PG500 start failure

Nothing changed from the pork butt to the chicken? Nothing else running that wasn't running before?

Short and sweet, call Tony at Cookshack. He can help you best.

If the GFCI blew, move it to a non-GFCI circuit as you're having a grounding issue. Explain that to service when you call them.

Called Tony in Service and was told to plug the PG500 into a non-GFIC and then try again.

Grill acted normally. Tony said that most of the time it is 'water getting into the igniter which is causing a short.' He told me to get the grill to 300 and to let it run for an hour. This was supposed to 'dry it out' and then let it cool off for an hour. Then plug it into the GFIC plug and restart.

Did so and about 6 minutes into start got smoke then the GFIC blew. I forgot to turn off the switch and reset GFIC. Grill immediately began smoking and temp raised to about 120 degrees before it blew the GFIC again. Called Cookshack and left a voice mail. Hope they call before Monday. I have an Alton Brown City ham planned for Saturday and Brisket for Sunday.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

GFCI's get "weaker" each time they trip. Just something to think about too.

I'm not saying this is safe or meets code, but this is what I did in a pinch with another brand when I experienced your problem just before a large family function. Purchase, beg borrow a 12-14 gauge extension cord that will run to your nearest non-gfi outlet. While the igniter is running mke sure every other item on the circuit Is off. Check your firepot to verify you haven't overloaded it. Hit. The start and you should be good until you get the hot rod ironed out.

If the hotrod won't cause ignition, manually light the pellets with some non-petro based lighter. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by New2smoker:
Called Tony in Service and was told to plug the PG500 into a non-GFIC and then try again.

Good to know they told you what I told you

I was able to do a cook (using a NON-GFIC plug) of a city ham with a crust of bourbon soaked ginger snap crumbs. Everyone thought it was the best ever.

Today was going to do a couple of steaks, but the igniter is now completely DEAD. Will have to await the igniter that is supposed to be on the way.

If you want to cook... just light it manually. Handful of pellets in the pot with some alcohol gel and lite it up...

If you want you can cut/remove the ingitor wire from the control board and if that was the problem it will not trip your GFI once it's removed.

Sort of a fix until the new stuff arrives...

Nordy

Received the new igniter yesterday afternoon. No directions and had things planned for today. Will try to install it for tomorrow.

Has anyone done this before? (No instructions or suggestions how to proceed were included.)

Thanks

Well I did reinstall the new igniter.

For anyone who has to do it:
1-Remove the 10 screws on the end of the pellet storage
2-Follow the two white wires. Remove the fan on the bottom to gain access through the round hole on the bottom towards where the fire chamber is
3-With a flashlight and some positioning, you can see where the ignitor is secured by two screws
4-Carefully remove the philips head screws
5-Remove the old igniter. Take the two screws that you removed and thread them into the holes on the end of the new igniter.
6-Hold the screws in place with two pieces of cardboard
7-Replace the assembly in the firepot and tighten the screws in place
8-Replace fan screws, push ends of igniter wires into plug and plug into female plug end.
9-Secure slack and replace screws on end assembly and you are good to go!

Works like a charm