Camp Chef ErL Error — Low Temperature / Fire Out Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

ErL on Camp Chef means temperature has dropped below the operational minimum (typically below 100°F during cook) — usually the fire went out.
Most causes: empty pellet hopper, damp pellets, weak igniter, or auger jam.
Power off, check pellets, clean the firepot, then re-ignite.
If ErL returns immediately, the igniter or auger needs attention.

Affected Models

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

Common Causes

Pellet hopper empty or near-empty
Pellets damp or stale (won't burn cleanly)
Igniter weakened or failed
Auger jammed by pellet dust or debris
Strong wind extinguishing the fire

How to Fix It

Power off and check pellets.

Press power off.
Open the hopper lid.
Check pellet level — if low or empty, that's likely your ErL.
Refill with fresh dry pellets.
Camp Chef pellets or major brands (Lumber Jack, Bear Mountain) work reliably.
Clean the firepot.

Once cool, use Camp Chef's ash cleanout to empty.
Vacuum any remaining ash from the firepot.
Heavy ash insulates the igniter and prevents reliable ignition.
Clean firepot is essential for restart.
Test the igniter.

Power on briefly with the lid open.
Watch the firepot — within 60 seconds the igniter should glow red.
If silent and dark, the igniter has failed.
Camp Chef replacement igniters: 25–50 USD parts.
30-minute swap with basic tools.
Verify auger feed.

Listen during startup — should hear the auger motor running.
If silent, the motor or feed is jammed.
Empty the hopper and check the auger inlet area for blockage.
Pellet dust can build up in the auger over time.
Restart and watch.

After cleaning and verifying, plug in and start.
Watch temperature climb to setpoint.
Should reach within 15-20 minutes.
If ErL returns, the issue is more than basic maintenance — service or component replacement needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ErL happen on cold mornings?

Cold ambient temperatures and damp pellets are a bad combination.
Pellets absorbing humidity overnight don't ignite well.
Cold air pulls heat from the firepot faster.
Tips: store pellets in sealed bins (not in the hopper), let the grill warm up for 5-10 minutes before adjusting setpoint, and consider a thermal blanket for very cold climates.

Is the fire really out, or is the probe wrong?

Open the lid and look at the firepot.
You'll see flames if the fire is alive, or just dark/smoky pellets if it's gone out.
If you see flames but ErL is showing, the RTD probe is reading low.
Probe replacement is the fix in that case (15–30 USD).