Smokeboost Flame Out

[MikeM]

I have read others saying they have that same problem; especially if they do a lot of high temperature cooks and searing. My guess that there will be a heavier duty grate in the future.

Well see the new one is exactly the same. I ran for almost 2 hrs in smoke boost and it works great again. I just started it and immediately changed to smoke. It would be hard to stamp much heavier material and bend the tabs. They need a more heat resistant material. It looks like the stand over the fire will not last much longer.

 

[asker]

Just wondering if anyone knows at what temperature the SmokeFire registers an "E3 - Grill Flame Out" error. I experienced my one an only flame out a few weeks ago while I was smoking some trout. Granted the wind was gusting 30+ mph so I'm really not surprised. After a restart I set the temp to 200° and it ran like a champ. However, last week I was smoking some pork chops (it was about 35° out) and I found myself turning Smokeboost on and off because I was afraid of letting the temp fall under 140° or so. I used to have to do this with my old pellet grill as well, but I am I just being overly cautious with the SmokeFire? I like to use Smokeboost with fish and thinner cuts of meat, but now that it's colder in my area I feel like I can 't trust it to keep the fire going. I'd appreciate hearing any experiences you all have had.

I'm having a different issue; sometimes the grill reports a E3 error during smokeboost (about every third or fourth time or so) but there is no flameout. The thing is that the display says it's going to shut down for security reasons but it never does. The controls and display is frozen and the grill just keeps on going until it run out of pellets or you pull the plug.......

 

[abmet]

I'm having a different issue; sometimes the grill reports a E3 error during smokeboost (about every third or fourth time or so) but there is no flameout. The thing is that the display says it's going to shut down for security reasons but it never does. The controls and display is frozen and the grill just keeps on going until it run out of pellets or you pull the plug.......

That’s not good, I’d definitely contact Weber on that. Seems like you might have a faulty controller. You could try factory resetting your controller and making sure you have the current firmware and software installed if you haven‘t tried that.

1. With the controller powered on, hold down the three buttons to the right of the main dial for steps 2-4
2. Power off the grill by toggling the power switch (do not pull the plug)
3. Power on the grill by toggling the power switch
4. Wait until the controller powers up and displays "Recovery Mode" on the screen
5. Release the three buttons
6. Launch the Weber Connect app and pair your phone. Allow any firmware update to process if necessary

 

[MikeM]

I'm having a different issue; sometimes the grill reports a E3 error during smokeboost (about every third or fourth time or so) but there is no flameout. The thing is that the display says it's going to shut down for security reasons but it never does. The controls and display is frozen and the grill just keeps on going until it run out of pellets or you pull the plug.......

Mine would do that also that's when I looked at the grate and found it burned out. They sent me a new on and all is well.

 

[asker]

That’s not good, I’d definitely contact Weber on that. Seems like you might have a faulty controller. You could try factory resetting your controller and making sure you have the current firmware and software installed if you haven‘t tried that.

1. With the controller powered on, hold down the three buttons to the right of the main dial for steps 2-4
2. Power off the grill by toggling the power switch (do not pull the plug)
3. Power on the grill by toggling the power switch
4. Wait until the controller powers up and displays "Recovery Mode" on the screen
5. Release the three buttons
6. Launch the Weber Connect app and pair your phone. Allow any firmware update to process if necessary

Yep, I have contacted Weber and they've sent me the new auger and and a new glowplug. This is glowplug number 3, the two previous lasted about 15 cooks each (this i think also points towards controller /electrical issues). I have secured the plug with a hoseclamp and i have the latest FW/JuneOS/Appversion. the low temps during smokeboost could perhaps register as a flameout i suppose but it shouldn't freeze up... I'm not so sure the new auger will fix this but it probably will fix problems reaching high temps. I'm fixing to replace the auger tonight so we'll see

 

[AHoneyman]

Make sure that you get the glow plug pushed in tight. It is a chore. If you do not, it will burnout quickly.

 

[asker]

Make sure that you get the glow plug pushed in tight. It is a chore. If you do not, it will burnout quickly.

Yes, I know. I was well aware of the potential problems that could arise with the grill, the glowplug problem as well, the E3/freezing issue took me by surprise though. I'm pretty confident Weber will sort out the kinks eventually. Anyway whats the fun in having a product that always performs as expected... thats why i buy 1st gen pelletgrills and italian motorcycles

 

[AHoneyman]

Folks, I have never had problems with SB until today. I have the kids coming over and loaded up the grill. Then I got the message. Before I started, I was out of pellets (empty), filled hopper with Weber pellets, started it up to 200, filled the grilled, went inside because it was raining and cold (38 degrees), and turned on SB. Within 5 minutes, I got a warning saying that the SF was not heating fast enough. Not sure what that means (I can guess) but I immediately changed the temp to 200. It managed to climb up and stabilize there. It has been running a little over 30 minutes now (long way to go).

It seems that several of us are having SB problems when the ambient temp is below 40 degrees. Although the new software has eliminated a lot of problems, maybe there is an issue with the PID, SB, and low operating temps. Just reporting observations. Later, alh.

 

[AHoneyman]

And then I had a flame up and have a crust on the bottom of my ribs.........

 

[asker]

And then I had a flame up and have a crust on the bottom of my ribs.........

Sorry about your ribs, but shit happens.... though, of all the potential problems with the SF the increased risk of flareups is pretty low on my list of worries (lots of people yelling about greasefires when in reality the vids i've seen online is just flareups which always can happen in any grill). I've replaced the auger assembly and glowplug on the EX6 and aim to try it out tomorrow. I think you may be on to something with the ambient temps, i've been having temps between 2-7 degrees C (35-45 F) so i can definately see that the PID registers the low temps (my smokeboost varies between 55-80 C/131-176 F) as flameout but the freezing issues should not happen and must be related to a software/firmware bug. Lets hope it will be fixed in upcoming updates.
BTW the version/designation on the glowplugs have changed from TY24V 1941 -> TY24V 1947 -> TY24V 2041, lets hope that means progress

 

[Old Man Grills]

Darn it. Half way through a 4 hour lamb shoulder yesterday and flame out.
Had it on smoke boost for the first 30 mins then turned temp up to 250. Fine for 60-70 minutes and then boom, flame out errors all over the place. went outside and looked and the machine has shut itself down.

It was clean inside and I had had it up to 400 to burn off the grates. It really doesn't seem to like the up, down, up temperature changes.

Lamb still tasted good but had to be done in the oven.

 

[S4cruiser]

Had my first flameout earlier this morning. Was ~13 hours into a brisket smoke (225*) and when I woke up this morning the grill had a message to shut the lid...but it was closed. Temp had already dropped to around 100*. Smoke was billowing out of the grill. Unplugged grill and finished brisket in the oven (was already wrapped in butcher paper).

Pulled the grates, flavor bars and fire table thing...chute and firebox we’re slam full of pellets. My guess is the glow pug took a crap. This was maybe my 10th cook on the grill and it’s been flawless until now. I’m religious about using foil pans to catch grease and always vacuum out before use.

edit - glow plug was seized to the harness/igniter part and separated during attempted removal. Looks like a call to Weber support is needed.

 

[AHoneyman]

It is my understanding that the glow plug only functions on startup. After that point, the fire should burn on its own due to air and pellet flow regulating the burn rate.

 

[ravkesef]

It is my understanding that the glow plug only functions on startup. After that point, the fire should burn on its own due to air and pellet flow regulating the burn rate.

If that’s the case, then the smoke boost may very well be the problem, because I had a long smoke boost, about three hours, and then this happened not long after

 

[AHoneyman]

I am not sure how SB works. It is half way between light and out. A smolder like that may require the relight function using the glow plug.