Help converting a charcoal smoker to electric

[SabreSteve]

So I've been wanting to get an electric smoker for sometime but just haven't been comfortable pulling the trigger on one financially. My dad though just got a new, much larger charcoal smoker and is offering me his old one. I would take it but I really don't want charcoal. It's not even really all about the clean energy with me this time (I've shared before that my grill, and all my yard tools are electric) but I want the control of electric and the ability to possibly do cold smoking. I'm thinking of possibly converting his to electric, adding a heating element and some type of digital temperature control. Was wondering if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips or advice.

 

[Zambi]

Do you have a picture of the charcoal smoker?
For cold smoking look at a ProQ cold smoke generator or whatever there is your side of the world.
It workks by lighting sawdust and you don't need much (you could get it to burn using your electric soldering iron)
Just place the thing in any sort of kettle, bbq and you'll be cold smoking (mind you, this is real cold smoking, so read up on it as there are risks involved. Those little devices bring the temperature in the bbq up by about 1 oC)

 

[The Brew Mentor]

You could add a small electric hot place to the chamber

 

[J A]

So I've been wanting to get an electric smoker for sometime but just haven't been comfortable pulling the trigger on one financially. My dad though just got a new, much larger charcoal smoker and is offering me his old one. I would take it but I really don't want charcoal. It's not even really all about the clean energy with me this time (I've shared before that my grill, and all my yard tools are electric) but I want the control of electric and the ability to possibly do cold smoking. I'm thinking of possibly converting his to electric, adding a heating element and some type of digital temperature control. Was wondering if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips or advice.

I did exactly this. The cheapest controller is the Inkbird but it only handles 1000 watts and a smoker needs something bigger. I got a 1500W one with a thermostat on it and I monitor the temp with a digital thermometer.
I think this is the one I got:
https://www.amazon.com/Stanbroil-Replacement-Adjustable-Thermostat-Controller/dp/B07PNPXWCR/ref=sr_1_6?crid=39IQW1VVQ1JT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tRpFw38Glh2-3goDkgxIoDrT8mAQP57HppP0R9hFOCt28ClLPV8Fxe3N7ZyNNmZ9zTO9I1zpaVWgyDoBkvkdfzFDxs6-O1ndS2hJy7UHZvzJ7cv-Pj5ly0-bDRwrHqyu3duAAOSJPlInQzUve3DIpmthYjY4fcjK8bfh6CC3PZTiy_8lpCLSMeB9c80nNc1w-jWdm8WIkJ90vrSULLfUZ6ND1vWWqNH79afCYfEyGok.SWXUIRD8flMEK2s5TYPFvOwALkjGmwMB7IQ7Vk_YXIw&dib_tag=se&keywords=electric+smoker+element&qid=1744033869&sprefix=electric+smoker+element,aps,172&sr=8-6

BTW...for smoke, I cut thin pieces of maple or alder from leftover guitar wood and just lay them on the element to smolder. It works well for me because I don't need much smoke on the stuff I do - summer sausage, cured salmon, etc.

 

[Zambi]

You could add a small electric hot place to the chamber

That will work
Electric hot plate & colld smoke generator.
Should fit any sort of set up with a lid or cover
But it won't do that great browning like you get on charcoal or even gas