Mes will not heat up

brokenwing

Meat Mopper

Original poster

SMF Premier Member

Mar 30, 2010

258

27

Northern Maryland

• Apr 14, 2011

• #1

Hey everyone its been a long time, life has been crazy.  Anyway since i have not smoked anything for a while, i thought i would do some spare ribs.  Threw them in, and went out to my favorite fishing hole to come back to a cold smoker.  I put the ribs in the oven, and drilled out the back of the mes.  Both connectors were burned off.  So i know how to fix that problem  My question is, making sure the  heating element is good.  When i place my meter across the element terminals, I'm not getting any continuity, am i doing something wrong or is my element burned out also.  Any advice would be great, thanks.

 

rbranstner

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Oct 18, 2007

5,698

39

West Fargo, ND / Northern MN

• Apr 14, 2011

• #2

Is this a new smoker that you just got? You could called MES support. I'm sure some of the other MES guys will be by soon with suggestions. I don't know a thing about them.

 

eman

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Feb 3, 2009

5,316

139

• Apr 14, 2011

• #3

I never checked continuity when i repaired mine so i dont know ???

 Just changed the wire to 12 guage  high temp and used stainless connectors.

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Apr 14, 2011

• #4

The resistance is pretty low. Depending on the type of meter you have, it may not register.

I just did some reading and the ohms resistance of a cold element should be around 9-15 ohms. I could not find the same application we are using. Only a S.W.A.G.

 

Last edited: Apr 14, 2011

Fife

Master of the Pit

SMF Premier Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Mar 14, 2011

1,015

15

Jacksonville, Florida

• Apr 14, 2011

• #5

O boy that sux. I would give them a call

 

otter

Meat Mopper

Apr 17, 2010

286

10

N.C. Providence

• Apr 14, 2011

• #6

don't know what scale you were on but my battery is low

mine read on 3rd scale k omes and it works

 

michael ark

Master of the Pit

Feb 11, 2011

2,425

32

Jonesboro Ar

• Apr 14, 2011

• #7

You should get some resistance.Very carefully unhook leads  to element turn unit on look for voltage coming to element should have 120 vac or less if controls still work .Make sure sure to check element a first connection leaving it in case it has fuse or overload in that circuit.

 GOOD LUCK  I'll check back if you need more help.

 

michael ark

Master of the Pit

Feb 11, 2011

2,425

32

Jonesboro Ar

• Apr 14, 2011

• #8

When i say 120 vac or less  

 I mean 115 ,110vac etc.. less than that  the control bad too.Didn't proof read it good.

 

brokenwing

Meat Mopper

Original poster

SMF Premier Member

Thread starter

Mar 30, 2010

258

27

Northern Maryland

• Apr 14, 2011

• #9

I have had this smoker for almost 2 years.  When i drilled out the back. i found one wire burned off the element and the other barely hanging on.  Once i had the element out of the smoker, i checked it for continuity but nothing.  I called a guy i know at a appliance repair shop, and he said he had some high temp wire he would give me, and while i was there he would check the element.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed, i can just replace the wiring, but i think the element is burned out too.  I love the mes, but 2 years come on. I'm meeting the guy at the appliance shop on Saturday so wish me luck.  I'm going to take the advice given, and go double check the element myself. Thanks for all the info, you guys are great.

 

Last edited: Apr 14, 2011

hotburn76

Newbie

Jan 8, 2010

28

10

Findlay, Ohio

• Apr 16, 2011

• #10

If its a 800 watt unit you should get around 18 ohms, if its the 1200 watt then you should get around 12.  At work we stay within 10% or we consider it bad or in the process of going bad.  Also make sure its completely disconnected from the unit so you don't get any of the controls affecting your reading.

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Apr 17, 2011

• #11

Will someone make this a WIKI for future reference please.

 Old folks like me have CRS disease
 

Hotburn76 said:

If its a 800 watt unit you should get around 18 ohms, if its the 1200 watt then you should get around 12.  At work we stay within 10% or we consider it bad or in the process of going bad.  Also make sure its completely disconnected from the unit so you don't get any of the controls affecting your reading.

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