3D won't turn on. Where do I start?

[40 caliber]

i went to start a pork but this evening. put in the smoker. plug it in. turn it on,,,,wait? nothing?

1. Check the GFCI plug, ensure the circuit is fine
2. change plugs, nothing wont turn on.
3. plugged a fan into the plugs I was using. to confirm there was power- Confirmed.

Where do i start? I am no wrench...

pull the back off make sure the plug is connected?
pull the PID and send it to someone to check?

It worked fine the last time i used it. It was raining but I cover it with a large tarp with only the smoke hole visible to water. I shut if off when i was done. it just refuses to start.

the pid is showing no temp, no lights of any kind. the only thing that just occurred to me is plugging it in and seeing if it got warm. that at least could show power to the unit vs lights on the PID?

thoughts?

 

[ibbones]

Any luck?  Is it working now?

 

[40 caliber]

no, i dont know where to start. is there a fuse in the auber to check?  i will pull it this weekend and see what i can tell. open to any other thoughts.

i will check to make sure the cord is still connected. i have read that can be an issue

 

[BedouinBob]

Call Steve at SI. They will walk you through how to figure out what's wrong.

 

[SuperDave]

This happened to me.  The switch on the Auber burned up on the inside.  I sent it back to Auberin and they replaced it for $10. 

 

[Walt]

I have had the tiny fuse blow. Couldn't get it anywhere local & had auber send me a couple. They said that it was uncommon to blow one.

 

[40 caliber]

where is the fuse and what does it look like?

if that's not it, i guess I will send to auber. anything in need to know to pull this apart?

 

[Walt]

On mine it is on the back located under the cap that reads "fuse"

 

[40 caliber]

On mine it is on the back located under the cap that reads "fuse"

I assume this is after you unscrew the PID? i dont have anything that says that. I will be pulling the auber open tomorrow and see what i can see.

any other hints welcome!!!!

 

[Walt]

I have an independent PID, not integrated. Sorry, that's all the info I have to offer.

 

[40 caliber]

I have an independent PID, not integrated. Sorry, that's all the info I have to offer.

Thanks Walt! anything helps!

 

[old sarge]

Tom - I'm not able to open up my controller as I am on the road. Makes sense that there would be an internal fuse. If you find it let us know. Should prove useful to all D model owners. I plan on opening mine when I return home  and have a look around.

 

[40 caliber]

Well ,i did not find a fuse or anything that looks like one but i will wait for sarge to confrim
1. real easy to open , just 5 or 6 screws.
2. looks easy enough to swap out if necessary
3. I discovered a hole in the front of the unit, see picture. Now the hole looks obvious but that was after lifting the unit up and putting it back. I had seen what looked like a scratch on the panel and assumed there was green plastic underneath. In reality, the green was the circuit board

4. My neighbor brought over his voltage tester and we confirmed current (when plugged in obviously) from the plug, to the cord to the wires going into the PID>

I am leaning toward just ordering a replacement PID unit for $189 and cutting my losses. I have used this in the rain under a tarp and i'm pretty sure  it has gotten water on the unit. I doubt there is a debug / rebuild for this less than just getting a replacement pid. what do you guys think?

any other thoughts?

 

[Pork Belly]

what do you guys think?

I feel bad for you, if you had bought analog you would still be smoking. Even if you added a PID later you could still be cooking if the PID died.

My #3 has sat outside uncovered since I bought it, still smoking....

 

[40 caliber]

Don't feel bad, i'm a big boy, i made my choices!  I probably smoked 3 years of food in a year on this thing! it's doesnt sit still.

I do agree with you, however, I had a 2 before i went to a 3D. I basically sold the 2 for not much more than what the replacement PID is going to cost me. I wish I kept the 2 along with the 3.  not only as a back up, but i think it smokes a little differently.  I was concerned when i upgraded because I usually go for simpler over technical and it was really a toss up on this one.

it's still a toss up but i got what i got.

 

[JustChillin]

IMO - sometimes simpler is the better. I love my analog #2 but I am sure that there are many on this forum that love their digital models. Just keep on smoking and enjoying.

 

[old sarge]

Tom - Took longer to get around to my smoker than I had planned.  Sorry for the delay.  I took the controller off and as you observed, no fuse.  I stopped short of removing the logic board and looking at the 'hidden side'.  I then took the back of the smoker off, removed the outermost layer of insulation and poked in and around all the wires.  No fuse located. It is possible I missed something.  Best advice I can give is to contact Steve. I will do the same.  Dave

EDIT:  Per Steve, there is no fuse on the SI model D smokers.

 

[40 caliber]

IMO - sometimes simpler is the better. I love my analog #2 but I am sure that there are many on this forum that love their digital models. Just keep on smoking and enjoying.

I have had them both and they each have their plusses and minuses. the analog temp swings more and depending how much meat you put in, the consistency of time to cook can be different. I track almost every smoke on a spreadsheet with my process, outside temp, temp used and results. I can say this pretty factually.

The Digital holds temp a lot better and helps nail the meal. I find the analog more "craft" than science and that can be fun too. it feels more like a challenge.

I think the analog smokes the meat better due to the swings in the heat up. Meat only accepts smoke until 140 degrees (so i am told here). i think the swings in the analog allow a little more time but that is my uneducated opinion.

I think the kind of personality you have would determine what you like more. I'm a split personality so i like them both 

If your en engineer type, you'd like the D. if you more creative, like the challenge you may like the analog more.  my opinion only from a year of smoking with each one.

I dont have an overwhelming preference.  I will admit I usally prefer simpler

 

[SuperDave]

When the D models first came out the SI salesmen on the site really pushed them.  For the life of me I couldn't figure out why someone wouldn't want redundancy of analog with an option for PID control.  It has saved me a couple of times but then again I think the Auber is a POS on a $1,700 smoker. 

 

[40 caliber]

I agree dave that would be a massive improvement to have the redundancy. If i hadn't wanted to go to a 3 from a 2, i would have upgraded the 2.