[Zeke]

Steve, you shouldn't have to be adding wood every 2 hours, much less 15 minutes. Are you soaking at least some of the fuel wood? Do you have proper dampers to regulate both the combustion air as well as the smoke? Is the unit air tight enough to extinguish the fire if you want? It needs to be because you operate a smoker just above the threshold of combustion.

You need some high temp combustion wood or charcoal (not briquets) as well as your aromatic chips. I'm talking hardwood.

Also, every time you open the unit you upset the balance of the process.