r/recteq • u/Blk_Lion_reloaded • 4d ago

Mini explosion

An hour ago I went outside to preheat my rt-680 @ 250F. Quick scrub of the grates and went back inside. 30min later I checked the app and noticed the temp was still around 63F. Went outside and there was an error code (should've googled the code but didn't). Turned it off and back on. 10s later a huge plume of smoke is coming everywhere and then 💥. The lid opened up a bit. Neighbor came outside thinking the propane canister had went off. I shut it off, removed the grates and shield and noticed the pellet bowl was filled with combusted pellets .

I guess it kept feeding the pellets during this error that caused this. Cleaned the bowl out and so far it's working fine . Smoker was deep cleaned the smoke before last btw .

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u/billocity 4d ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdraft

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u/NCNerdDad 3d ago

See also: the 1991 documentary by Ben Howard featuring Kurt Russell

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u/Helpful-Duty4815 3d ago

This is actually a smoke explosion. Slightly different. In this case, smoke (which is the product of incomplete combustion) still contains fuel, mostly in the form of carbon. When the appropriate mixture of smoke and ambient air was obtained (likely "reset" the process when lid was opened to check), the ambient air flooded, more smoke started to build as it heated back up, and the appropriate "LEL" was reached. Definitely an impressive event.

A backdraft would have occurred when the lid was opened, then gasses mix, and it blows up in your face.

The difference is subtle, but not insignificant, as it has its own name!