I believe the startup mode is the same, regardless of set temp. The startup is timed, then it works its way to set temp.
It works differently than your traeger controller did. On the Traeger controller, the "smoke" setting didnt use the thermocouple at all, it was just a timed setting. So you started there to keep it from overfeeding pellets. The temp settings are all analog like your oven thermocouple... so it is easy to overfeed the fuel during startup. (Which is why they have you start in smoke).
On your MAK - the pellet boss has several programs that run, and a startup is one of them. That smoke is normal it should fire fine. What I have found is that if it doesnt fire, it is because of ash buildup in the pot over time. Simple fix there... vac the pot
Good luck on your cook coming up!
It works differently than your traeger controller did. On the Traeger controller, the "smoke" setting didnt use the thermocouple at all, it was just a timed setting. So you started there to keep it from overfeeding pellets. The temp settings are all analog like your oven thermocouple... so it is easy to overfeed the fuel during startup. (Which is why they have you start in smoke).
On your MAK - the pellet boss has several programs that run, and a startup is one of them. That smoke is normal it should fire fine. What I have found is that if it doesnt fire, it is because of ash buildup in the pot over time. Simple fix there... vac the pot
Good luck on your cook coming up!