Smoker with thermostat: When controls are worth it
Temperature control for your smoker comes in three levels: manual with a chamber thermometer (from €38.08), thermostat-controlled (retrofit thermostat F1/F2: €249.90), and fully automatic with digital or program control. The rule of thumb: if you hot smoke occasionally, manual is fine; if you want long sessions, winter operation, or repeatable results, go for the controlled electric version – it's no coincidence that the digitally controlled F2-70/60 and XL are the best-selling Beelonia smokers.
Last updated: 23 July 2026 · Author: Michael Vering, Beelonia GmbH · All prices: as of July 2026
Reading tip: The heating type is the prerequisite: thermostats and controls work with electric heating – get an overview in our heating types comparison.
The three control levels at a glance
| Level | How it works | Cost | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | Read chamber thermometer, adjust heating/air supply by hand | from €38.08 | Occasional hot smokers, wood purists |
| Thermostat | Automatically maintains set temperature (F1/F2 electric) | €249.90 (retrofittable) | Regular sessions without constant supervision |
| Digital/program control | Temperature + time, smoke ignition and fan via button; Pro: complete programs | Ex works (F2-70/60, XL) / €1,938.51 (PC control) | Bestseller convenience or commercial use with documentation requirements |
What does the control actually do in everyday use?
Three situations show the difference: the 16-hour session, the winter evening, and repeatability. When making pulled pork, the digital control maintains 115 °C overnight – manually, that would mean readjusting every 30 minutes. In winter, the thermostat automatically compensates for wind and cold, whereas manual control is constantly playing catch-up. And if you want your trout to turn out exactly the same every week, you simply set the same target value instead of juggling anew each time.
The bestseller features in detail: The electric models F2-70/60 and XL come with digital control for temperature and smoking time ex works. In addition, there are two push buttons with LEDs: The smoke ignition works with a time relay – press the button, the ignition coil lights the smoking dust and switches itself off (this ends the classic mistake of letting the ignition run for 60 minutes like an egg timer). The fan is used exclusively for drying: take the trout out of the brine, set to 30 °C, turn the fan on – and turn it off again before the smoking session.
Retrofit instead of buying new: If you own an F1 or F2 electric, you can retrofit the thermostat for €249.90 – a quarter of an hour's work, instructions in the article Retrofitting a thermostat. For commercial businesses with HACCP documentation, the PC program control (€1,938.51) is the ultimate upgrade: it runs complete temperature-smoke programs reproducibly.
When is which level worth it? The decision guide
Manual remains the right choice for anyone who smokes rarely and sees the fire as part of the hobby – but from the first overnight session, the control pays off. Specifically: if you make trout two or three times a year, you only need a good thermometer. If you smoke monthly and don't want to live next to the smoker, choose a thermostat or digital control. If you sell or need to document, plan for the professional-class program control. And the Küchenchef 1 (€2,044.42), as an indoor electric smoker, comes with the control built-in.
Frequently asked questions about controls
Does a thermostat also work with gas or wood?
No – automatic control requires electric heating. Gas can be finely adjusted by hand at the valve, wood via air supply and loading; only electric provides degree-precise automation. Thanks to the interchangeable system, however, electric heating can be retrofitted at any time.
Does the control replace the chamber thermometer?
The control regulates, the thermometer checks – good practice uses both. The analogue thermometer at grate level remains the independent second opinion, for example, to detect loading effects.
Does the control also measure the core temperature?
The PC program control works with a core temperature probe; for the hobby models, a separate insertion thermometer takes over. You can find the applicable core temperatures in our smoking temperature table.
Reading tip: All measurement questions – probe position, values, sources of error – are bundled in the article Core temperature when smoking.
Smoking without constant supervision
From thermostats to program control – regulated electric smokers by Beelonia GmbH, manufactured in Beelen since 1880.
Sources and technical basis: Beelonia product data and shop prices (as of July 2026); Beelonia update video F2-70/60 & XL (digital control, smoke ignition with time relay, fan rule); operating cost and control comparison from appliance and oven technology.
