The controller manages the whole process of igniting the pellet fire in the burn pot. As soon as the controller is set to a temperature the hot rod igniter in the base of the burn pot will start to heat up until its literally glowing hot.

After the pellet feed auger places a few pellets into the burn pot next to the glowing hot rod igniter the pellets will start to smolder. The combustion fan will be feeding the smoldering pellets with fresh air and eventually the smoldering pellets will get hot enough for a fire to be estabilished.

After a couple of minutes the controller will stop sending power through the hot rod igniter as by monitoring the internal temperature in the cooking chamber it will be able to tell a fire has been established.