Traeger issues

[British BBQ Society]

you can use google translate on each page but its a pain

[Chris__M]

In case anyone else was thinking of ordering a digital controller from Germany, a word of caution.

Mine arrived today, and I discovered that although the front plate is the same size as my existing controller, and the screw holes appear to match, the actual circuit board is too big - both in width and height - to fit in the hole left by removing the existing controller.

It is certainly not a simple drop-in replacement. it will either mean enlarging the hole in my grill or disassembling the controller and reassembling in place. Neither of these appeals - in particular, the latter will mean that it will not be easily removable. As it also appears to be an old-style controller, with the P-settings on the back, not front of the controller, this is a deal-breaker.

I've emailed the vendor, and explained the problem, and am currently waiting for a reply.

[Chris__M]

Good news is that they have agreed for me to return it for a refund. Which pretty much puts me back to square one. Will be interested to hear what the NZ-sourced controller is like - which version of the digital controller it is, and if it actually fits the hole.

[Swindon_Ed]

What would need to be done to a US board to convert from US power to UK 240v? Is there going to be something on the PCB that needs replacing?

The reason i ask is i've got a US board at home but have never got round to trying to get it sorted.

[Chris__M]

Regarding power transformers/inverters. For stepping up or down voltages, it is a transformer you are talking about - an inverter is what you use to change from DC to AC (and for changing from AC to DC, you use a rectifier).

My understanding of the insides of the Traeger may be completely wrong, particularly as I have yet to take one apart. But I believe the Auger motor, hot rod and fan all work off mains voltage, albeit controlled through the controller.

So if we were talking about an original 100% american 110V grill, then yes, you could run that off a transformer, and popping in a new controller is straightforward.

But for British Traegers, those parts - auger motor, hot rod and fan - are all 240V components, controlled by a 240V adapted three-way controller.

So a transformer is not a solution for fitting a 110V digital controller, as although that will supply the controller correctly, the 240V parts hanging off of it won't be happy. This is why what is required is a digital controller adapted to 220-240V, or replace all these parts with 110V equivalent components at the same time.

Anyway, that is my understanding of things. I will be delighted if someone corrects me.

[Swindon_Ed]

Do you have any ideas Chris on who might be able to carry out such work as at the moment the controller is just looking at me doing nothing

[Chris__M]

Do you have any ideas Chris on who might be able to carry out such work as at the moment the controller is just looking at me doing nothing

Fraid not. I did look into it a while back, and got nowhere with it. Despite what my earlier post suggests, my knack is for putting together existing devices in new and useful manners. So while I know what needs to go in and out at both ends, the actual electronics bit in the middle is a mystery to me.

[Chris__M]

Update. Originally, I believed that the various people selling 240V controllers were either converting them or having them converted to run on higher voltage.

Now I am not completely sure of this. Looking at the Traeger digital controller that I bought (and is being returned tomorrow), it has a label inside the plate from Tempco Electric (www.tempco.com) with a model number of TEC95011.

A little sniffing around on their website led me to this page

http://www.tempco.com/Catalog/Section%2 ... turing.pdf

where the controller is pictured and described with the comment "120 and 240 VAC versions available". So from this it seems that at least one contract manufacturer of the digital controller made it in two voltages.

If this controller I have has been converted, it is a very, very, neat job.

[Chris__M]

Do you have any ideas Chris on who might be able to carry out such work as at the moment the controller is just looking at me doing nothing

On another tack, do I remember correctly that you have a stoker, for your other smokers?
I've been following a couple of discussions elsewhere, about using a stoker to control a SSR, which in turn controls the auger.

[Swindon_Ed]

Hi Chris, yes I've also got a stoker and would be very interested in finding a way that I could use it with the Treager as well