pit calculator

stoked&smoked · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 2

Hey all new member, I downloaded the pit calculator and am trying to use it to size a pit with a rectangular cook chamber. the dimensions are 24"x 20" x 20" . when I enter these in the height ,width,length boxes it give me 3200 cu in. Unless I am having a mental block LxWxH is cu in and it equals 9600 cuin. Does the calculator only work with circular cook chambers?

Smokin Mike · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

You're probably looking at the suggested volume of the firebox. As a general rule of thumb, the firebox is 1/3rd the size of the cooking chamber.

k.a.m. · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

Welcome to the ring stoked&smoked, looking forward to seeing some pics of your cooks and following your cooker build. Smile

As Smokin Mike said the green cells are calculated to give you the 1/3 value of your size. Basically you enter the numbers and the green cell is your numbers divided by three. You need to match the firebox green cell to your cooking chamber green cell. I hope this helps. Smile

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

day_trippr · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

That has to be the most common issue with all of the iterations of the Pit Calculator I've seen to date. And if one doesn't get that part right, the rest of the calculations are even less self-evident.

A little bit of illuminating text in an adjacent cell could go a long way...

Cheers!
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

k.a.m. · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

day_trippr, it is about as plain can be if you read the red instuctions. Wink

Cooker chamber size (circular tank or pipe)
Enter your tank size below. The green cell will show the volume you will need your firebox to be

Fire box size (square or rectangular)
Enter the dimensions that you would like for your firebox.
If the green cells match your firebox is 1/3 the size of your cooking chamber.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

day_trippr · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

Yeah, yeah. And yet....

Cheers! Wink

_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

k.a.m. · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

day_trippr · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

k.a.m. · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

Well my Friend thank goodness for folks such as myself to help those that do not quite understand the calculator to help them along. Wink

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

day_trippr · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

daddywoofdawg · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

I wish the calc would give a basic of the aforementioned 1/3 size.yes I know it can be many different sizes but it it said 20x20x24"=1/3 of the volume it would give a starting point to work your dimensions to fit 1/3.
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Good BBQ is all smoke and beers!
The Dawghouse Custom vertical Gasser
Custom Made offset smoker
Char grill smoker
Weber kettle

Tom C · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

day_trippr,
What if it read something like this? Would it be any clearer?

Cooker chamber size
Enter your tank size below. The green cell will show the volume you will need your firebox to be
AND is 1/3 the tank size you entered!

My thoughts were always to make everything fit and to be as simple as I could make it. I had originally thought to show the actual size with the 1/3 (green cells) next to it. However past versions had shown to be confusing to some people because there was too much information showing. In short, no matter what, someone didn't get some part of the calculator.

Also, please keep in mind that making changes to the calculator is not an easy process for me. I have to update both versions (round and square firebox). Then I have to upload both to my server, update the web page with the new links and upload that page to the server. Then I have to update my original post (Calculator sticky) here on The Smoke Ring with the link to the new page. I am not a web page designer and don�t go through this process often. Therefore I practically have to re-teach myself how to do it each time.
_________________
Homemade offset smoker 24"x48"
Charbroil CB900 grill

icecoldkicks · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

funny u just posted about this Tom C, i just happen to be downloading this calculater right now! its pretty cool! this may sound stupified, but i try to fill in the proper spots & i cant get a curser to pop up! so it wont let me type in the sizes
should i delete it & redown load it
or Hmmmm???!@#$%

Also thx for taking the time to create this
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287Gal RF Project

Slow & Low, That is the Tempo!!

Tom C · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

yes I would try it again, I'm not sure why it's not working for you. Which version are you trying to use?
_________________
Homemade offset smoker 24"x48"
Charbroil CB900 grill

icecoldkicks · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

im thinking its the updated version!
(square or rectangle is one)
(Circular)
Is the other
i always make sure that my fire box is always 1/3 the size of the chamber or just bigger then the chamber! as far as the smoke stack goes! i always just made sure it was big enough for the breather vents to create a larger flow then needed, then just be able to tune it when ur cookn! i always before just would eye it up & it just works! LOL Rolling Eyes

_________________
287Gal RF Project

Slow & Low, That is the Tempo!!

day_trippr · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

Tom C, I've never had a problem with any of the Calculators, because I was educated by forum threads that covered the underlying philosophies before I ever opened the first version. I'm just pointing out what I think might help avoid what seems to be the most frequent user issue. And as it's pretty clear, if the user misses that 1/3 thing, everything goes downhill in a hurry Wink

So I think your idea is a good one. And, fwiw, if I was making a change such as this one that has no effect on functionality, I'd just make the edits, overwrite the existing files, and put a quicky note in your Pit Calculator thread. I wouldn't bother editing the web page at all. No need to make more housekeeping work for yourself!

Cheers!
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

Tom C · Posted: Apr 07 2011 Post subject:

icecoldkicks,
Were you able to get it to work? I think you are trying to use the version made by "dodis". I'm not nearly as familiar with it as I am with the two (circular & square tanks) versions. Fortunately feldon30 is working on a new java based version that won't require excel and is very clean and easy to use. I think it will be very useful.

day_trippr
I appreciate your input as well as others that I have received since placing the calculator out there. When I get the chance I may make the description change we talked about. The new version that feldon30 is working may just solve the issue. His approach is very clean and I think easy to use. It functions like the calculator spreadsheets but will not require excel. It's very cool.
_________________
Homemade offset smoker 24"x48"
Charbroil CB900 grill

feldon30 · Posted: Apr 08 2011 Post subject:

I have been following a lot of BBQ pit building projects here on the Smoke Ring with great interest, and lamenting that I don't really have the space to build a trailer type unit here. When I'm stateside I'll get busy on that!

But in the meantime, I wanted to give something back so I took a look at Tom C's excel spreadsheets which have been invaluable (literally, saving probably hundreds of dollars in recuts!) in helping folks measure out all the dimensions on firebox, smokestack, etc. I saw that it could be done up as a webpage with the use of JavaScript.

The BBQ Pit Building Calculator (Online)

I appreciate any and all feedback including any problems/glitches you find, any suggestions on how to make this script better, etc. I was able to roll square and round fireboxes into a single calculator. Hopefully I got all the formulas all right. It should be pretty self-evident that you are entering the values for EITHER a cylinder, tank, or rectangular cook chamber, and then get an estimate you can compare to your planned size for a round or square firebox, and then everything fills in. You can fiddle with the exhaust, intake, and the hole between firebox and cook chamber until you get "1".
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22" Weber Smokey Mountain + Weber Spirit

day_trippr · Posted: Apr 08 2011 Post subject:

I took a quick look, and that looks awesome, feldon30! I really like how each section has an explanatory preface - I think those will really cut down on the "confusion factor" in a big way.

And kudos for the credits at the end. Very nice!

When I get a chance I'll bang that against one of the "classic" calculators as a sanity check (though I suspect you've already done that Wink

) But in the mean time, I think you may have nailed it spot on!

Mega golf claps! Very Happy

Cheers!
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

Smokin Mike · Posted: Apr 08 2011 Post subject: