A thing to watch with your smoker

It's set up like that in case you have a power failure while you're smoking something. It turns back on automatically when the power comes back on. That way, you won't lose a good piece of meat, poultry or fish with a short power outage like you would without that feature.

It won't hurt anything, afterall, we leave it on overnight while we're sleeping as we do a long smoke. I always unplug it when not in use for that reason. Not a safety concern, but why have it go on when there's no need.

Good point on if your smoking something and the power goes out. Just have to unplug it when not using the smoker, no big deal, I hate to cook just air.

They designed the new displays for us members that us the KISS method. All you have to do is plug and unplug, that way you will never wear out the on-off button.(LOL) Them Okies know how to keep life simple and pleasurable. Thanks again cookshack!!!

The 060 Amerique has a big fat on/off switch; so no way it will 'come on' by itself during power glitches. In the initial "ON" position the system is in a standby mode until the secondary on/off button is set. This allows setting of temp, time and probe temp in a standby mode before taking system out of standby. By testing, I have determined that if the 066 is in full cook mode and the power is lost, it will only reset to the standby mode when power comes back. It would be nice if the electronics were smart enough to 'see' that the power is 'full ON' and retain that setting. But personally I would consider it a fire hazzard if the system automatically comes on during a power glitch. If this is the case it is certainly best to unplug the unit when not is use OR make certain it is not is a place where there are any potential fire hazzards should the unit inadvertently come on.

db

It really isn't a fire hazard. We smoke overnight all the time and leave the smoker unattended. I don't think we should ever lay paper over the smoke hole, but other than that it is pretty safe especially with the 850* insulation. The smoker as designed serves to protect your meals during a power glitch, especially important to those cooking for the masses or competition.

I think what TNQ is talking about is what I 1st started out doing. That is putting trash bag over my cs020 when not in use. I now make sure it is unplugged. It is nice that the smoker comes back on at the temp that I was last smoking. I never use on-off button anymore.

You could also get one of those power strips with a short cord. Then just turn it's switch off when not in use. Get one with built in surge protection and you would also be protecting your electronics if your power surges when coming on after an outage. Just a thought.

Where there is smoke there is fire. PERSONALLY, any appliance that generates heat with an element similar to that of a CS 'could' be a fire hazzard. That just means 'take appropriate precautions'. Agreed it should be a remote chance but still very real. Consider this scenario: After smoking a few fatty PB; you're in a hurry and pull the pork, push the door closed, but it is not latched and sealed. There is still most likely lots of fat just looking for the opportunity to flame. Would you want your unit to automatically come on in the middle of the night with this condition? With the door slightly adjar and the element at full heat it is a potential fire hazzard. Just sayin'.

db

The only time my door isn't latched is when I'm loading and unloading. When not in use, I always unplug the unit. More concerned about not heating air than a fire. If I covered my unit with a plastic bag, I would make sure it is unplugged. Hayman's got something there.

TNQ, you may be more help than I first thought. I've been trying to figure out how I could get the wife to let me have a FEC. All I have to do now is burn down the house with my cs020 in it. I'll have to do this quick, because I'm really becoming attached to my smoker.Hayman, you have an excellent idea.

Well, I think you're stretching it a LOT to think of this as a fire hazard, I mean, what's going to catch fire? Some paper going to blow in and blow through the smoke holes and catch fire? Won't be much of a fire, since the stainless isn't combustable.

I'm just sayin

Sure, anything electrical COULD cause a problem if YOU don't follow the directions.

If you never leave it unlatched, nothing will happen.

As was stated, by design it comes back on, especially given "brown outs" when the power drops for a few seconds and comes back.

We'd be hearing the reverese if it didn't come back on and ruined your meat.

Whole lot easier cooking a little air, than having to throw away some meat.

When will it be springtime so we can get back to smokin'....

usually those IFs that bite ya!

quote:

When will it be springtime so we can get back to smokin'....

Hell, I live in Michigan, if I waited for springtime to smoke>>well it would be just a waist of time, get out there and smoke, polish sausages going on in a little, jerky and almonds tomorrow. Springtime, bah humbug, let it smoke, let it smoke, let it smoke.

Bubba,

I hear that!!!! Last weekend I learned that rendered fat does't naturally build mountains in my render tray. I guess you know how disappointted that made me.I'm back to being happy this weekend, got to LOVE winter.

Consider this option. You throw two pork butts into the smoker the night before the big barbecue when your friends are coming over to eat, drink, and party. You go to bed with smoke billowing from your Cookshack as many of us have so often done.

During the evening your neighbor doesn't close his garbage can lid (a rarity itself), and a piece of paper blows from his garbage and, of all things, lands right on top of your smoker's exhaust hole. The wind suddenly dies allowing the paper to sit over the smoker's exhaust hole for a long period, and the paper eventually ignites. Just at that moment the wind strangely picks up again but ironically reverses direction causing the lit paper to blow back into your neighbor's yard. A rare updraft causes the lit paper to rise up and land right on top of his 20 year old cedar shake roof, ignites the shake roof and burns his house down. Fortunately, he and his family escape safely but unfortunately his pet Gerbil dies in the fire. It's a small "chance", but it can happen.

The only sensible thing to do is not to use your smoker overnight with no one attending it. Alternately, you could set up revolving 2 hour "smoker watches" with family members much like the cowboys did guarding the wagon trains from Indians. But instead of using rifles your sentinels can sit watch with garden hoses at the ready.

Pags, if I'm staying up all night there will be adult beverages involved. That might be a reason to leave out the rifles and water hoses, not that I'm scared of either. I just have some stupid buddies.(LOL)

Actually, on page 2 of the Operator's Manual, it says, "Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning..."

Oh Please, now we're going too far, how about some posts about actual Q'ing?

I'll go with Tech Guy. Use it as designed.

Are you guys saying that even if an 025 is off, a power outtage will cause it to turn on?

If it can remember it's previously set temp, a simple software revision could allow it to remember it's power state (on/off). It would only turn back on if it was on before the power failure.

I leave my 008 plugged in all the time with a cover. I just ran a new circuit for my smoker and the outlet is hidden in my landscaping. Kind of a pain to unplug. Maybe I'll change the box to one with an external switch when I get my 025.

You are correct, that is what we are saying.

Its never happened to me, but Bubba is sure a believer. All I kown is what ever it is, on or off, when I unplug it. It will come on in that way when I plug in.Thats what I like!!!

Amen, a little knowledge of how your equipment works can go a long way. I just don't like cooking air, so my cs is unplugged except when it's cooking.