Prime or High Button question

[NOLA]

Hello Everyone, I'm new here. Just bought a PB 820d3 pellet grill from Lowes. So far I've only done the burn off and no problems but I
do have a question about priming the burn pot. I should say I have an Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX and never
had to prime it and all of the pellets are automatically emptied from the auger tube after each cook. I also intend to burn out all of the pellets on
the PB 820 after each cook as well, for reasons explained below.

So this is my question, instead of having to hold down the Prime Button for about 5 minutes straight to prime on the PB820,
why couldn't it just be set on High on the Temp. knob just until the pellets begin reaching the burn pot??? then set it to Smoke or whatever
Temp. you intend to smoke or cook at? Wouldn't the High setting keep the auger moving as fast as it is set to run because the Temp. would not be anywhere near high heat when just starting up. I haven't tried that yet, just wondering if anyone else has tried it or has any opinions about it.

The reason I like the auger tube emptied mainly is to help insure against auger jams in humid weather that we often have here, especially if the grill is not used a lot, at times. Thanks

 

[Mike From R.I.]

I would think with the controller you would still have to prime every time if you're emptying out the hopper/auger and go through the startup sequence, to prevent a ErL code.
Kinda, like putting your car in drive and flooring it without starting the engine.

 

[NOLA]

I would think with the controller you would still have to prime every time if you're emptying out the hopper/auger and go through the startup sequence, to prevent a ErL code.
Kinda, like putting your car in drive and flooring it without starting the engine.

Thanks for the reply Mike, yes I understand that you would have to "prime" every time, just wondering if there's an easier way to do it without having to hold down the "prime" button; maybe something more automatic like simply turning the temp knob to a different setting that may eliminate the constant pressing and holding down the prime button.

 

[GAnewbie]

maybe something more automatic like simply turning the temp knob to a different setting

I think it is the prime button that speeds things up. I suspect by pressing prime you are getting the auger to spin faster. Perhaps manually placing some pellets into the fire pot would get things there sooner, however, would require getting under the heat deflector.

 

[Mike From R.I.]

Prime button does speed up the delivery to get the fire started. I would experiment without emptying the augur, many people here live where is it humid most of the year and have no issues. Just keep the rain out of it.

 

[MikeInFla]

Very humid year round in this part of Florida. I never empty my hopper and have never had a problem. When I am done with a cook I simply power it off and let it cycle then start it up for the next one. I vacuum the fire pot every other cook.

 

[spudthegreater]

I own the 820, In Iowa, during the corn Sweats of late July and August its sometimes intolerable in the farm land, and I keep a GOOD cover over my PitBoss, had it two summers and always have pellets in the hopper. I use Lumberjack, mostly the Char Hickory which are harder and less susceptible to separation. Never had an issue with auger jams. Also I removed the hopper grate which leaves the holes in the sides exposed, so I COVERED those on the inside with metal tape to prevent water from getting in. Its worked excellent this way, even when i forget the cover and it rains.

 

[NOLA]

Thanks for the replies and tips about auger jams and such. I've never had an auger jam either and understand that everyone has their own way of preventing them.

Maybe my question didn't come out right, all I really wanted to ask was;
is there any other way to prime the auger tube other than being stuck standing there holding down the Prime button for 5 long minutes?

Thanks All