FEC100 Pellet Switch

NSL certification Necessitates a shut off. Never been an issue with me

John

Without the switch just think what the auger could do to your fingers?!

JJ,

if that made sense then why doesn't the hopper shut off when the cooker door is open? Or do you mean it has to shut off becuase someone could get a finger in the auger? If the later is correct, then I understand from a safety standpoint.

Thanks!

If some enterprising smoker with electrical knowledge better than me could describe how to disable said switch, I'd appreciate it greatly.

The switch doesn't hinder me, I just don't like it.

David
Made a mistake. Not NSL but NSF certification. My Charbroiler has thew same switch, Believe it shuts the auger off. Do know some of the techie types i.e. Fast Eddie might be able to explain the exact reason.

It is considered a safety issue

It's there to stop the auger from turning. Think that if the pellet hopper was empty, had run out of pellets, the auger would still try to turn.

Safety first

Smokin is that right? I thought it just protected your fingers if you stuck them down there with the smoker running.

Yes, if the smoker is running (how would it run if the smoker is off?)

If the smoker is on and the hopper is empty the auger will try to run because it just wants to add pellets. Say you ran out of pellets, didn't know it and needed to add some more.

Without the switch and the smoker on, when you open the lid the auger would still turn.

It won't now because of the safety switch.

I think it'd be neat to have a fast-fwd on the auger, to prime the pot without doing it by hand.

I like the switch. If I'm going to have the door open for an extended period of time I'll open the hopper so it's not filling the pot trying to compensate for the door being open.

When you open the cooking door the temp drops and the auger fires up trying to raise the heat. By the time you get done messing with the meat you have a big fire going and after you close the door you are going to have a real heat spike. The bin lid switch can keep that from happening if used right.

I'm looking at this differently now, at first I really didn't like it and thought to disable it but if used as a kind of "pause button" it could be beneficial. I'll try it.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Jacobs:
When you open the cooking door the temp drops and the auger fires up trying to raise the heat. By the time you get done messing with the meat you have a big fire going and after you close the door you are going to have a real heat spike. The bin lid switch can keep that from happening if used right.

Great advice! Thanks Larry. I will remember that great idea this weekend and probably use it often. Amazing what we learn on here.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry:
The bin lid switch can keep that from happening if used right.

Any clues/advise on the "right" way? Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by cal:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry:
The bin lid switch can keep that from happening if used right.

Any clues/advise on the "right" way? Thanks!

Whenever you are going to have the door open for more than a minute, open the hopper too. I do this when I foil brisket and butts.

Right On!

Ok, went out and looked at my 2006 FEC100 with IQ-4 controller upgrade and it doesn't have a switch in the hopper cover area.
I see a hole for a screw near the top right side.
Going to take the side cover off and look for wires that aren't connected to anything.

Is there a way to stop the auger when I open the door, till I get a new switch and get it installed?

Thank You
Wayne B

Unplug it?

Hate to cycle the ignitor every time I open the door.
I need to find those wires today, can put them on a toggle switch till I get the right switch from Cookshack.

If you've been using it since 2006 without it, I'd wait to get the right part from Cookshack.

Just bought it used, have only cooked on it once.

Call Tony in Customer Service tomorrow. He'll take care of you. It's really not a big deal unless you keep the door open a long time and it has to catch up the temperature.