Hi Nepas
My warmer will not heat that water pan hot enough to burn chips or pellets, I don't even use that water tray in mine at all. When I use water for moisture, I just set a pan of water in above my AMN-Ps.
When I got this warmer, some one had already taken the fan out of it, and from what I was told, thats why the local school district got rid of the warmer, I do use the electric portion for cold smoking along with the AMN-P from TJ.
When I do pepperoni which is what I make the most of, I turn on the electric heat element full to preheat the cabinett. When its warm I hang the sticks in for about an hour just to dry them good, I some times set my AMN-P in at this time with the pellets not lit, just to help to make sure any dampness may be dried as well.
Once the stix are dry to my touch, I turn off the electric element and light the gas burner and the AMN-Ps and get the heat stabilized to the temps I want and let er go till they are done.