Yoder Smokers YS 480 User manual

Yoder Smokers Pellet Temperature Test
This test will allow you to verify that your pellet cooker is functioning normally. When running this test, it is strongly
suggested that you use BBQr's Delight brand pellets, as this brand of pellets are what the factory uses exclusively for
programming, testing and cooking. For proper results, remove old pellets from the hopper and use fresh pellets.
This test will take 2 hours, and require you to document timings, controller temperature readings, controller mode
readings and optionally, external temperature probe readings, if you are using them.
External temperature probes MUST be located on the bottom grate, at the location(s) listed in FIG 1, using the probe
location(s) specific to each model of pellet cooker, centered front to back, positioned DIRECTLY ON THE GRATE
SURFACE (not in probe holders), with the tip of the probe(s) at the specific location(s), and probe wire(s) MUST NOT be
run through the door into the cooker.
Measurements for probe tip placement are from the pellet hopper wall inside the cooker (FIG 2 below shows probe
placement(s) in a YS640).
Model
1st
probe
2nd
probe
Requirements
YS480
10"
20"
None
YS640
11"
22"
sliding damper MUST be fully open to the right
YS1500
14"
28"
Chimney damper MUST be fully open and HMS damper
MUST be fully closed
Cimarron
18"
36"
Chimney damper MUST be fully open, HMS damper
MUST be fully closed, firebox door air inlet MUST be fully
open
FIG 1
FIG 2

For the best troubleshooting and support, please take the following pictures before and after the test, and send them,
along with the data gathered, to: [e-mail]
Inside the cooker with the grates removed and heat diffuser plate in place
Inside the cooker with the grates and heat diffuser plate removed
The firebox with the burn grate in place
The firebox with the burn grate removed
The chimney end of the cooker from inside the cooker
1. This test requires that you first completely clean your cooker by vacuuming all ash from the burn grate, firepot
and the entire body of the cooker. You also need to clean all cooking debris and degrease all surfaces inside the
cooker, including the heat diffuser, thermocouple, grease channel (including the drain hole), and inside the
chimney.
2. Verify all of the silicone seals are not damaged or missing from around the firepot. Clean and repair all silicone
seals per the manual if necessary BEFORE continuing with the test. (Current version(s) of all Yoder Smokers
manuals: http://community.yodersmokers.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=153)
3. Insure that the burn grate fitment into the firepot is as specified in the manual. Correct the fitment prior to
continuing the test, per the instructions in the manual, if required.
4. Plug the power cord into the cooker. You should never leave your cooker plugged in when not in use. If it is
plugged in when starting this test (or before each cooking session), unplug the power cord, wait 30 seconds, and
plug the power cord back in to the cooker. Note: If your grill has the ACS Controller with Wi-Fi, please make sure
that the controller is connected to the fireboard app through Wi-Fi prior to starting the test.
5. Verify that you have the pellet hopper full, and if not, add pellets.
6. Open the cooker's main door.
7. Flip the power switch to the ON position, verify that the firmware version immediately flashes on the display
(make note of the firmware version for reporting with the temperature data gathered), that the fans both start
and you have a blue LED. (How to tell if both fans are working:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=354)
8. Hit the START button and set your desired test temperature (DO NOT CHANGE THIS TEMPERATURE SETTING
ONCE YOU SET IT). You should start to hear pellets dropping into the burn grate, and the ignition process should
start.
9. After you visually verify that the cooker has started, by seeing the flames inside the burn grate (you will see
the flames by looking down between the hopper wall and the heat diffuser/HMS within 5 minutes), close the
cooker's door.
10. Start your timer and walk away from the cooker for 30 minutes. From this point forward, for the duration of
the test, DO NOT OPEN THE COOKER'S DOOR.
11. If your grill has the ACS controller with Wi-Fi, let your grill run for at least 2 hours then send us an email with
the email address associated with the FireBoard app and what session contains the test data.

12. If your grill is the non-Wi-Fi controller, at the 30 minute mark on your timer, and every 10 minutes thereafter, for the
next 1 1/2 hours, you will document your test temperature setting, the time since you started your timer, the controller
displayed temperature, the controller displayed mode (heat up, cool down or maintenance mode), and optionally,
readings from your external temperature probe(s). The following is an example:
Model: YS640
Serial #: 12345
Build Date: 1/1/2017
Firmware: U29
Controller Test Temperature Setting –250
Time Controller Mode Probe #1 Probe #2
At 30 minutes 255 maintenance 256 250
At 40 minutes 250 maintenance 249 252
At 50 minutes 260 maintenance 259 257
At the 2 hour mark in the test, you should have 10 lines of data.
13. After taking the final readings at the 2 hour mark, flip the power switch to the OFF position and let the cooker run
through the cool down cycle (it is a requirement that you always leave the cooker's door closed during the cool down
cycle). After the cooker is completely cooled, unplug the power cord and take the “after” pictures as outlined above.
Because pellet cookers are burning wood, it is impossible to have a listing of data points that are all exactly the same as
the temperature setting on the controller. There will be higher temperature readings as pellets are fed into the burn
grate and ignite, thus adding additional heat into the cooker (bigger fire). There will also be lower temperature readings
as the pellets are consumed and turned to ash, allowing for the cooker to cool down (smaller fire). Also, the
temperature shown on the display, unlike any external temperature probes used, is not shown in "real time". The
temperature shown on the display is a rolling 90 second average.
To analyze the data, calculate the average of all the readings from the display, and optionally, do the same for the
external temperature probe(s). Compare the average readings from the display that you calculated, to the original
temperature that you set on the controller at the beginning of the test. If the average is within 35 degrees, high or low,
of the controller set temperature, your cooker is functioning as it should.
If you would like us to analyze the data for you, please send your gathered data and pictures, as outlined in the example
above, to [e-mail]
For more information on how we test cookers at the factory, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/download/Stuff/ys640%20temp%20profile%20U29.pdf
For information on the difference between cooking with the physical grate temperature (controller displayed
temperature) and suspended air temperature (temperature above the lower grate at an arbitrary distance), please
review this article: http://community.yodersmokers.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=1368
For information on using pans, water pans and/or foil in the cooker, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=1392
For information on why the ash must be removed from the cooker before each use, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=454
For information on why opening the lid of the cooker causes erratic temperature swings, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=786

For specifics on the YS640 sliding damper, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/download/Best%20Practice%20and%20how%20to/YS640%20Variable%20dampe
r%20best%20practice.pdf
If the cooker ever fails to light, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/download/Best%20Practice%20and%20how%20to/Cooker%20Failing%20to%20Li
ght%20.pdf
For a complete listing of what to check if experiencing temperature issues, please review this article:
http://community.yodersmokers.com/download/Best%20Practice%20and%20how%20to/Temperature%20Issues%20Ch
eck%20List.pdf
Please contact Customer Service at [e-mail] or by calling 877-409-6337 option #2
Yoder Community Support Forum: http://community.yodersmokers.com