Anyone who loves to cook and spend time outdoors knows firsthand the virtues of grills. One of the popular brands of these devices is Traeger. Unfortunately, sometimes users are faced with a nuisance in the form of equipment failure in the middle of cooking and the appearance of an LEr error. There is no need to panic, because the problem is solved. How to fix the situation will be discussed in the article.
What should I do if the device gives a LEr error?
The specified code appears on the grills when the temperature of the device drops to 125 degrees and stays at this level for more than 10 minutes. Literally, the error stands for “Low Error Reading”. The frypot, sensor (RTD), or P-setting are the most common sources of trouble.
For each malfunction, there are algorithms for returning equipment to working condition. At the same time, it is first necessary to accurately determine the culprit of the troubles by carrying out basic diagnostics of the device.
Before troubleshooting the Traeger grill, it is worth turning it off and waiting for it to cool completely. Otherwise, the owner risks getting burned. Also, to avoid electric shock, the equipment must be disconnected from the power source. These are basic safety rules that must be observed in all cases of instrument repair.
Grill Cleaning
Most often, the appearance of an LEr error is due to blockage. To check the assumption, the user should remove the grill grates (top and bottom), drip tray and heat deflector.
The technique is designed in such a way that the fuel enters a small cylinder with a glow plug and burns out there. However, if there is a problem, the system can become clogged and the temperature sensor will stop the grill from working. In such a situation, any deposits on the walls of the device are removed with a hard object and vacuumed.
It is important to understand that the performance of the grill directly depends on the quality of the fuel used. As the latter, as a rule, pellets are used. High quality pellets will burn to ashes, while wet and disintegrating pellets can stick to the walls and clog the system, refusing to ignite properly. Therefore, for the normal operation of the device, it is worth checking the pellet storage and the pellets that are there.
Checking the RTD Sensor
If the manipulations described above did not lead to a positive result and the LEr code continues to appear, then the user should go to the temperature sensor. The device is located inside the grill and is designed to maintain a stable heating of the grill.
Diagnosis is carried out by visual inspection. It is necessary to check for defects in the probe, for example, chips, breaks, cracks, bends. If there are any, then the component will have to be replaced with a new one. In addition, the sensor must not touch the inside of the device. So, between the side of the device and the element, you must leave space.
The performance of the sensor is checked by means of a rapid test. The latter consists in executing the following algorithm:
- Turn on the grill and take the temperature reading from the controller.
- Comparison of the obtained value with the air temperature.
- If the deviation is less than 6°C, then the sensor is recognized as serviceable.
- If the difference exceeds 6°C, the component is replaced.
Please note that the test described above may not work when the grill is in the sun. From heating, the temperature difference may go beyond the accepted value, and then the user is likely to be mistaken in the assumptions about the performance of the sensor.
Influence of bad weather
Traeger grills, like any other appliance, must be operated in accordance with the provisions specified in the user manual. These standards include the correct placement of the device. Bad weather can lead to incorrect operation of the temperature sensor.
In strong winds or in cold weather, the user is advised to follow several recommendations. Among them:
- application of an insulating blanket;
- installation next to the grill heater;
- moving equipment to a protected, ventilated area, such as a garage. The door must remain open during cooking.
These tips will help you avoid problems with the device stopping during cooking. If the indicated measures did not lead to a positive result, then it is worth using the following method.
P-Setting
Traeger grills have a so-called “pause setting”. Thanks to this system, the pellet container receives a signal to add fuel to the combustion chamber. After all, the main purpose of the P-setting is to maintain the operating temperature of the grill. It is especially important to adjust the P-Setting in the event that the weather is bad or there is a sharp drop in temperature.
Older models have a dedicated button located to the right of the LED. It can be used to scroll through positions. On modern devices, the setup is different. This technique is not equipped with manual adjustment, instead of which an electronic display comes into play. The latter is located on the front of the device. When choosing parameters, it should be borne in mind that the larger the “P” value, the less heating will be. In the reverse situation, the device will heat up more. Therefore, when an LEr error occurs, the value of “P” must be lowered by one.
The Traeger must be turned off and then back on for the changes to take effect. This will reset the settings and cause the new settings to be accepted.
How else can you get rid of the LEr code?
In addition to the methods discussed in the article, the user can try a couple more tricks that have repeatedly helped users fix the problem. The first option is to clean the chimney. With prolonged use of the device, it may become clogged with soot. The second option is to check the operation of the induction fan. If it is inaudible or does not sound like it usually does, then the element will probably need to be repaired or replaced.