- Jul 27, 2017
- 3
- 0
After 7 or 8 attempts, I'm not having much luck with the AMPS in my MES30. I cannot keep it lit for more than an hour or so, or when I really overdo it and light it with a torch, it smokes like my fireplace because half a row is burning.
Initially I tried pulling out the stock chip tray an inch or so, and opening the chip hopper 1/2 turn. Same result, burned out after an hour or so. That time I had the burning row closest to the chip tray. I'm putting the AMPS to the left of the chip tray on the rack.
Tried again, same setup, but put the burning row toward the outside of the MES. Same thing - an hour or so later, no smoke, never even got through a single row.
I did some research on here and thought that maybe wind was an issue. I added a 90 degree elbow to the top and made sure that it was always pointed downwind. Same result. Never got through 1 row. I tried this setup a few times, lighting it various ways, same result.
Initially I lit the pellets with an electric heat gun. I'd light it, let it ignite, burn out, blow on it to get a flame, let it burn out again, then put it in the MES.
Frustrated, I read some more and saw some people say that they microwave their pellets. So, the last time I tried that. I put the pellets in the microwave for 2 minutes on high, stirred them, then high for 2 more minutes. I put them in the AMPS, lit with a propane torch this time, let it burn out, blew on it to a flame, let it burn out, then put it in the MES. Same thing -- I look out after an hour or so and no smoke.
In my final act of desperation I just lit the AMPS and put it out in the open on my deck. It burned for hours, so there's clearly an issue with it getting air in the MES. The vent is wide open at the top, chip tray is out a little, and the chip loader is turned about 1/2 turn.
What the heck am I doing wrong?
These are the pellets I'm using:
Initially I tried pulling out the stock chip tray an inch or so, and opening the chip hopper 1/2 turn. Same result, burned out after an hour or so. That time I had the burning row closest to the chip tray. I'm putting the AMPS to the left of the chip tray on the rack.
Tried again, same setup, but put the burning row toward the outside of the MES. Same thing - an hour or so later, no smoke, never even got through a single row.
I did some research on here and thought that maybe wind was an issue. I added a 90 degree elbow to the top and made sure that it was always pointed downwind. Same result. Never got through 1 row. I tried this setup a few times, lighting it various ways, same result.
Initially I lit the pellets with an electric heat gun. I'd light it, let it ignite, burn out, blow on it to get a flame, let it burn out again, then put it in the MES.
Frustrated, I read some more and saw some people say that they microwave their pellets. So, the last time I tried that. I put the pellets in the microwave for 2 minutes on high, stirred them, then high for 2 more minutes. I put them in the AMPS, lit with a propane torch this time, let it burn out, blew on it to a flame, let it burn out, then put it in the MES. Same thing -- I look out after an hour or so and no smoke.
In my final act of desperation I just lit the AMPS and put it out in the open on my deck. It burned for hours, so there's clearly an issue with it getting air in the MES. The vent is wide open at the top, chip tray is out a little, and the chip loader is turned about 1/2 turn.
What the heck am I doing wrong?
These are the pellets I'm using: