MES 40" and AMNPS - trying to get enough oxygen to the AMNPS

[billhilla]

I used SMF's buttermilk brine recipe and I smoked the bird in my MES 40" and used the AMNPS for smoke.  It turned out awesome, but I did have a hard time keeping the AMNPS pellets lit.  I assumed that it wasn't getting enough oxygen.  I left the wood chip smoker box and the additional wood chip loader out to try to get enough oxygen in, but the pellets still kept going out.  Does anyone have a good/easy way to get more oxygen in to the MES 40"?

 

[jarjarchef]

Did you tent the AMNPS with foil to keep the juices from dripping on it? Someone was having the same issue and that was the challenge....

 

[billhilla]

I did read about the foil tent but forgot to do it, maybe that was it.  Thanks for the input!

 

[mike johnson]

moisture can also be an issue with the pellets.To help with this and the airflow problems I put my AMNPS here. It does burn a little quicker but I have never had it go out.Note that the chip tray is removed and chip loader is pulled out about 2 in.

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• mike johnson
• Sep 13, 2012

 

[sigmo]

I had the same problem, initially, with the AMNPS. It was suggested that moisture was the enemy, and from my experience since then, that was absolutely correct.

I'm at 5300 feet elevation, here, so I think that may have something to do with it, but...

Here's what I've done that seems to have completely cured my problems:

Open the top vent fully.

Pull the chip loader out all the way to begin with. (I was able to put it back in to throttle the airflow after the smoker was really completely up to temperature this time).

Pull the chip tray (above the heating element) out quite far to provide a good air path in through the chip-loader hole, and then out into the smoker through the opening for the tray.

Make sure nothing can drip onto the AMNPS, but also make sure any "tent" doesn't restrict air flow itself! I ended up just covering the left hand area of one rack, and putting that rack in at the bottom rack position, and then having the AMNPS below that "shield". It doesn't restrict the air flow much, but positively prevents dripping onto the pellets.

Make sure you don't use any water in the water tray! Just cover the tray with foil to catch drips, and smoke dry.

Microwave the pellets immediately before using them to drive off residual moisture.

The last time I smoked with it (Thursday, for the Thanksgiving bird), I nuked the pellets in a pyrex glass bowl for a minute. Then I took them out and stirred them for a while to help the steam escape as they cooled down. Then I nuked 'em again for a minute, and stirred again, then I nuked them a third time for a minute.

That really heats 'em up and seems to drive off the moisture.

Then I loaded them into the AMNPS, and had the easiest time ever getting them lit. I think there can be an amazing amount of water in the raw pellets, and drying them thoroughly is required.

Not having the pan of water in the smoker seems to prevent the pellets from absorbing moisture during the smoking process.

My fully-loaded AMNPS burned completely in six hours this time! That was fast, but worked out perfect, and the TBS was rolling very well for the entire smoke of the bird this time.

In the past, without nuking the pellets so thoroughly, and with water in the tray, they'd always go out!

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• sigmo
• Nov 27, 2012

You can see how I've covered the left-hand area of the bottom rack to prevent any dripping into the AMNPS which is sitting up on the "rails" in the bottom left of the smoker. So it's protected from any drips, but has great airflow under, around, and above it.

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• sigmo
• Nov 27, 2012

You can see the foil-covered drip/water tray in this photo. That tray has NO water in it. You can also see how the AMNPS is supported by those two wire rails and has good air space all around it.

Anyhow, that system has worked great for me. I really think the main point is avoidance of moisture. That's the one thing that I changed in my setup that seemed to have made the difference.

 

[billhilla]

Thank you Sigmo!  That is some great advice.  I did not 'nuke' the pellets or cover the AMNPS and I had water in the tay, so I screwed up everything!

I appreciate everyone getting back to me, this is a great place for information!

 

[billhilla]

Well Sigmo, I put foil on half of the bottom rack, left the chip loader out completely, pulled the chip holder out completely, pulled the water tray out and nuked the pellets for 3 - 1 minute intervals last night.  I smoked up a large salmon fillet and the AMNPS worked out perfectly.  What an amazing difference, so thank you again!

I am not what you would call a great smokehouse guy yet, but I would really suck if it weren't for this website!

 

[sigmo]

Well Sigmo, I put foil on half of the bottom rack, left the chip loader out completely, pulled the chip holder out completely, pulled the water tray out and nuked the pellets for 3 - 1 minute intervals last night.  I smoked up a large salmon fillet and the AMNPS worked out perfectly.  What an amazing difference, so thank you again!



I am not what you would call a great smokehouse guy yet, but I would really suck if it weren't for this website!

I am glad it worked for you! I'm kind of new to all of this myself, so what I posted was very fresh in my mind because I was in exactly your position only two smoking attempts ago!

A lot of folks helped me out on here, including the maker of the AMNPS, himself! So I'm glad to be able to pass some of that on to someone else. I've learned so much here. It's great.

I check this site every time I try anything new, and I'm always glad I did. :)

Phoned in.