pellet or electric recommendations

[daveyd]

my 25 year old traeger is tripping the circuit breaker. A new controller costs $125.00, half the cost of a new electric smoker. Do you b-bque lovers have opinions of preference for the pellet over electric smoke? I have a gas grill for searing and a primo ceramic if i desire fire.

[Donw]

Does it trip when starting up? It may just need a new igniter. A bad igniter can draw a lot of amps when heating up. Just a thought.

[daveyd]

i think i unhooked the white ignitor wires, and still nothing. once when flipping the breaker i did hear the fan whirl, then tripped off.

[Jfrosty27]

I have both electric and pellet smokers. I like and use them both. But if I had to pick one, I prefer the pellet for two main reasons. 1. Wider temperature range, an much more accurate temperature control.

[daveyd]

one vote to fix it

[Alan Brice]

I have not fired up the electric since I got the PBC, PBC, PBC! Or the Weber 22, or the SnSK or won the Charbroiler stick burner, or picked up the 36 griddle for cheap. Seems like a pattern going on here! See what you Peeps have done!?!?!

[Duanessmokedmeats]

PBC, PBX, PBX!

[UncleSpike]

Install a bigger breaker…. 🤪🤪🤪

[WI Bubba]

Like my Daddy used to say. You'll never blow a nickel.

[captainlee]

WI Bubba Oh boy ! Son in law the electrical inspector has many stories like yours.

[Alan Brice]

Gee dad, why is the attic on fire?!???

[CaptainMike]

Give the power cord a good going over. I had a similar experience with an older Traeger and found where the insulating grommet came loose and the cord had rubbed bare on the metal box.

[HawkerXP]

#1

Better yet. Plug it straight into an outlet without an extension cord and see what happens.

[JCBBQ]

I’ve heard great things about Lone Star Grillz pellet smokers.

https://lonestargrillz.com/collections/pellet-smoker-grills

[WI Bubba]

That's the spirit!

[WI Bubba]

If it were me, I'd trouble shoot your problem a little further. Try disconnecting the fan, the auger, and the igniter. If able, plug it straight into an outlet to eliminate the extension cord. Then see if it trips the breaker. if it does, then the controller is probably junk. If the breaker holds then reconnect things one at a time and see which one causes the breaker to trip. It would really suck to buy a new controller only to find out the auger or fan is what really failed.

Or buy the LSG pooper mentioned above. It is a really nice unit.

[daveyd]

that's my issue, is it worth it to fix my traeger? is electric smoke every bit as good as pellet fire?

[WI Bubba]

daveyd I've never used an electric smoker so I can't really say if one is as good as the other. But if it is the fan or the auger causing your problem, then either one would be cheaper to replace than the controller, so that might change the equation for you.

[daveyd]

didn't we use pennies not nickels in the fuse box?

[RiverJeff]

When you burn that hole through the Penney next step is a nickel they burn slower!

[Alan Brice]

OMGawd!

[barelfly]

I have an electric smoker - Smokin’IT #3D - I love it for it’s simplicity and basic set it and forget it work. It cooks amazing food. Now, one thing you didn’t mention was your budget for a new smoker. But it’s a fun cooker and the temp range is great because of the control unit, allowing me to do some hotter cooks for chicken if I wanted to. If you have questions on my specific cooker, let me know. Happy to answer any questions.

[daveyd]

would it sit on a concrete patio table without rollers?

[barelfly]

Yes, depending on size of the table and smoker, it will. My dad purchased a cart with his smaller Smokin-It, and it bolts in to the cart. So, you should have some flexibility with that. daveyd

[Bad Hat BBQ]

My "Go-To" is a stick burner BUT
my secondary is the Nexgrill Oakford cabinet and I have learned to appreicate it. The internal thermometer is not the best and should be augmented with wireless or wired probes.

Overall it cranks out really good BBQ esp for low temps (Salmon)

https://nexgrill.com/products/oakford-1400-vertical-pellet-smoker

[daveyd]

reviews not great, is it hard to clean out? that's why i'm serious about considering electric.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

I think the clean-up is easy

I have not any issues with mine (3+ years old)....only caveat is the temp gauge is not the best.

I love the capacity & I can smoke salmon @ 180-190 with no sweat