AMNPS, struggling with it

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

Got my AMNPS a few days ago. Tossed it on the gas grill to burn the oil off. Loaded it with pellets and hit it with the torch. Put it on the grate of the BGE. Cracked the vent open, opened the daisy wheel just a bit. Couple hours later it was out. Hmmmm...removed the ash and put the remaining pellets in the microwave. Nuked for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Back into the AMNPS, squirted a bit of Rutland gel. Let the gel burn itself out before shutting the lid. Couple hours later, even with the bottom vent of the BGE wide open it was out again. Next attempt, put a tray on the table, a bit more Rutland gel and leave it on the table. Should note that when it was in BGE it was sitting on top of a full load of wood. Can't help but wonder if it was just not getting enough air...

daveomak · Jan 9, 2015

If you put it in a smoker that burns propane, wood, charcoal etc..... the other fuels will consume all the air... It was designed for an electric smoker......

That being said, the mailbox mod will solve your problems.... burn the AMNPS outside the smoker and add the smoke to the smoker....

That also being said, Todd developed the AMNTS, tube smoker... It works in low oxygen environments and high altitude.... Todd's a genius...

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

DaveOmak said:
If you put it in a smoker that burns propane, wood, charcoal etc..... the other fuels will consume all the air... It was designed for an electric smoker......

That being said, the mailbox mod will solve your problems.... burn the AMNPS outside the smoker and add the smoke to the smoker....

That also being said, Todd developed the AMNTS, tube smoker... It works in low oxygen environments and high altitude.... Todd's a genius...

Egg is not lit. I am just playing with it, trying to figure it out. But your answer confirmed what my thoughts were, it wants air to burn. I have one of Todd's smoke tubes as well, it burned inside the Egg, with no wood in the Egg and the vents completely closed. Can't help but wonder if I will need more airflow into the mailbox than what I currently have, but that will be my next test.
Dave, thanks for your answer. Was thinking it needed more air than what it was getting in the Egg. It was burning about half way up the first leg of it prior to going out, with and without nuking the pellets, which n my feeble brain meant it was not the pellets being damp. Thanks again Sir...

daveomak · Jan 9, 2015

If a smoker has a small air inlet opening.... as the AMNPS burns, it will consume the oxygen until it can't burn any longer.... smoke has little oxygen... air flow is important.... that's why smoke can cause botulism in foods.... botulism loves low oxygen environment...

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

Went out sitting on the table

dirtsailor2003 · Jan 9, 2015

What's youe elevation? There is a known issue at higher elevations. I have the 18", 12" & 6" tubes and have no issues keeping them going in any of my smokers (charcoal, gas, pellet). It'The inly issue I have is when temps are above 300, then the pellets ignite. So into the mailbox the tubes go.

bear55 · Jan 9, 2015

It is possible that your pellets contain too much moisture. I always microwave my pellets for one minute then rest for 5 or so and then microwave for another minute. Other then moisture, lack of air is about the only thing that causes AZMPS to go out. Of course, drippings off the meat will also cause it to go out.

Richard

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

dirtsailor2003 said:
What's youe elevation? There is a known issue at higher elevations. I have the 18", 12" & 6" tubes and have no issues keeping them going in any of my smokers (charcoal, gas, pellet). It'The inly issue I have is when temps are above 300, then the pellets ignite. So into the mailbox the tubes go.

About 1300'...

Bear55 said:
It is possible that your pellets contain too much moisture. I always microwave my pellets for one minute then rest for 5 or so and then microwave for another minute. Other then moisture, lack of air is about the only thing that causes AZMPS to go out. Of course, drippings off the meat will also cause it to go out.

Richard

I did toss them in the nuker...prior to starting this experiment last night. They were sitting outside overnight....guessing they could have picked up enough moisture to be a problem. It did burn one full row and a third of the next.

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

On a different note dumping the unburned pellets in the BGE makes for an interesting light the next time you go to light it.

JckDanls 07 · Jan 9, 2015

what kind/flavor of pellets are you using ??

cmayna · Jan 9, 2015

inkjunkie said:
Went out sitting on the table

Wow! My AMNPS and AMNTS smile big time when they are lit and sitting on a table. Gone to heaven........

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

JckDanls 07 said:
what kind/flavor of pellets are you using ??

The Pitmasters Choice that came with it...

cmayna said:
Wow! My AMNPS and AMNTS smile big time when they are lit and sitting on a table. Gone to heaven........

I am going to try it again if I am around the house tomorrow. Dump it, brush it clean and load it up with some freshly nuked Pitmasters Choice pellets.

JckDanls 07 · Jan 9, 2015

I find that it works better if I don't pack the pellets in ... stir them up and leave em lose...

inkjunkie · Jan 9, 2015

JckDanls 07 said:
I find that it works better if I don't pack the pellets in ... stir them up and leave em lose...

Perhaps that is where I went wrong, I didn't necessarily pack them in but they were far from loose. Thanks for the advice....

inkjunkie · Jan 10, 2015

Cleaned it out, nuked some fresh pellets, loosely refilled it and remit it. Burned for about 2 hours. Still sort of lit. There are some embers followed by a small gap between them and the un-used pellets. I moved the un-used pellets a bit to see if it would continue burning.

daveomak · Jan 10, 2015

Load the AMNPS with pellets.... Dry in your oven, for 2 hours, at 275..... then they will burn for 8-10 hours....

Dave

dirtsailor2003 · Jan 10, 2015

Are you settng it directly in a solid surface or do you have an air gap between the bottom of the AMNPS and the surface it's sitting in?

inkjunkie · Jan 10, 2015

dirtsailor2003 said:
Are you settng it directly in a solid surface or do you have an air gap between the bottom of the AMNPS and the surface it's sitting in?

Was up on 2 bricks, but the bricks were not touching. Just pulled the bricks out and put it directly into a metal tray....

The burn was stopping over the gap between the bricks....

inkjunkie · Jan 10, 2015

Burned about half way up the first row before going out....same as before.

tropics · Jan 10, 2015

IJ I don't have any problem with mine, but that did not keep me from playing with it. I picked up a pack of spring binder clip, from Staples attach to the bottom of the AMNPS it picks the tray up about 1 1/2"s. I place it over the hole in the drain pan on my MES40 the drip tray is removed from mine. I made a box that mine sits on with a large disposable tray to catch any drippings.

AMNPS, struggling with it

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