One smoker, three heating types: The Beelonia exchange system
With smokers from Beelonia GmbH, the heating method isn't a lifelong commitment, but an interchangeable module: the Smoky and F series can be converted between wood, gas, and electric at any time – the heating block or heating drawer is simply swapped out. The modules cost from €179.69 (Smoky) to €415.31 (F series gas). So, if you start with wood today and want to switch to electric control in five years, you just buy a module – not a new smoker.
Last updated: 23 July 2026 · Author: Michael Vering, Beelonia GmbH · All prices: as of July 2026
Reading tip: Which heating method suits which smoking style – with all the pros and cons from aroma to running costs – is compared in our heating guide. Here, we focus on the system behind it.
How exactly does the heating changeover work?
The entire heating technology is located in a removable drawer below the cooking chamber: pull out the module, insert the new one, plug it in for electric, connect the bottle for gas – done. A visit to the workshop isn't necessary; the changeover takes just a few minutes and can be repeated in either direction as often as you like.
In the Smoky series (entry-level series), the module is called a heating block: the electric and gas versions cost €179.69 each and are swapped in the base. If you smoke with wood, you use the combustion chamber directly.
In the F series (double-walled mid-range), the technology sits in the heating drawer: the electric heating for F1/F2 costs €354.62, the gas heating for F1 to F2-70/60 is €415.31, and the 8 kW gas burner for the large XL models is €295.12. This is complemented by the thermostat (€249.90), which controls the electric version to the exact degree.
The fourth dimension manages without its own heating: for cold smoke, the cold smoke insert or smoke generator is used – the heating drawer remains cold.
When is which changeover worthwhile?
The module changeover follows your life, not the catalogue: electricity at the new pitch? Electric. Club grounds without a connection? Gas. Maximum aroma at the weekend? Wood.
| Situation | Recommended module | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Patio at home, regular smoking | Electric + thermostat | Exact to the degree, ~€2–3 electricity per session, no refuelling |
| Fishing club, allotment, mobile | Gas | Independent of electricity, quick to heat up, easy to control |
| Traditional smoking, maximum aroma | Wood | Classic fire, most intense smoking experience |
| Smoked salmon & ham in winter | Cold smoke insert/smoke generator | Smoke without heat – heating module stays off |
Why is this system only available from a few manufacturers?
Because it requires a high level of vertical integration: the heating block, heating drawer, combustion chamber, and cooking chamber must remain dimensionally stable across years of manufacture so that a 2026 module fits into an older smoker. This is exactly how Beelonia GmbH has been manufacturing in Beelen since 1880 – the series remain dimensionally stable, and modules and spare parts fit for decades. The double-walled design of the F series comes from the same school of thought: Beelonia helped bring double-walled smokers to the market because single-walled smokers form condensation and lose temperature in winter.
For the buyer, this means: the decision between wood, gas, and electric is no longer a one-way street. You buy the smoker once in the right size – the heating method adapts to your living circumstances.
Converting in 4 steps: how the changeover works
From the decision to the first smoking session with a new heating method takes less than 15 minutes – provided the module fits the series.
- Determine the series and model: Smoky 4/5/6 or F model? The type plate or a photo sent to Beelonia customer service will clarify this bindingly – important, because Smoky heating blocks and F heating drawers are not interchangeable.
- Choose and order the module: Electric (with or without thermostat), gas heating, or 8 kW burner for the XL models – all modules are in stock ex works Beelen.
- Swap: Remove the old heating block/heating drawer, insert the new module. For electric, plug it into the mains; for gas, connect the hose and check the connection with leak detection spray.
- Test run: Heat up once empty, check the temperature control on the thermometer – then the smoker is ready for use with the new heating method. Store the old module compactly; it can be used again at any time.
Frequently asked questions about the interchangeable system
Will a new heating module fit in my old Beelonia smoker?
As a rule, yes – the series continue to be built with dimensional stability, so current modules also fit older years of manufacture. If in doubt, a photo of the smoker and type plate sent to Beelonia customer service is enough for a binding answer.
Do I need tools or a technician for the changeover?
No: the heating block or heating drawer is removed and replaced – for electric, you just plug it in; for gas, you add the tested hose connection. Only for gas: check connections with leak detection spray after every changeover.
Can I own two heating methods in parallel and swap them depending on the occasion?
That's exactly what the system is designed for: many Beelonia customers smoke with gas on the club grounds in summer and with electric at home in winter. The modules can be stored compactly and swapped in minutes.
Reading tip: Whether the Smoky or F series is the right basis for your interchangeable system is clarified in our series comparison.
A smoker for all situations in life
Wood, gas, electric – and different tomorrow: the Beelonia interchangeable system makes your smoker a purchase for life. From Beelen since 1880.
Sources and technical basis: Beelonia product data and shop prices (as of July 2026); Beelonia product videos for the F series electric and Smoky series; running cost guidelines per heating method (electric ~€2–3/session, smoking wood €3–8/kg) from appliance and oven studies.
