ARC Controller Guide

Startup: Turning on & Igniting

See also, How to Start an AC Grill.

1. Plug in and switch on the grill to place it in standby mode. The display LEDs will flash.
2. Press the UP, DOWN, or CENTER/SELECT button to take the grill out of standby mode. The primary temperature setting screen will be displayed.

Priming the Auger

See also, Seasoning an AC Grill

You should prime your grill's auger during the following scenarios:

• Initial firing/seasoning
• After replacing the auger or any part that requires removing the auger
• After running out of pellets

1. With the grill in standby mode (display LEDs flashing), press and hold the UP and IGNITE buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
2. The display will flash Pri, and the auger will begin to turn, bringing pellets from the hopper into the firepot.
   • Depending on the model, the Prime function will run for 30 seconds and stop automatically. Others will run continuously until canceled manually (see next step). Models with a Priming time limit can still be canceled manually.
3. Once a small amount of pellets are in direct contact with the igniter, press and hold the UP and IGNITE buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds to stop priming. 

   • NOTE: Priming is only necessary if the auger tube is empty of pellets.

Setting and Adjusting Grill Temperature

1. Once in grill temperature setting mode, the digits will flash as a prompt to set the temperature.
2. Press the UP and DOWN arrow buttons to select the temperature; the digits will continue to flash.
3. Press the IGNITE button to start the grill. Once the grill is started, the actual grill temperature is displayed without units.

Adjusting Grill Temperature

When adjusting the temperature, once set, the grill will continue to display the actual temperature, not the set temperature.

1. When the grill is running and in grill temperature mode, press either arrow button to display the current set temperature in Fahrenheit instead of the actual temperature.
2. Press either arrow button again to begin to adjust the temperature as needed. The digits will flash 3 times and confirm the adjusted temperature.

Changing Temperature Units (Celsius & Fahrenheit)

While the grill is on, whether running or not, press and hold the UP arrow and DOWN arrow buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds to change between °F and °C.

Keep Warm

1. Keep Warm can be used to pause the cook cycle at any time during grilling. Press KEEP WARM to activate the function and maintain the grill temperature at 165°F (75°C).
2. The Keep Warm icon will appear on display and show the Keep Warm temperature until the controller is used again.
3. Press KEEP WARM again to resume cooking.
4. Keep Warm should not be used for cooking.

Setting & Canceling the Timer

1. When the grill is running, use the CENTER/SELECT button to switch between grill temperature, timer, and probe alarm screens.
2. Press the CENTER/SELECT button twice to navigate to the timer screen. The hours' digits (00:) will flash.
3. Use the UP arrow button to select hours, press the CENTER/SELECT button to confirm your hours, and advance to minutes (for example, 2:00).
4. While the minutes' digits flash, use the UP arrow button to select minutes.
5. Press the CENTER/SELECT button to confirm minutes and start the timer. The timer icon will display and show the current timer setting until the controller is used again.
6. Press and hold the arrow buttons to advance through the digits more quickly.
7. If the timer is set, press the CENTER/SELECT button to display the time remaining on the timer screen (for example, 1:46).
8. Press the UP or DOWN arrow buttons to change the set time. Hour digits will flash (for example, 01:).
9. Use the UP and DOWN arrow buttons to adjust hours; then press the CENTER/SELECT button to confirm your hours and advance to minutes (for example, 1:46).
10. While the minutes' digits flash, use the UP and DOWN arrow buttons to adjust minutes.
11. Press the CENTER/SELECT button to confirm minutes and restart the timer.

Canceling the Timer

1. The alarm will sound when the timer is over, and the set time and icon will flash.
2. Press and hold the CENTER/SELECT button to exit the timer mode.
3. To cancel a set timer, press the CENTER/SELECT button if needed to navigate to the timer screen; then press and hold the CENTER/SELECT button.

Setting the Probe Alarm

NOTE: If the probe is not plugged in, this feature will not be available.

1. Inserting the Probe

   • When you plug in the probe, the controller beeps to show it recognized the probe.
   • the probe icon on the screen will only turn on if a probe alarm is set.

2. Accessing the Probe Menu

   • Press the CENTER/SELECT button to cycle through:
     • Grill temperature-->Timer-->Probe Alarm.
   • When you see P (for probe) followed by a number (the current probe temperature), (e.g. P 75), you're in probe mode.
   • If no alarm is set, pressing the arrow buttons will show "----".

3. Viewing the Probe Temperature without setting an Alarm

   • You can enter probe mode just to view the current probe temperature.
   • In this case:
     • The probe icon stays off.
     • The screen shows the current probe temp (e.g., P 72), but no alarm is active

4. Setting a Probe Alarm

   • In probe mode, use the UP/DOWN arrows to set your desired alarm temperature (e.g., 140F).
   • Press CENTER/SELECT to confirm:
     • The probe icon will light up.
     • The screen will return to showing the current probe temperature.

5. Adjusting or Canceling the Alarm

   • To view or change the alarm:
     • Press CENTER/SELECT to return to probe mode.
     • Press UP or DOWN to see the current alarm (flashing).
     • Adjust as needed (e.g., change from 140°F to 200°F).
   • To cancel the alarm:
     • Press and hold the CENTER/SELECT button.

6. Know what you're adjusting

   • Use the temperature range to confirm what you're setting:
   • Probe Alarm temperature range: 140°F-215°F
   • Grill temperature range: (depending on the model)165°F/185°F/215°F-450°F 

Probe Temperature Not Showing

ARC controllers may see an issue where they do not show the meat probe temperature. Before attempting to replace the meat probe, try to set the probe alarm. The probe temperature should display by pressing the center button.

Shutting Down the Grill

1. When the grill is running and in grill temperature mode, press and hold the CENTER/SELECT button
2. OFF will flash 9 times.
3. The grill will go into shutdown mode, and the display will scroll COOL DN XXX, followed by a 10-minute countdown.
4. If you want to cancel the shutdown process, press the CENTER/SELECT button while the display is flashing OFF.
5. Shutting down an ARC Controller grill can take from 5-15 minutes, depending on the type of grill.

Although rare, you may see an error message displayed on their control panel. Refer to the chart below for potential issues and how to resolve them: