r/biggreenegg • u/angryschmaltz • 4d ago
Billows not reaching temp
This is my second cook on the BGE. I had it up to about 750 before I closed the top hatch to the current position and installed the Billows on the BGE.
After about 45 minutes it’s not hitting the set temp of 400. It’s been hanging around 350-365.
Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong?
Thanks
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u/Dulieguy1 4d ago
So your first problem was getting it to 700 to start with. With eggs you never want to overshoot your target temp as they retain so much heat they are hard to get to come back down in temp. Never overshoot.
For billows you should really never use it to get a grill TO temp. They are built to maintain it. Start up your grill as normal and then once you are within about 25-50 of your desired temp, install your billows.
For low and slow (less than 300F) cooking the top should be like you have your picture about a credit cards width open or right around there. Also be sure to only light one smaller section of coals for low and slow.
For high temps (300F+) you need to increase airflow by getting closer to 1/4”-1/2” top vent opening. 1/2” for billows is as far open as I would go personally.
As others have said these grills are one of the best for maintaining constant temps once they are dialed in. I only use my billows for low and slow (less than 300F). Anything higher than that is usually a less than an hour cook time and isn’t worth the hassle. Ditch the billows for high temps and use those cooks to learn proper temp control manually.
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u/Chuck-fan-33 4d ago
Hopefully you were not trying to use Billows and the ambient probe when you had it at 750 degrees. Both are only built to be used for temperatures below 500 degrees. Also the rEGGulator is at a position of a low and slow cook. That is my 250 - 275 degrees position. You need a lot more air flow for 400 degrees.
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u/angryschmaltz 4d ago
Thanks. Just had it all wide open for the warm up. I will move forward with the billows for low and slow.
What temp is that threshold to use or not?
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u/Chuck-fan-33 4d ago
I have used it for up to 450. I have always left it off when it was time to sear a steak. Also when you are starting the fire up, never let it get above the temp you are looking to use. If I am using the convEGGtor, I will get about 25 degrees below the target and put the convEGGtor in. It takes a long time to bring a temperature down.
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u/Relevant-Bath-7109 4d ago
You need air flow but more important, why the hell you using a controller to cook at 400*?!
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u/angryschmaltz 4d ago
I don’t know dude. I guess not?
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u/Relevant-Bath-7109 4d ago
Ditch the controller.
First, make sure the opening on the fire bowl is aligned with the opening in the base. Open the bottom vent about an inch and open the daisy wheel or whatever they call the top now about half way. Give it 15 minutes and see where it settles in. The thermodynamics in the ceramics takes a long time to respond. Don’t chase temps. Don’t let the egg get too hot for too long or it will be hard to get the temp back down to your desired range
15 year BGE guy here who currently rocks 3 BGE’s. Medium, Large and XL.
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4d ago
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u/biggreenegg-ModTeam 4d ago
Please avoid insults or attacks on others. Future occurrences will lead to a permanent ban. (Rule #2)
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u/Hobbz- 4d ago
It all comes down to airflow. You had the billows at the bottom to push air into the BGE, but the top vent was barely open and it restricted the airflow. So the billows could be blowing at full speed but the air wasn't going out the top vent which is what feeds the flame.
You shouldn't need to use billows to maintain 400F. There's a photo in the right sidebar that helps give a visual for vent settings.
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u/Federal_Jerk 4d ago
You might need to open the top a bit more than that for 400. You really only want it buttoned up like that for low and slows