I run an MES40 that I rewired to use a HeaterMeter PID controller and I use an
A-Maze-N Pellet Smoker (
AMNPS) tray. I can control my smoker via wifi from my computer and/or my phone.
My setup is as set and forget as they come but I have learned that I must always be within 1 minute of tending to my smoker due to all the crazy things that can go down.
I have had a few times where my alerts identify that the smoker got over 290F when I set it for 275F because the wind kicked up and my pellets caught fire. I was attending to my smoker in less than 1 min and the temp had already raised to 330F. I was woke up at 3am about 2 months ago due to this issue!
There is little chance that
I could burn anything down due to how my setup is arranged BUT there is still a chance. We can ask Aaron Franklin how his "little chance" of burning things down reared its head after many years of leaving smokers unattended over night to then earlier this year show up to a half burned down building and business.
So far I've had breakers flip and cut off my smoker (electric here), parts fail, fuses blow, wind cause pellet flare ups, and other stuff all work to ruin a smoke or potentially cause a disaster BUT I have always been 1 sprint away or had someone 1 sprint away from handling the situation.
Please don't think I'm trying to lecture anyone on this topic, I'm just making sure a very real risk is being brought up so it can be seriously considered. I'll get off my soapbox now so I don't wear anyone out harping on about this lol.
I just want us all to be safe and eat some good BBQ rather than burn down the other half of California or another part of the country :)