Dum, it’s a long time ago here too but from memory I set to 1150w perhaps less in summer in and more in winter aiming for 225c around 12 to 13m for 1st crack at which point I reduced to about 900w before ending the roast before or on arrival of 2nd crack. Sometimes I would reduce to 800 or 900w for a couple of mins around 6 and 8 mins so there wasn’t too much direct heat at all times and then back up after that.
Given it’s a 230v element on a UK 240 mains supply (which is higher at times) I never ran it at maximum, that’s like not using the dimmer and at risk of burning the element out. Which was the original problem I mentioned when the Gene first came to the UK before DC and another smart chap came up with the way of protecting the element. Of course, if a 240v element is fitted you don’t have that issue but then the Gene can struggle when the mains is lower. And remember European 230v is nothing more than a harmonised average whereas in the UK the nominal 240v can vary by as much as, erm, 15% I think, others will know better.
So with a 240v fitted you’re fine in good voltage but not in lower voltage and with a 230v fitted you’ve got headroom in low voltage but must trim in higher voltage, and the dimmer allows you to do that. It’s all explained in the old wiki where DC and Martin wrote about the dimmer mod. I think DC might have suggested to Gene that they do something as an evolution but they did not.
