Just got a new Smokette this weekend and completed the seasoning. Have a question on the heating element. It seems like when it reached the operating temperature (I seasoned it at 275 with a pan of water in it) that the heating element cycled quite a bit. I only casually monitored it (after reading alot of the threads here about not worrying or obsessing about the temperature swings) and noticed that it would be "on" for like 5 seconds and the "off" for 10 seconds. Other times "on" for 2 seconds and then "off" for 8 seconds. Even seems like the element would cycle quite a bit while the smoker was warming up too. The cycles for "on", were just longer then when it was at "cooking" temperature. Anyway, I think you get the jist of what I am trying to say. Is this normal? I was expecting that with the insulation of the smoker, that it would be more like "off" for a minute or two and then run for 20 seconds. I am probably way off base with that assumption. The smoker seems to work great and holds a decent temperature (checked with the cookshack indicator and compared with an external Fluke).
Couldn't wait to smoke so I threw in a couple of ribs that night and noticed the same element cycling (I know that is not a lot of meat to act as a heat sync).
FWIW the ribs turned out great. Followed a recipe I had used previously when I WAS in possession (he wanted it back... hence me buying one this past weekend... lol) of a buddies old SM008 (never noticed the cycling on that unit, but it didn't have the nifty indicator light for when the element was "on", nor did it seem to click as loudly so I never noticed it).
I tried to call Cookshack today to ask (and order some 5 rack sides), but I think with the bad weather, they are like me and home with the kids.
Thanks in advance.
Ryan
Original Post
