Power Analysis, Timberline 850

[RemE]

After some good discussions about power interruption during a long cook and using a small UPS to keep the grill alive, I pulled put the power meter and monitored a 500F cook.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my 850 does not break 100W at peak draw during ignition. Mine hovered around 98W.

Once the grill was burning wood and the temperature climbed over 150F the hotrod turned off and the power usage dropped to 14 Watts! This was with the fan running hard.

So these grills are very efficient and even a small UPS is perfectly fine to use.

Interesting observation, when I opened the grill to oil the grate and slap down some salmon. The door was open a while, the fan speed dropped to low. I closed the door and checked the power. I was very surprised to see that the hotrod was activated! Power was back to 97W, the fan briefly stopped and then sped up again. The grill had just initiated an ignition cycle, something I never believed Traegers did. Once back up to temp, the power dropped back to its normal 14 Watt "cruise" power and didn't vary at all after that.

I'm learning more every time I play with this thing.

So, the cook, at 500F, I put the marinated salmon filets flesh side down for a 2 min sear. Then I flipped them skin side down and set a Fireboard probe for 135F.
When done I slipped a big spatula between the meat and skin and left the skin on the grill. These babies were perfectly tender, I love my grill!

 

[GrillMeister]

Great Info! So this $40 UPS should work great with any Traeger.

https://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4821825&Sku=40361127

 

[RemE]

That would be just fine, and that is an excellent price, nice find!

 

[Slimpicker]

And I assume you would keep this indoors and plugged in till you need it for an overnight cook???

 

[RemE]

And I assume you would keep this indoors and plugged in till you need it for an overnight cook???

Yes, these small ups units use gel cell 12V batteries. They always ship with the battery disconnected, you connect, then plug in and use.

Plugged in, keeps the battery charged and ready. If you are going to store the unit unplugged, then just disconnect one battery lead to protect it from bleed down.

 

[Slimpicker]

Well I was mostly talking about weather proof and OBVIOUSLY it is not, so keep it indoors, plugged in, ready to go, then you can take it outside for the smoke if good weather is expected? I'm clarifying mostly for the people that have their smoker out in the OPEN rather than under cover.

 

[GrillMeister]

Well I was mostly talking about weather proof and OBVIOUSLY it is not, so keep it indoors, plugged in, ready to go, then you can take it outside for the smoke if good weather is expected? I'm clarifying mostly for the people that have their smoker out in the OPEN rather than under cover.

I leave mine plugged in currently in the garage and run an extension cord out to the Traeger. I leave it plugged in and it acts as a surge protector till the power goes out.

I'll figure something else out when I move the Traeger to the BBQ patio. I may wire up an outlet and bring it into the garage to plug into the UPS.

 

[RemE]

All great ideas to protect your UPS, certainly no cheap one is going to be weatherproof.

It is a shame that Traeger just didn't design the grills to tolerate a brief power interruption (60 seconds or less).

At least cheap UPS units are available and a smart idea for any long cook, and they will protect from a surge as well. I had asked Traeger the cost of a controller, $300, so this is cheap insurance.

But you'll have to keep them dry!

 

[John S.]

If you look at a "Silverton" they come with a enclosed chamber under the grill. It would be nice if someone had Plans to do this to a Timberline, or even better if Traeger had a retro-fit Kit....