Can You Use An Extension Cord On a Traeger Grill?

Traeger pellet grill is an efficient way of smoking meat and is a great alternative to smoking meat over a standard grill. Sometimes, you’re looking for a way to get your grill going when it is raining, or if you have an outdoor space that doesn’t have outlets nearby to plug in your pellet grill. In that case, you might be wondering whether you can use an extension cord on a Traeger Pellet Grill.

So, can you use an extension cord on a Traeger grill? Yes, you can use a power extension cord with your Traeger grill. Most power cords on pellet grills, such as Traeger, Pit Boss, etc. are only 6/12 feet long. So, using an extension cord can increase the distance between the plug of your pellet grill and an available electrical outlet. A longer cord will help you to move more freely around your yard with a grill during BBQ parties, camping trips, etc. You should also make sure the cord has a three-pronged plug to power the grill safely. The maximum length of extension cord to be used with a pellet grill is generally 50 feet. However, you should first check with your specific model’s manual for details. Also, the extension cord should not get warm to the touch when connected with the pellet grill.

How Do Pellet Grills Consume Electric Power?

Pellet grills run on the standard household electric current. The power usage of pellet grills doesn’t matter which company’s pellet grill you’re using, is minimal. There are the following components of a pellet grill that needs electric power to operate:

• Induction fan
• Auger motor
• Thermostat
• Ignition rod

To learn about the functionality of each component of a pellet grill, you can check this article on the working of a Traeger grill. The amount of energy a pellet grill uses is determined by how many pellets are fed into the firepot. If you’re setting a higher temperature, it will consume more power.

A pellet grill draws the most amount of electricity during the ignition phase. Since wood pellets are not burning at that time, the ignition rods consume electricity to heat up so that the required ignition temperature can be achieved. In this ignition phase, which lasts for the first 5 to 10 minutes, the pellet smoker can consume 250 to 700 watts of electricity. In the United States, the standard voltage of the electric current at the outlets is 120V. That means the pellet grill will consume 2 to 6 amps of current in the first 5 to 10 minutes of the ignition period.

When the temperature reaches around 140 Fahrenheit, the electric power consumption of a pellet grill for the remaining phase is minimal as the power will only be required to run the induction fan and occasional turning of the auger motor. After the startup phase, the electric consumption of a pellet grill (Traeger, Pit Boss, etc.) is less than 50 watts. This is the same as powering an annoying dim light bulb. So, for the remaining cycle, the current consumption of the pellet grill is less than 2.5 amps.

Specifications of an Extension Cord

Before determining the right extension cord for your pellet grill, it is important to be aware of the different specifications of an extension cord.

1. Gauge of Cord

Gauge is the thickness/diameter of the cord. Thicker wires handle more electricity. The lower the number, the thicker – and therefore better – the wire is. For example, 12 gauge is thicker than 14 gauge (it’s not twice as thick), but it can carry more electricity (amps).

2. Length of Cord

It is better to keep the minimum length of an extension cord to connect it with a pellet grill. The shorter the better. As the length of an extension cord increases, the electric current has to travel along a longer path to reach equipment. The length offers more resistance due to which there will be more power drop as the voltage drops when the length of a wire or cord increases.

If, somehow, you’ve to use a long extension cord, then use a 12-gauge extension cord instead of 14. 12-gauge is the minimum cord you can use. Don’t go for less than that as it may cause a fire hazard due to the flow of a high ampere current.

3. Three-Prong Extension

The extension should have a three-prong plug as it connects the ground (earth) wire. The extension should have a three-prong plug as it connects the ground (earth) wire. This grounding path serves as a protection against electrical shock. In this way, if there is any short circuit in the system, the ground wire will create the lowest resistance path to flow all the current to the ground, which will shut down the appliance immediately.

4. Indoor or Outdoor Cord

The extension cord can be the indoor or outdoor type. The indoor extension cord is used for light usage and indoor applications. Indoor extension cords do not have protective coatings to withstand hard weather conditions. Due to this reason, the indoor extension cord is easier to damage and cut.

As compared to the indoor extension cord, the outdoor extension cord has a higher quality casing, such as plastic, rubber, or vinyl to withstand the cold climate, rain, and hot weather. If the coating is not tough, especially at the ends of the cord, it will not seal against the weather, due to which the moisture can enter and cause a short circuit.

SJTW rated extension cords are approved for outdoor applications on small equipment like Pitboss or Traeger pellet grills with less than 300 volts.

Points To Keep in Mind for the Extension Cord for Pellet Grills

• You can have a maximum of 50 feet cord for your pellet grill. But, with this length, use a 12-gauge cord. 25-feet is an ideal length of an extension. Always prefer the shortest length. So, if your requirement is 25 feet length of extension cord, don’t go for more than that just for the sake of your comfort.
• The extension cord gauge for the pellet grill (Pitboss or Traeger) should be either 12 or 14. Under 25 feet of length, a 14-gauge extension cord should be fine with the pellet grills. You should keep in mind that the amperage of the extension cord should be greater than that of a pellet grill. So, overkilling is better than underkilling in the case of the rating of an extension cord.
• The extension cord should be of an outdoor type. SJTW is the best rating of the extension cord, suitable for pellet grills. Also, the extension cord for pellet grills should be three-pronged.
• If the distance between the outlet and the plug of the pellet grill is more than 50 feet, use a GCFI-protected extension cord. GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. It is a tiny little circuit breaker that trips in 1/20th of a second in the event of some sort of problem in amperage.
• The extension cord for pellet grills should be under UL (for the USA), CSA (for Canada), and CE (for Europe).

Best Extension Cords for Pellet Grills

Here are my recommendations for the best extension cords for pellet grills. I would recommend only using the following extension cords as each extension cord has been designed and rated for a specific purpose.

1. Tripp Lite P024-003

Tripp Lite P024-003 is the best outdoor extension cord to use with pellet grills at a distance of less than 25 feet from the outlets. The plug is three-pronged, and the cord is 14-gauge, which is ideal for a distance under 25 feet. Its amperage rating is 15. It has a NEMA 5-15 plug which means that it has two poles and one ground pin, rated for a maximum of 125V. This extension cord is also UL (Underwriters Laboratory) certified. There is a tough PVC coating on the cable to withstand the hard weather conditions.

2. Woods AgriPro 2451

Woods AgriPro 2451 is a 14-gauge extension cord. It is only available in 25ft of length. It is also three-pronged and vinyl-coated. The difference is that it has three outlets at the receptor to connect multiple appliances at a time. In using such extension cords, make sure that you don’t overload it too much. The sum of amps of all appliances, connected with it, should be less than the amperage of the extension cord.

3. US Wire and Cable 74050

US Wire and Cable 74050 a 12-gauge extension cord. It is available in 50 and 100ft lengths. However, I’d recommend only using 50ft length to connect with the pellet grill. Furthermore, it is SJTW rated. So, it is suitable for tough outdoor conditions. The yellow color of this extension cord is easily visible and makes it suitable to use for grilling at night.

FAQs Related To Extension Cord Connection With Pellet Grill