Traeger questions, part 2

[usecd]

OK. Cooking 2 butts at 225. Put them on at 9:30 pm. Last checked at 3:00 am and the butt was at 165. I decide to sleep through the stall and wake up at 7:00 am to check butts. Notice grill has shut off and has error message on screen. Temp of butts was 135. Grill is Luke warm at best but not stone cold. Fire grill back up with no problems. Put temp at 300 to try and finish cook before kick off.

My question is- Do you think the meat will be safe to eat?

 

[GreenDrake]

You'll be fine. I'd wrap them and finish em off.

 

[usecd]

Thanks. I am one more bad experience from dumping the Traeger. Serves me right for trying to be lazy and cook with a pellet pooper.

 

[STLBBQer]

Ugh, that stinks, but I agree you'll be fine. I've been really happy with my GMG Davy Crockett, but it's definitely the 3rd choice after my WSM and PBC.

 

[nmeyer414]

looks like the oven will get a little use this morning

 

[cheez59]

Don't blame yourself for a sub par cooker. I am one that has no time for stuff that doesn't work right. I would CL that thing with full disclosure in a heartbeat.

 

[qman]

Also may premature to blame the cooker as sub-par when no one knows what happened while OP was sleeping. One of the problems with leaving a cooker unattended.
Since the cooker shut down, but started up fine, my first guess would be a momentary power outage, or a brown out. That would shut the controller off.

 

[cheez59]

Also may premature to blame the cooker as sub-par when no one knows what happened while OP was sleeping. One of the problems with leaving a cooker unattended.
Since the cooker shut down, but started up fine, my first guess would be a momentary power outage, or a brown out. That would shut the controller off.

Ok so that would mean that the controller on the Traeger needs to be reprogrammed after a power down? Hmm, my bad I guess. The Guru and the Mavericks that I own retain their settings from one cook to the next even after being unplugged or after a battery change. I just assumed the Traeger which costs several times more would have at least the same or better technology.

 

[v45]

You many want to test what happens if you pull the plug & put it back in to simulate a power bump when you are finished cooking?
You have got me thinking that for my Traeger when I do a over night cook I may want to put it on a battery backup UPS
Good luck with the cook

 

[usecd]

Update- Cooked on Traeger at 300 till 198. It turned out great. Only complaint is that the bark was a little harder than usual.

 

[Sallenthornton]

Thanks. I am one more bad experience from dumping the Traeger. Serves me right for trying to be lazy and cook with a pellet pooper.

I love mine. I've had a it a few years and it has never caused me any issues. It just keeps going and going. I cooked at -30 and it kept temperature fine. I guess there are good days and bad days for the Traeger.

 

[Porcine Aviator]

I have had a Traeger for many years and know lots of folks who use them too. This failure sounds like a one off. I wouldn't be anxious to get rid of it just yet. They really are quite reliable.

I have never experienced an error message on the Traeger but I bet the manual has a trouble shooting guide that will tell you what the probable cause was. The controller should not require any programming just because the unit was unplugged.

 

[qman]

Ok so that would mean that the controller on the Traeger needs to be reprogrammed after a power down? Hmm, my bad I guess. The Guru and the Mavericks that I own retain their settings from one cook to the next even after being unplugged or after a battery change. I just assumed the Traeger which costs several times more would have at least the same or better technology.

It might not change the programming, but it will power the unit down, and it will have to be manually restarted. At least all the pellet poopers I have used work that way.

ETA: I am sure your owner's Manuel will explain the controller in detail.

 

[cheez59]

It might not change the programming, but it will power the unit down, and it will have to be manually restarted. At least all the pellet poopers I have used work that way.

ETA: I am sure your owner's Manuel will explain the controller in detail.

If that is the case then a UPS would fix the issue.

 

[bbqwizard]

I agree with the others. I love my Traeger! I'd still have all of them if I hadn't decided (or the team had decided) to get something without power. Stick with it, and learn how it cooks. Adapt to its way. Like ALL cookers, they all cook differently. We as pit-masters have to be able to adapt.

Happy to hear it turned out well!

 

[Dweverett]

I would check the manual for the error. Could be a power glitch but I'm not sure that would have triggered an error code. I would expect it to turn off ( and stay that way) with a power loss

 

[airedale]

I would check the manual for the error. Could be a power glitch but I'm not sure that would have triggered an error code. I would expect it to turn off ( and stay that way) with a power loss

A very brief interruption or a significant but temporary dip in voltage could easily confuse a simple controller running off a cheap power supply. Hardware to reliably detect and deal with all types of power aberrations is neither easy nor simple.

 

[qman]

I would check the manual for the error. Could be a power glitch but I'm not sure that would have triggered an error code. I would expect it to turn off ( and stay that way) with a power loss

My $4000 Kitchenaid wall oven does exactly this. It powers down, and displays an Error message till reset, and cancels any programming. It is considered a "fail safe" feature. My Yoder 640 does the same. The owners manual explains it, and advises you to use the power cord to execute a "hard start" by unplugging the unit, which will cancel all programming and allow you to reprogram without waiting through the standard cool down program.