Did you try this?
I received my AMNPS today. I've been playing around with it in my MES 40 2nd gen with little success so far. Hopefully I can figure something out and get it working.
Hi Bear,
Did you try this?
As for the AMNPS in the Gen #2, it seems to work best if you remove the water pan from the hole in the drip shield, and place your AMNPS over the hole. This gets air to run up through the water pan hole past your AMNPS. Then put a throw-away foil pan on the floor under the hole to catch any drips. Also if you are going to have food dripping from above your AMNPS, put something above it to protect it from drippings.
Bear
Hmmmm, Sounds like you're hitting all the tricks.
I also forgot to mention that I installed a 90 degree elbow over the side vent to try to create a little more draft.
Oak should be good---Do you have any Hickory to try?Well, it went out again after a couple hours. I ran it with the chip loader out a few inches and turned 180 degrees, the chip tray pulled out about 1 1/2 inches, vent wide open with the 90 degree elbow installed, factory water pan removed and the AMNPS sitting above the hole on the drip shield like Todd recommends. From what I'm seeing, the AMNPS is still starved for air. Some of the pellets are burned completely but some are just charred. I'm not giving up by any means but I can definitely see why some people have!
Bear, I'm using oak pellets by the way
The only other pellets I have are the Pitmaster's Choice. I was hoping to save those for actual smokes and use the oak to figure out the bugs of the AMNPS in the MES but at this rate I may have to dip into the Pitmaster's before all the bugs are worked out.
Oak should be good---Do you have any Hickory to try?
How full are you making yours. I forgot to mention, I fill mine only 1/4" from the top of the walls. Foamy fills his 3/4 full, and has good success. I think that's about the same.
Too full could cut the air flow down & could jump rows if you do finally get it going good.
Bear
Will it light and stay lit outside the box?
The only other pellets I have are the Pitmaster's Choice. I was hoping to save those for actual smokes and use the oak to figure out the bugs of the AMNPS in the MES but at this rate I may have to dip into the Pitmaster's before all the bugs are worked out.
I've been filling the AMNPS about a 1/4" from the top.
I've never had it extinguish outside of the smoker. That being said, I've only had it lit outside of the smoker for 10-15 minutes at a time before I put it in the smoker.
Will it light and stay lit outside the box?
Foamheart, thanks for the PM. I appreciate all the help.
Try it, that will eliminate a lot of possibilities. So you burn a line....
Then you'll know for sure its a airflow problem and not pellets, or how you lite it etc etc etc....
After that:
If it burns then try sitting it on the meat rack in between the hole for the reloader and the exhaust vent. If it burns there we know its a placement problem.
That eliminates even more possibilities.
You'll like it, if we can find a good placement point.
Doesn't matter, as long as its in between the suction and the discharge or the chip loader and the exhaust vent. Oh and put the heat to high first for 20 mins to get the box up to temp. I am pretty sure you can not cold smoke in the MES40 without mods. You can warm smoke after you get the AMPS working consistently. High temp. (275) guarantees a good suction and discharge or draft thru the box.
Foamheart, thanks for the PM. I appreciate all the help.
I will definitely try to burn the AMNPS outside of the smoker and make sure that I am lighting it well enough and there are no problems with the pellets.
Which meat rack are you saying to place the AMNPS on? The bottom rack? Do you center the AMNPS on the rack?
Thanks again.