The official Traeger thread

[FN Phat]

typically the GFCI that protects the outside plugs are in the garage or in the basement. They are required by code for outlets that are exposed to water.

[FMCoug]

typically the GFCI that protects the outside plugs are in the garage or in the basement. They are required by code for outlets that are exposed to water.

Good to know. I still stand by my wired by apes comment though. The garage / shop area and the outside plug right by the garage are all on one 15 amp circuit. And there are like 5 plugs in the whole thing.

First Traeger lesson learned, refill the hopper in the morning. Just came home during SS to check on it and it was at 53 degrees. Doh! Hopper was empty (or empty enough that the auger wasn't getting any). Fortunately the meat was still at 174 so all is well. But I have gone through my whole bag of hickory so will be going the rest of the way on mesquite (I bought one bag of each).

[FMCoug]

First Traeger lesson learned, refill the hopper in the morning. Just came home during SS to check on it and it was at 53 degrees. Doh! Hopper was empty (or empty enough that the auger wasn't getting any). Fortunately the meat was still at 174 so all is well. But I have gone through my whole bag of hickory so will be going the rest of the way on mesquite (I bought one bag of each).

Hmmm ... still hasn't restarted. I moved the pork to the oven to finish it off. 12 hours of smoke is more than enough. But I just put the ribs on so I may have to break out the Bradley if it doesn't start up. I figured the feed tube was empty and it would take a while to get the first pellets down but it has been like 15 minutes ...'

EDIT: All is well ... temps are coming up.

[Drunk Tank]

FM, when I have some time, I will post some links about adjusting the P-Setting on the digital controller. Adjusting it will help with the temp swings.


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[FMCoug]

FM, when I have some time, I will post some links about adjusting the P-Setting on the digital controller. Adjusting it will help with the temp swings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I found a link online for this. But interested in your input. Would a longer (higher p) or slower (lower p) make sense for me?

[Drunk Tank]

I found a link online for this. But interested in your input. Would a longer (higher p) or slower (lower p) make sense for me?

What I have found is that most people who live in a cold climate like yourself, usually have summertime and wintertime settings. I never had to deal with different settings because of the moderate climate I live in.

For summer, a lot of people run on the smoke setting and adjust the P-setting to 0. This will usually result in a grate temp around 225. For the winter, they run the controller at 225 and adjust the P-setting to maintain temps around 225-250. I would usually run mine at 225, p-setting 3. This gave me the least amount of temp swings.

Also, make sure to use a separate grate thermometer and don't depend on just the RTD that came with the Traeger. Due to the position of the factory installed RTD, it will usually read higher than the actual grate temp. Also, the dome temp will usually read much higher than grate temp.

Best bet is to just experiment with the different P-settings and see what works for you.

[Jeff Lebowski]

When I use the smoke setting it stays pretty close to 180 in the summer but I get wide temp swings in the winter (130-180 usually). But I get plenty of smoke so I don't care as I am not trying to cook at that temp - my main objective is smoke. But when I set it at 225 or above, it stays very close to the target temp. A couple of years ago (IIRC, based on a tip from DT), I bought a few fire bricks and placed them around my firepot (see below). I suppose this makes it take a little longer to heat up to a higher temp, but it keeps the temps more stable.

In case it isn't obvious, the bricks are resting on their edges.

[Jeff Lebowski]

This make me want to go grab a Papa Murhpy's pizza for dinner.

BTW, make sure you pick up an aluminum grilling pan before you do your pizza (~$2 at Papa Murphy's). Otherwise the crust gets overdone.

My one complain about my house is that appears to have been wired by monkeys apes. Lots of strange circuits and electrical issues for a house that is only 10 years old. Anyway, while seasoning I went out and the Traeger had died. No power in the outside plugs. Breakers were fine so I went in search of a GFCI as that has been the typical culprit here. Search as I might in the dark with a flashlight I couldn't find one so I gave up and ran an extension cord inside. Later on I found a GFCI in the basement storage room (WTF!).

Yes, it is most likely your GFI. I had the same problem. I had used my Traeger for several months and then one day I went out to check on things and it was off. It had tripped the GFI switch in my garage. My Traeger is on the outside wall adjacent to my garage and the outside outlet is on the same circuit as my garage, which by code must be wired with GFI. It popped a few more times over the next few months so I started running an extension cord in my house just so I wouldn't have to worry about it. I suspect is has to do with starter plug (that uses a lot of juice).

Last summer I had an electrician over doing some rewiring for my backyard remodel and I had him take a look at it. He suggested that I just remove one of the two GFI outlets in my garage (the one closest to the Traeger) and replace it with a normal outlet. Not quite to code, but I don't care. I had him swap it out for me since he was there (I think it would be easy either way) and I have not had a single problem since.

[FMCoug]

So my wife and I are leaving on a vacation on Saturday. Just the two of us going on a Cruise. We don't get back until the following Saturday.

While most of me is excited about going, there is a part that is saying "Dang it! That's 3 weekends until I can play with my Traeger again!"

[creekster]

So my wife and I are leaving on a vacation on Saturday. Just the two of us going on a Cruise. We don't get back until the following Saturday.

While most of me is excited about going, there is a part that is saying "Dang it! That's 3 weekends until I can play with my Traeger again!"

I assume you have made provisions to allow your continued particpation on CUF?

[dabrockster]

At first glance I thought this was going to be about Jonathon Traeger..

[YOUTUBE]R-R_TMyNbt0&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

[Jeff Lebowski]

So my wife and I are leaving on a vacation on Saturday. Just the two of us going on a Cruise. We don't get back until the following Saturday.

While most of me is excited about going, there is a part that is saying "Dang it! That's 3 weekends until I can play with my Traeger again!"

You poor thing.

[FMCoug]

You poor thing.

Yeah I'm sure good food will be hard to find. Especially Mexican food.

[San Juan Sun]

So my wife and I are leaving on a vacation on Saturday. Just the two of us going on a Cruise. We don't get back until the following Saturday.

If the cruise ship captain is Italian, and he wants to go close to the shore to wave hi, I suggest you get your life jacket on.

[CJF]

So my wife and I are leaving on a vacation on Saturday. Just the two of us going on a Cruise. We don't get back until the following Saturday.

While most of me is excited about going, there is a part that is saying "Dang it! That's 3 weekends until I can play with my Traeger again!"

Great time to take a cruise! If you die, can I have your Traeger?