SECTION FOUR: OPERATING TIPS
1) The Temperature Dial can be changed at any time to increase or decrease the cooking
temperature of the Grill. The HIGH/HIGHER temperature settings are for Grilling. The
MEDIUM/MID RANGE temperature settings are for Slow Cooking. The SMOKE setting is
for Smoking and adding Smoke Flavor to foods being cooked. The SMOKE setting can also
be used to “hold” foods at approximately 180 to 200 degrees F.
2) WARNING! Your Traeger Pellet Grill should never be moved while it is hot. If you are
transporting your Grill in a vehicle after cooking on it, make sure the fire is completely out
and the Grill is cold before placing it in any vehicle. Never put water into the Firepot. It will
jam the Auger.
3) Your Traeger Pellet Grill is designed to operate with the Door closed. Cooking with the Door
open greatly lengthens your cooking time.
4) DANGER! Never add pellets by hand to a hot Firepot. This is dangerous and you may be
seriously burned. If you run out of pellets and lose your fire while cooking, let the Grill
completely cool and start again with the INITIAL FIRING INSTRUCTIONS.
5) CAUTION! Make sure the Heat Baffle is properly seated on its locating brackets. The long
lips of the Heat Baffle should be pointing down over the Firepot. If not seated properly,
direct heat and flame could come up out of the Firepot and cause a grease fire in the Grill.
6) When estimating cooking times, the outside temperature will be an important factor. If it is
hot outside, it will take less time for food to cook. If it is cold, wet or windy, it will take
longer.
7) Digital Thermostat Control Functions:
After selecting your cooking temperature (with the exception of “SMOKE”) the Auger will
operate continuously until the selected temperature is reached. From that point forward, the
Digital Control will cycle the Auger off and on to maintain the selected temperature until the
Temperature/Dial is changed. When operating in “Smoke” mode, the Auger will cycle on for
15 seconds and off for 65 seconds. There is no temperature control with the “Smoke”
setting. This timed cycle setting for “Smoke” is a factory pre-set recommended by Traeger
Pellet Grills to develop a “Smoking” temperature of 150 to 180 degrees F.
However you can change this timed cycle to suit your particular needs. Refer to the Wiring
Diagram found near the end of this manual and locate the Smoke Adjustment. It is a switch
inside a small hole on the face of the Digital Control to the right of the Readout. While the
Digital Control is on, use a very small screwdriver or other pointed object (a bent paper clip
works well) to gently depress the switch. When you depress the switch, the Readout will
change from a temperature to “P” followed by a number. The factory pre-set mentioned
earlier is P-2. The setting range is from P-0 to P-5. The “P” readout will change each time
you depress the switch. With all “P” settings, the Auger on time remains constant at 15
seconds while the off time is influenced by the “P” setting. For example: For example: A P-
3 setting will result in an Auger on time of 15 seconds and an Auger off time of 75
seconds, an increase in the off time of 10 seconds from the P-2 setting. Each change in
the “P” number -up or down- results in an increase or decrease of 10 seconds for the Auger
off time. Increasing the number decreases Smoking Temperature. Decreasing the number
increases Smoking Temperature. The Traeger Service Department recommends a setting
no higher than P-4. Also, if you do make a Smoke Adjustment, the temperature on the
Readout should be monitored. If the temperature is consistently below 160 degrees F.
while “Smoking”, decrease the “P” setting because there is a risk of losing the fire in the
Firepot.
