I've been reading about this temperature control called a Tip Top Temp. Great reviews around the web so I got one. I've been trying it out and I really like it. It regulates the temperature by using the exhaust vent and opening and closing the top by way of a thermo spring. It takes a little time to learn at what temperature each number means. Follow along while I cook some ribs.
This is what it looks like...........
Now I needed something to keep it attached, so it stays on when I open the lid. I went to the lumber yard and got some metal strapping out of the garbage and bent the one end to hook under the Akorn vent and the other end to attach it to the Tip Top.....
This worked perfect plus I can still open and close the Akorn vent to save charcoal.......
I set my bottom vent just barely open........
I put a 1/2 chimney of well lit oak lump charcoal first and then 1/2 chimney of unlit on top. I have the Akorn vent wide open and the tip Top set at 3.5. That ended up too hot, so I set it at 2.5 and it settled between 245 to 255. Every time it got near 255 the vent closed to bring the temp down, and near 245 it opened just enough to bring it back up.
When you open the cooker to check your food the temp drops quickly but comes back pretty fast because the Tip Top opens until you get back at your temperature. I recommend this controller. Plus it's only $30 bucks with free shipping...even to Canada.
Just do a search for Tip Top Temp and read the reviews. This fits a lot of different cookers and the silicone band on the bottom holds it on a lot of them, so no mods needed. My mod which I saw on Kamado Guru took me ten minutes.
Well...here's my ribs. They turned out great and I only opened the lid once during the cook just to turn them over.
