7/6/23761181/17097208-1408610009206023-1148989011786551681-o_orig.jpg
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: rdsbucks on April 11, 2018, 04:37:01 PM
I just don't think it would produce enough heat.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: slaga on April 11, 2018, 05:17:46 PM
I think it could retain enough heat in the smoker section if the chimney was relocated below the grate at the opposite end from the fire box. The warm air and smoke would rise to the top and then move down below the grate as it cooled off. If you leave the chimney at the top, I think you would have trouble keeping the smoker section warm enough.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: triplebq on April 11, 2018, 08:05:34 PM
Not sure I understand why the smoker would not be able to produce enough heat? I have seen one in person but didn't look at the size of the fire pot. I would assume it would be sized according to size of the unit.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: Michael_NW on April 11, 2018, 11:33:57 PM
Boy, I imagine that cooker goes through the pellets. I'm sure the pellet usage specs are on their site, it just looks like a pretty large chamber to fill, or maybe the cart just makes it look that big.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: slaga on April 12, 2018, 12:33:57 AM
Not sure I understand why the smoker would not be able to produce enough heat? I have seen one in person but didn't look at the size of the fire pot. I would assume it would be sized according to size of the unit.
I was not questioning the Yoder. I love mine, YS640. I was following the idea of converting a stick burner to a pellet burning unit. I feel lowering the exit from the cooking chamber to below the grate would go a long way towards making it a more efficient.
Title: Re: Offset pellet cooker
Post by: silverbullet on April 12, 2018, 07:46:07 PM
here's what I was thinking, please forgive the sloppy image, but I hope this gets the point across better than my initial post.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

DK

PS I concede PG500 has similar capabilities.  Thanks for sharing that.

Look at Louisiana, Same principle, Just set up differently. The sear station/fire pot is located on the left side of the barrel. Close it up for smoking & there is an optional cold smoker bx you can buy that mounts on the right side of the unit.