Camp Chef ErH Error — High Temperature Shutdown

What Does This Error Mean?

ErH on a Camp Chef Woodwind or SmokePro means internal temperature exceeded the safety limit (typically 550°F).
The controller has shut down to prevent damage and fire risk.
Open the lid to release heat, let the grill cool for an hour, then clean the firepot and grease tray before restarting.
Most causes: pile-up of pellets during failed ignition or grease fire.

Affected Models

Camp Chef Woodwind
Camp Chef SmokePro
Camp Chef Apex
Camp Chef Pursuit
Camp Chef PG24

Common Causes

Pellets piled in firepot during failed ignition (mass ignition when lit)
Grease fire in firepot or drip tray
RTD probe failure causing uncontrolled heat
Controller stuck commanding heat (rare)
Strong wind drafting excessive air

How to Fix It

Open the lid for heat release.

Lift the lid fully.
This releases heat and prevents internal damage.
Stand back — flames may be briefly visible during cooldown if grease is involved.
Don't add water — let any flames burn out naturally.
Power off and unplug.

Press the power button.
Unplug the grill.
This ensures no further heating attempts.
Wait an hour minimum for the grill to cool to a safe temperature before any cleaning.
Clean the firepot completely.

Once cool, vacuum the firepot.
Remove all pellet debris, ash, and pile-up.
Camp Chef recommends after every 20-30 hours of cook time, but if ErH happened, do it now.
The firepot must be clean for safe restart.
Clean the grease tray and slide-out ash cleanout.

Camp Chef has an ash cleanout system — use it.
Pull the ash drawer and empty.
Check the grease tray under the cooking grates and clean.
Grease fires are a major ErH cause; routine grease management prevents recurrence.
Restart cautiously at low temp.

Plug in and start at 180-200°F.
Watch temperature climb.
Should stabilize at setpoint within 15-20 minutes.
If ErH returns, the RTD probe has failed — the controller can't see actual temperature and overheats blindly.
Replace probe (15-30 USD).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ErH happen on Woodwind grills with sear box?

Woodwind grills have an attached sear box (gas or pellet) that runs hotter.
If the sear box runs while the main grill is off, heat can transfer through and trip ErH.
Don't run sear box and main grill simultaneously unless the model is specifically designed for it.
Check your manual for safe operation.

Is ErH a sign of bigger problems?

If it's a one-off after a clear cause (you saw pellet pile-up, grease fire), one event is recoverable.
Recurring ErH suggests a deeper issue — RTD probe degrading, controller failing, or chronic grease management problems.
Address root cause to prevent damage to other components.