AMNPS, MES30 and mailbox, still can't keep it lit

[Red October]

Smoked some pork shoulder today. Same method, in fact covered up most of holes in the door. Using Traeger apple from HD as fuel.
Pellets lit up fairly quickly and stayed lit through the whole process (it slowed down a bit towards the end). I've only burnt through half the maze in 9 hours. Here's the end result.

 

[daveomak]

Pictures of the Mail Box would help us understand what you did...

 

[Red October]

4 holes in bottom by the door, maze raised on 2" screws in the back by the exhaust, 1 hole at the top of the door.

 

[daveomak]

The combination below works awesome.... Guess you didn't believe me....

 

[dr k]

4 holes in bottom by the door, maze raised on 2" screws in the back by the exhaust, 1 hole at the top of the door.

My setup looks like yours. I have all openings on the bottom of the mailbox sealed except the two closest to the door. The Amnps lighting hole is right above the two holes and the air coming in the bottom door hinge and those two small holes is higher pressure than more holes and the air moves under the Amnps with high pressure up to the back top 3" hole. I close my top vent half way to slow down the burn if necessary. You may have an elevation issue. After five hours I pull out the Amnps and turn it around and put it back in so the pellet row burns with the draft. There's an X metal support underneath the Amnps in the middle and some say it goes out at that point in the middle row when rounding the first corner and burning against the draft.

 

[Red October]

Being at 5000ft doesn't help.

 

[daveomak]

Several things help.....
Once through air flow.... STOP recirculating smoke/air.... It is low in oxygen...

The design I have shown and drawn out below solves a lot of problems...
The upper hole in the door "stops" recirculating air....
The 3... 7/8" hole provide adequate oxygen for a complete burn, reducing creosote and helping to overcome altitude problems....
The legs on the AMNPS improve air flow to the burning pellets....
Having the smoker temp ABOVE AMBIENT is a must to stop a "cold air dam"....
Having the air supply ONLY from the door insures a one direction air flow and
insures all the air supplied has an opportunity to keep the pellets burning....
At 5,000 feet altitude, you need all the help you can get...

 

[Bearcarver]

It's pretty well-known on this Forum that 5000' calls for the AMNTS (Tube).

The AMNPS is for Low Altitudes & Small Smokers. (Like MES units)
The AMNTS is for high altitudes & bigger smoker & Gassers.

Bear

 

[Red October]

It's pretty well-known on this Forum that 5000' calls for the AMNTS (Tube).

The AMNPS is for Low Altitudes & Small Smokers. (Like MES units)
The AMNTS is for high altitudes & bigger smoker & Gassers.

Bear

I've learned about AMNTS only after I bought PS so I'm trying to make that work first.

 

[Red October]

Several things help.....
Once through air flow.... STOP recirculating smoke/air.... It is low in oxygen...

The design I have shown and drawn out below solves a lot of problems...
The upper hole in the door "stops" recirculating air....
The 3... 7/8" hole provide adequate oxygen for a complete burn, reducing creosote and helping to overcome altitude problems....
The legs on the AMNPS improve air flow to the burning pellets....
Having the smoker temp ABOVE AMBIENT is a must to stop a "cold air dam"....
Having the air supply ONLY from the door insures a one direction air flow and
insures all the air supplied has an opportunity to keep the pellets burning....
At 5,000 feet altitude, you need all the help you can get...
View attachment 367271

Thank you, that's a helpful diagram. I'll try this next, I haven't seen that picture before when I searched through posts here.

 

[Bearcarver]

I've learned about AMNTS only after I bought PS so I'm trying to make that work first.

At 5,000' you're wasting your time.
Did you get the AMNPS from Todd (@ Amazing Smokers)? If you did he'll trade it in for you---Your Tray for a Tube.

Not trying to pick on you---Just facing the Facts.

Bear