how well does the MES 40 work in the cold?

barbqjim

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Original poster

Apr 25, 2010

47

12

Minneasota

• Dec 9, 2012

• #1

I am looking to upgrade to a MES. I am curious how well it works in the cold wether. I currently have a chargriller offset and just finished 2 9# pork shoulders in the midle of a 14 in snowstorm at 24 degrees. let me tell ya it was a lot of work to keep it all going well but i managed. How will a MES 40 work in similar conditions. I'm not one to let a little weather get in the way of a smoke. thanks for any input.

 

tjohnson

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Dec 29, 2009

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Savage, MN

• Dec 10, 2012

• #2

I use my MES 40 down to 20° with success

If you keep it outside, the warm up time will be quite long as you'll have to overcome the cold temp of the entire cabinet.

I keep my MES in the garage, that's heated to 45° during the winter

Once you get to temp, the MES 40 does a pretty good job at 225°

Maintaining 275° can be tough, when it's really cold outside

Don't smoke in the garage during the winter!!!

Keep your smoker outside

TJ

 

beernuts

Smoke Blower

Nov 9, 2012

103

11

Blaine, MN

• Dec 10, 2012

• #3

I've had my MES 40 smoker for a few weeks now and have had few if any major problems with the cold weather.  I usually smoke at 225 degrees and the MES has no problems staying warm.  Add the AMNPS so I don't have to open the door as often and it holds the heat well.  I do let it warm up for a while.  The initial set is for 275 degrees and I let it run for a while there to get some heat through the box.  After it's warmed I put the food and the AMNPS in and lower the temp to 225 degrees.  The procedure works great for the temps we've had so far...

 

sound1

Smoking Fanatic

Oct 10, 2011

775

22

Northern Arizona

• Dec 10, 2012

• #4

No problems, but I fill the water pan with sand to help maintain the heat and reduce wild temp swings. 

 

blacklab

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Jan 12, 2008

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Battleground Wa

• Dec 10, 2012

• #5

My little 40 is weather challenged here in  Wa st. It's the first or second year model with the window. An only has 800 or 850 watts

 

sound1

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Oct 10, 2011

775

22

Northern Arizona

• Dec 10, 2012

• #6

Weather challenged...I love it!!  I can see that with the older 800 watt models. Not that my 1200 watt isn't working a little harder at 10-20* but she will hold temp once there.

 

barbqjim

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Apr 25, 2010

47

12

Minneasota

• Dec 10, 2012

• #7

Thanks for the feedback. It took 30 lbs of charcoal and 13 hours to smoke the pork shoulders yesterday. Much more charcoal and time than normal. It would be nice to not have to worry about the fire constantly. I wouldn't think of smoking in the garage. It is a tuck under. The whole house would be full of it. I do have a soft sided shed that may work well though to keep out of the snow on snowy days. With the electric it may be better also as it would keep the cord out of the puddles. How long of an extension cord and what guage can you use with MES 40? 

 

chef jimmyj

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May 12, 2011

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• Dec 10, 2012

• #8

Barb, You will want the shortest Extension possible. You need at least a 12 AWG Outdoor Extension Cord. Members have had no problems with 25 Feet. You might consider a 10 AWG if you need to go longer...JJ

 

deltadude

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Sacramento Area

• Dec 10, 2012

• #9

A properly labeled 12 gauge cord should work fine out 50ft.  I use a 50' ft 12 gauge cord with no problems.

I strongly suggest that you preheat your MES, the lower the temp the longer the preheat.  In Sacramento we don't experience too many real cold days below 32º, however twice I have smoked at 28º.  I preheated for 2+ hours (without water pan, when ready to add meat put water pan in with boiling water) and had no problem maintaining temps, even though my MES 40 is only 800w.

 

barbqjim

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Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 25, 2010

47

12

Minneasota

• Dec 10, 2012

• #10

I have a 50 foot 10 gauge so that hopefully will do the trick. It works for welding so I would think it would work for the smoker. Thanks for the input. Now just to determine if I get the 2011 or 2012 MES 40.

 

barbqjim

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Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 25, 2010

47

12

Minneasota

• Dec 12, 2012

• #11

Well I decided to go with tried and true and picked up a 2011 model MES 40 at Sams club. I seasoned it last night and so far I am impressed. It was 0 degrees last night when I seasoned it and it hit 275 in 35 minutes. I do realize I need to warm up longer when getting ready to smoke normally but that was nice to know it heats up quickly. The chip burner is a little needy as I needed to add chips every 15 to 20 minutes to keep the smoke going. I did what the manual said and added 1 cup of chips. After reading on here I think that is too much especially since the chip pan was full of partially burnt chips that were not smoking anymore after 45 minutes of smoke. I intend to get a AMNPS as soon as they are in stock anyway so no big deal. I will be breaking it in this weekend on some rainbow trout. I can't wait. 

 

sound1

Smoking Fanatic

Oct 10, 2011

775

22

Northern Arizona

• Dec 12, 2012

• #12

You will be happy with the addition of the AMNPS.  That feeding the beast every 20-30 minutes will become a thing of the past.

 

jmart

Newbie

Nov 10, 2012

6

10

Kyle, Tx

• Dec 21, 2012

• #13

It's 36*F outside and I threw a pork butt about 1 1/2 hrs. ago.  I have my mes set 210*F and the heater is staying on avg. about 4min27sec and off about 3min40sec.  I also have two fire bricks as heat sinks and on top of that I have my amnps with some hickory pellets.  7# pork butt.  Can't wait for tomorrow, so I can have some of that good pork.  I forgot to add that it is 12:00 AM as I type this. 1200 Watt MES

 

Last edited: Dec 22, 2012