Holding Cooler with a Sous Vide heater

Novel idea!  Thanks for sharing.

I did something like these yeas ago to cook roasts...

https://www.lifesavvy.com/1336...-vide-super-machine/

https://www.smokingmeatforums....e-cooler-mod.279836/

My angle needs to be about 1/2 inch more to lower the Sous Vide under water at the minimum mark.  Where I screwed the pooch is placing the hole too close to the bottom.  I am going to use my maritime Loctite and a piece of plastic to seal the hole and start over.

I have a 26 qt Polycarbonate Food Pan 20"L x 13"W x 8"D.  I'm testing it know to see what the internal air temperature is with the water temperature at 150 degrees.  It's not insulated it has an insulation sleeve that fits around the container.

The racks I purchased for the cooler fit perfectly.  I'll have enough space to elevate the rack and keep the brisket out of the water.

After 30 minutes, the water temperature is 150 degrees and the air temperature 134 degrees and rising.

I'll post more later.

Quick question:  Are you going to wrap the brisket or vac seal to keep the warm moist air from breaking down the meat while it is in hold mode?

Yes.  Here is my cooking method for this:

Initial smoker temp: 225 - smoke the brisket until about 165-170
Increase temp to 275 - cook until the temp reaches 185-190

Rest brisket to 155 and wrap with butcher paper place into an aluminum pan and seal off with foil and place into the holding cooler for another 16 hours minimum at 150 degrees.

The brisket won't cook anymore but the long hold should keep rendering and the brisket should be done after 16 more hours.

As of now my 26qt poly tank is holding at 150 degrees.  The Sous Vide temp is 155 degrees.  No insulation around the body.  I just have towels placed on the lid.

********UPDATE********

I am abandoning the cooler.   I could not get the angle at the right spot without having to marine seal my sous vide heater permanently in place.

However, hope is not lost.  I am starting to building my own holding chamber that will be able to hold my cooks at 150 degrees for an infinite amount of time.  Honestly, no more than 24 hours.

I am only into this thing for about $19.00 worth of 2 x 2's.  I have most of the material laying around to use.  I will have to by insulation, some gaskets, hinges, lock to secure the lid and rear door, and casters. 

I searched the internet and found some chinese food warmers ($500.00) and a mini Alto sham ($1,500.00) but no container larger than a standard sous vide vessel. 

It is a work in progress and hope to have it completed by the end of July (my job that pays the bills gets in the way sometimes).

I am not a builder (at all).  I cut piece by piece because I am designing as I build.

Here are some pics:

I have a small update on this.  It is progressing.  Life gets in the way.  Work has been busy.

I have fitted the inside with the walls.  These are from some old left over siding.  I have to purchase some spray foam, a gasket for the lid, and a gasket for the sous vide door.  I am going to line the inside with HVAC tape.  I don't want it to look like crap but it just hold meat in.  I don't know what I am going to put on the outside.

I made an electric 15 gal mash tun for brewing that could hold temps indefinitely.  It was heated with a 120v water heater element and controlled with a cheap pid and control relays. Something like that would work for your needs.  Search online brewing forums for more information about electric homebrew systems.  The hardest part was building the control box for my system that had 3 controllers, latching circuits and safety shut offs, etc.

Greeting all and belated Happy New Year.  I have some updated pics for this post.  Life and work just got real busy and I have not had time to work on this project, post on the site, or smoke anything.

I still have to drill the hole for the sous vide heater and make the tunnel door and lid.  My sous vide container will slide into the bottom and the sous vide heater will sit on top of the bottom ledge that sticks out.  I foamed the cavities and lined the interior with HVAC tape.  I have two rails for racks as well.  I'll paint this thing in the spring.

I had most of the material lying around except for the HVAC tape, foam, 2 x 2 (Frame), gaskets, and hinges. 

My plan for this is to hold briskets between 150 and 155 degrees for 24 hours before serving.

Looking good!  Keep on keeping on!!

I finally finished the damn thing.  I have it running to see how long it takes to get up to temp and if it will hold (fingers crossed).  Those little red latches had to be and were the bulk of the cost because they had to be special ordered.  I have some casters laying around.  They will go on because it is a little difficult to move around. 

It has been over a year since you started and it looks like time well spent.  Congratulations!

Thank you.  I did not intend on taking this long.   The sous vide heater is at 155 degrees.  The inside air temp is at 118 degrees after 45 minutes.  Now it is a waiting game to get to 155 degrees.

Time well spent!