BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The Digital Smokers (BTDS76P & BTDS108P) => Topic started by: KohalaTom on January 03, 2017, 01:24:56 AM

Title: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on January 03, 2017, 01:24:56 AM
Well, this brand new, six rack wonder, ran great for about two hours.  Then, for unknown reasons, it quit.  Blue light display went dark.   Lets try a reboot! Feeling promising, things running.... but Nope, temp comes up to 150, unit shuts down.  Great, now I have six racks of Salmon in a dysfunctional smoker.  Suggestions? 
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: Habanero Smoker on January 03, 2017, 01:37:05 AM
Hi KohalaTom;

Sorry to welcome you to the forum in this manner.

Are you getting any "E" or "E1" errors?

I don't have the digital, and your description of the problem I've haven't seen before. Some times the buttons under the display pad are hard to push in when the unit is new. Make sure you are pushing dead center. Also check to make sure all the connections are properly secure. Disconnect the power cords, and sensor cords, and reconnect them.

If none of that works, if you able to apply enough smoke, you may want to move the salmon to your kitchen oven, or rapidly chill it, store it in the refrigerator, and call Bradley Customer service for assistance.
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on January 03, 2017, 10:30:29 AM
Thanks Habenero, 

On first startup, I do get an E1 code, complete with beeping.  After about 15 min of running, the code goes away, and I am able to operate the keypad.  As suggested by other posts in this forum, I have double checked all cord connections.   
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on January 03, 2017, 06:45:20 PM
Customer Service is sending a new Power Supply. 
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: Habanero Smoker on January 04, 2017, 01:32:29 AM
Great! I hope that resolved the problem.

Where you able to save your salmon?
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on January 04, 2017, 03:08:23 AM
The Salmon froze in the smoker overnight. 
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: Habanero Smoker on January 04, 2017, 01:11:38 PM
Quote from: KohalaTom on January 04, 2017, 03:08:23 AM
The Salmon froze in the smoker overnight.

Well!! That is one way to preserve it. :)
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on January 10, 2017, 07:19:05 AM
New Power Supply installed.  Same issues.  I am done with this "NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME PO_ APPLIANCE."  I didn't buy this metal box to become field support for Bradley.  I don't really care what the technical explanations are for E and E1 beeping errors.  This sliver box is going for a short ride back to Cabela's.  No, it won't be exchanged because I don't trust this substandard product design to outlive the warranty.    >:(   
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on April 08, 2017, 11:41:34 AM
This NON smoking technology wonder should have gone for a short ride off a short pier last January.  But, I got distracted and ignored the unit.  Last night, I plugged it in, and surprise, blue led lights!  the unit warmed up to temperature.  I added ribs with great expectations.  Hours later, No smoke....  Ribs cooked with a pile of pucks in the pan.  This "non smoking" oven is just amazing.  Bradley, your name went on before the quality went in.  Shame on you for selling this non functioning corporate masterpiece. Roughly 512 curious souls have clicked on this pathetic thread since January.  I hope others will take the clue, save their money, and NOT make the same mistake I did.  I have a silver lemon occupying space on my deck.  This thing is still under warranty!  Lets see, I will call service on Monday, they will send me parts, and I will get to play Bradley repair-man. :(     
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KyNola on April 09, 2017, 07:17:08 AM
How many cooks have you attempted?  Did you experience the same problem each time?
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on April 09, 2017, 08:08:07 AM
KyNola, I tried to cycling the unit 4 times over a 6 hour period.  The result was the same each time.  No smoke with a warm oven.  It would appear that something is wrong with the heating element that is supposed to char the pucks.  The element does get somewhat warm to the touch.  However, not enough to burn my fingers.
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KyNola on April 09, 2017, 08:34:35 AM
When you replaced the power supply, did it solve the issue of the unit shutting off after a couple of hours?   Does the tower heat up to your target oven temp?  If so, you're almost home.

It sounds as though your puck burner may be faulty.  Did it produce smoke prior to replacing the power supply?  Puck burners are easy to replace but before you ask for a replacement, run the wiring from the burner back into the generator to make sure it is properly plugged in.  It is possible that when you replaced the power supply that the puck burner may have been partially disconnected.  If it is properly connected ask Bradley for a new puck burner.

I understand your frustration with your smoker but we,(forum members), will get you up and running.  You are more than entitled to having a smoker that operates properly. 
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on April 09, 2017, 09:05:50 AM
The unit did produce smoke prior to the power supply replacement.  I rechecked wires and all are secure.  I will request a puck burner from Bradley in the morning.  I believe this unit will eventually work, with enough parts and time invested on my part.  After that, will I trust the smoker, or Bradley products?  Will I refer these products to friends? Likely not.  I have owned smokers produced by other manufactures that are reliable and simply work.  No need to post on forums, call customer service, swap parts and experience customer frustration.  Read these forums, they are full of customers that are having problems getting these products to work.  If Bradley invested the same dollars in Engineering and Manufacturing that they do in Marketing, they could have a home run product that would eliminate customer dissatisfaction and the need for these fix-it forums.  P.T. Barnum had it right, "There's a sucker born every minute."
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: RAF128 on April 10, 2017, 04:36:42 AM
Most people buy their Bradley, take it home and never have an issue.   There's always a few lemons out there and unfortunetly, you got one.   I would have taken right back to the place of purchase and exchanged it. 
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: Smoker John on April 10, 2017, 08:27:59 AM
When I purchased mine the puck plate wasn't heating up either, once I re-seated all the connections in the smoke generator it started working fine. A lot of times the error is caused by a faulty sensor cable also. Hope things get solved for you.
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KohalaTom on April 14, 2017, 09:41:07 PM
Customer Service sent a new puck burner.  I finally have smoke and what appears to be a functioning smoker!  Fingers crossed that this unit will survive well past the warranty period. 
Title: Re: Two hour wonder. Temporary Happiness....
Post by: KyNola on April 15, 2017, 07:13:59 AM
Good for you!