help with temp issues

Christian, just my opinion, but I don't think they're serious temp issues.

I think you're expectations of the smoker being right near the temp on the dial are not what most everyone sees.

That's why it's suggested you use the smoker and see what temps you get for your smoker. Now, if you set it at 180 and get 280, that would be a serious problem.

The temp will not always be so close to the setting. A LOT of it has to do with ambient temp and the air circulating seems to make it hotter, as well as how long you open the door.

I've cooked on three different FE's recently and your temps are close to what I get. The smoke and 180 are better than what I'm getting.

The 227.5 setting isn't that, at least not for me. For me it's usually closer to a 245 setting. The wild spikes will happen, usually depending on how long you open the door. IF I don't open the door, I don't have spikes like that. If I DO open the door, you'll usually hear the blower start and the temps will jump up.

And be ready. Depending on the outside temp the range will vary. Just practice a few times, keeps some notes and let us know how it's going.

It is just a learing process then

I will watch it and just learn to adjust

Thanks for the quick reply, I am just getting to know my new friend

Christian

Well, just try a few settings and see if you get consistent temps. They may not be on the nose with the dial, but they rarely are.

Had mine set on 325 and it ran at 375 until I opened the door, let a little air in, then it ran at 335.

Mine seems to settle at a high temp, but if I open the door a few seconds, like 20 or 30, then it settles down. But that may just be my smoker.

Christian,
It sounds like you like to fiddle with the FE. We did the same when we first tried ours out. I did the same with the SM150. We were opening the doors a lot. It takes a lot of patience to trust the units.
The temperatures you describe seem similar to what we get. They do fluctuate. Sometimes ours run about 30 degrees plus or minus to the setting. I would like to do an experiment to see if my home oven fluctuates in the same manner.
Peggy

All in all the food turned out great, other than the ribs being over cooked and fall off the bone, great flavor, just over cooked.

All in all I am very happy with the unit and am working on gettign some pellets from Branch Creek here locally an dsee if I like them better thna the Traeger pellets that came with the unit, I though the smoke had a funky flavor to it, but it just may be me.

It is a lot smaller than what i am used to but it seems to work out just about right for what i am going to use it for, so I am happy with the pruchase, and John made it so easy.

Thanks again for the help advice and hints,a nd I look forward to seeing some of you this weekend in Osage City

Christian

l2g,
sounds like you are doing just what i did. experimenting with the pellet maker is a good way to go. it allows you to fine tune your fec to match your style of cooking and get the flavor profile that you want. after a lot of experimenting around i settled on this mix
all pellets by bbqers delight
50% oak/oak blend
25% cherry
25% pecan
with this mix i can hold 145-165 on smoke and still top out over 450 on the high end for a nice chicken skin
have fun glad that you are a pellet head too
jack