Best way to light filled charcoal basket?

[Spinaker]

That is why they pay me the big bucks. FireMan

[smarks112]

Very helpful, thanks. That makes sense to me.

[FireMan]

Yup, it would take one of our moderators to come along & get all teknical n’ stuff.

[Spinaker]

I always light mine closest to the induction fan. Now this is with my Kamados, so you set up may be a bit different. But I think the concept is pretty much the same.

My thinking in lighting the fire in front of the fan is that it will push the fire across the charcoal basket as it burns, I have never had a flame out while doing it this way. I would light my fire closest to the point of induction, then let the airflow draw across the fuel and out the stack. This way you will always be pulling the fire across the until fuel.

I light a small, hot fire with my torch and let the fire take for a little bit before adding the fan and letting it do its thing. I always let the kamado warm up to about 20 F from my target temp, then I will add the fan and temp probe. I would think this would work fine for your unit as well. it is the same concept , just in a different cooker.

[FireMan]

Yup smarks112 , ya just learned that ya has to be specifical to some of us thick headed ones here. Plus, it gives us ample opportunity to start jokin around. 🥸

[smarks112]

Sorry, specifically asking if people light a full charcoal box from the bottom or top and from the door or opposite side. In theory there is prob a best way to do it. on a charcoal box it almost acts like a very large version of the snake method where it gradually lights over time so curious which direction is most efficient

[HawkerXP]

What you cookin on?

Oh. I see your avatar. I can't help other than agree with FireMan

[RonB]

Yur logic is matchless...

[FireMan]

Try a match. Always worked fer me!

[bbqLuv]

good question look forward to the answers.
Does not apply to pellet grills.

[smarks112]

Hi Everyone,

Just curious... if running the charcoal basket completely (with fan) full for long cooks, I had a couple questions:

1) Is there a spot where lighting makes the most sense? Like in bottom back corner away from door, bottom closest to door, or top? Conceptually, I feel like bottom and away corner makes sense but wanted to check logic.

2) Do you get to temp, then load up and turn fan on, or drive the fan to get to temp?