I place my AMPS in the same exaact spot and on a wire rack also as mummels shows his placed
I place my AMPS in the same exaact spot and on a wire rack also as mummels shows his placed
Below is what the books used to say. I haven't seen the newer books.I just reread the owner's manual and couldn't find any warning not to use WITHOUT the water pan, or any reference indicating that it helpes to distribute the heat. I do know that the lower racks are obviously hotter than the top racks. It would be interesting if Masterbuilt could comment on that...but then again they assume we all use the chip loader and not smoke pellets.
Here are some pictures I just took. This is where the water pan is designed to sit on top of the burner assembly. It would work on top of the water pan also, I tried that once. I doubt AMNPS would work from under the pan - inadequate ventilation.
Dennis
Below is what the books used to say. I haven't seen the newer books.
If it was me I'd either put the AMNPS on the water pan like you show in this pic, or shorten that rack on the floor so the AMNPS will clear the bottom of the water pan.
The bottom rack gets hotter than the rest anyway, but without the water pan in place I believe even #3 gets hotter than it should.
These are just my opinions.
Bear
96
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS Continued
Step 6
Place water bowl onto lower bracket
inside smoker.
Place drip tray inside smoker below
heating element as shown.
Note: Water bowl must always be in
place during smoking process, even
if there is no water or other liquid in
bowl.
It may, I don't know yet as I am still in the learning stages of using the AMPS, but have already learned from Todd that pulling the chip loader out 2" with dump side turned down, increases the draft-air flow-oxygen-etc.I would think there would be some problem with the pan interfering with the AMNPS air flow as pictured.
Dennis
So it went 50° higher when set for 175°.
Anyway, of course I couldnt go back to bed as I wanted to record my temps after the discussion in Bear's thread about MES temp swings. Yeah........ I need to set my smoker to 175F on startup (there is a 50F temp difference on startup WTF...................). I then need to set it to 210F about 30min later, once the smoker display temp has coasted past 210F, to get my Mav to be around 225F. I then need to bump up the temps by 5F every 30min, until my temps are +-18F of 225F. This process takes a FULL TWO HOURS. Not good guys. Not good at all. If you want to get the temps in your MES right, then the smoker needs to be baby'ied. No way around it.
If I only waited 10 minutes, mine would go out too.
Bear I recorded the numbers. I will post them tonight when I get home.
As for the AMPS problem, whats going on?
I would say mostly #1, and some of #2.
Im sure you are 100% right. I really want to figure the AMPS out now!!! Cant risk it going out anymore. This is serious business!! But how come if the pellets die (maybe 1/10th of the 1st row used and they died out), they they miraculously light up and burn if I put a torch to it once the AMPS has been sitting in the smoker for 1.5 hours.
Two thoughts:
1) pellets have heated up that they combust easily
2) airflow gets better 1.5 hours in
As I already microwave, Im thinking it has to do with #2. Maybe the long cycles with the element being off create less airflow?????? This would make a lot of sense. Thoughts?
As for the temps swings in the beginning, Im not sure I understand your method fully. I need to reread your thread. Will post the figures tonight and then maybe we can figure it out. Thanks Bear.
You keep asking more questions------Maybe you gotta light it better before you put it in---I can't stress that enough---You aren't doing that.
Maybe I need to pull out my chip loader altogether in the first 1.5 hours?
Sure---It could make your temp swings even worse!!!
Out of curiosity, if you remove the chip loader, are there any downsides? Larger temps swings etc (Im not so worried about energy use anymore).
As I wrote in my ribs thread I just opened the MES door and had a row of pellets in the AMNPS flame up. First time it's ever happened. But I've got the MES 30 Gen 1 which has more than adequate airflow with the door closed and both the water pan and wood chip loader in place.
Sure---It could make your temp swings even worse!!!
It could make your pellets light up across the board & burn out & possibly hurt your smoker????
Who knows it could be OK 10 times & then have a problem the next time.
Bear
Bear I recorded the numbers. I will post them tonight when I get home.
As for the AMPS problem, whats going on?