Char-Griller Professional Grills & Smokers

We recommend you only use enough charcoal for the expected cook time. This will depend on cook temperature, type of fuel, outdoor temperature/humidity, and other factors.

For low& slow (200-250 F), or Hot & fast (375 –450 F) Indirect heat

1) Use approximately 1-3 lbs. of lump charcoal to build fire in the center of the fire grate. When coals ignite, close lid, and begin to regulate temp with controller.

 For high temp searing & grilling (325-700 F) Direct heat 1) Use approximately 2-3 lbs. of lump charcoal to build a fire in the center of the fire grate. When coals ignite, close lid, and begin to regulate temp with controller.

Do not use gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, or alcohol for lighting charcoal. Use of any of these or similar products could cause an explosion leading to severe injury.

Do not use instant or match-light style of charcoal briquettes. Use of ignition accelerants voids the warranty.

 For best performance, we recommend hardwood charcoal briquettes, standard charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal.

We recommend using a tumbleweed or fire cube style of fire starter for igniting your grill.

NOTE: Do not use gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, alcohol for lighting charcoal. Use of any of these or similar products could cause an explosion leading to severe injury. Do not use instant or match-light style of charcoal briquettes. Use of these ignition accelerants voids the warranty.

Ignition first requires 3-5 minutes of charcoal activation from the open flame of a Firestarter. Stack 1-3 lbs. of lump charcoal (50-60 briquettes) into a pyramid in the center of the fire grate. Open top damper and fan cover. Light the coals using 1-2 fire starters and leave the lid open for 3-5 minutes to get the fire started. Close the lid and turn on grill controller to set all desired temperatures and timers. 

Why is the controller not working/fan not turning on/grill not starting? Check the following:

 1. The power supply connection is plugged securely into the controller.

2. The power supply is plugged into a working outlet.

3. The controller is powered ON.

4. The top damper and fan cover are open.

5. Ensure you are allowing 3-5 minutes of charcoal activation from the open flame of a fire starter before powering on the controller.

If the controller is powered on and the charcoal is ignited, heat shield is removed, ensure the top damper is open and the fan cover has been opened. 

Your grill will typically reach the desired temperature within 15 minutes. But many factors affect how long the grill grates and other metal surfaces will reach your desired temperature. This includes outside temperature / humidity, fuel type, fuel moisture content, among others.

 When preparing your meal, we recommend allowing 20-30 minutes before beginning your cook. As you learn your product, your prep time will adapt to your preferred fuel type and local climate.

Any time you cook with charcoal, it is normal for heavy smoke when first ignited. After fuel activation, the smoke will change to a light thin smoke, indicating your grill is ready to cook. 

Pre-soak wood chips for 35 minutes. Soak chunks for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the wood is completely saturated. After the grill has reached the desired temperature, sprinkle two handfuls of soaked wood chips or chunks over lit charcoals. Allow the chips to smoke by closing the lid. You can begin cooking after a few minutes and more soaked chips may be added to the fire later if necessary.

The controller powers the fan to add air to the charcoal and increase the temperature of the grill. Due to natural heating and cooling cycles, the grill will slowly alternate between higher and lower temperatures. These cycles typically exhibit less than 5% variance at any time and will not affect the long term cook performance. 

This would likely be due to the vent being open too far, too much charcoal being activated, or the fan being on manual. 

The controller uses algorithmic logic to estimate the average temperature in the middle of the cooking area, not any specific temp probe point. 

When you open the lid, the cooking surface will cool, and the controller will attempt to maintain your set temperature. Opening the smoking chamber will extend cooking time. The more you keep the lid closed, the better the cooking performance. 

One of the largest factors in burn performance is outdoor temperature, colder outdoor temperatures will result in faster fuel consumption. Cooking at higher temperatures and frequent opening of the lid will also increase charcoal usage. Do not use accelerants or match lit charcoal. Finally, brands of charcoal vary in quality, density and material make up, resulting in differences of performance. For optimal performance, we recommend a natural hardwood briquette from a trusted fuel brand.

To extinguish the fire after a cook, it is important to eliminate all sources of oxygen that your fuel can use to burn. First, turn the controller OFF and unplug your grill. Next, close the grill body lid, damper and fan cover allowing the fire to suffocate. Do not store or cover the grill until it has completely cooled. Depending on your earlier set temperature, this could take a couple to several hours. 

Yes, first press the grill temperature button. Then, rotate the control dial to the desired temperature. Finally, press grill temp button again to set desired grill temperature target.

Yes, first press fan button. Then, rotate the control dial (fan starts in AUTO mode and can be adjusted from 0 to 100). Finally, press fan button or control dial to set. Press and hold fan button to return to AUTO.

Ash absorbs moisture which causes corrosion. We highly recommend you empty your ash pan after every cook. Charcoal and ashes left inside the ash pan may reduce the life of your grill. 

When finished cooking, clean your grates, and lightly coat with the high smoke point oil of your choice like grapeseed oil. This helps to both prolong the life of the grill and ensure it is ready to use the next time you fire it up. Once your grill is completely cool, empty your ash pan, recommended after every use. Only empty your ashes into a metal container and cover with water to ensure there are no lit coals. 

Extend the life of your grill by using a custom Char-Griller cover to protect your grill from dust, wind, and rain. Between use, we recommend storing your grill in a covered location to protect from sun and water. Find grill covers and accessories at CharGriller.com

Yes, all Char-Griller grills come with a 1-year warranty on defective parts as well as a 5-year rust through / burn through warranty on the grill lid and body. The warranty form is on our website at Char-Griller Warranty. Grill registration is required for warranty service. You can register your grill at www.CharGriller.com/pages/register-grill. Please be prepared to provide a copy of your receipt and the serial number located on the back of your grill body.

Please contact Char-Griller customer service using the chat box in the lower right corner

Find General Auto Kamado Troubleshooting Above. 

1) Check the connection of the main temperature probe. Unplug the connection, and then reconnect. Then, unplug the grill and plug back in. 2) If error code persists, you may need to replace your probe. Contact customer service using the chat box in the lower right corner.

1) Unplug the grill power supply and open the lid to cool down.

2) Check for causes of the overheat.

• Grease Fire: Empty grease cup after each use.
• Fan Malfunction: See fan troubleshooting.
• Probe malfunction: Clean dirty probe.

1) Unplug the grill power supply. 2) Check the connection of the fan unit at both the controller and fan. 3) Check to make sure no ashes or debris are blocking the fan/stuck in the fan. 4) Plug the grill power supply back in. 5) If error persists, contact customer service using the chat box in the lower right corner.

1) Check if using the supplied power adapter or for malfunction of power adapter. Only use the original included power supply or one of equal power (voltage and current output) 2) If error persists, contact customer service using the chat box in the lower right corner.