MES30 heating element

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

jkc64

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
★ Lifetime Premier ★
Dec 7, 2011
536
243
Portland, TN.
I have had my MES30 2 1/2 years and about a month and a half ago the element connectors burned through, thanks to all here who have posted about this issue. I has some new connectors that masterbuilt sent with the new element that I bought for my MES40 so I spliced them in and all was good till last weekend. I was smoking some chicken and started loosing temp, switched the food to the other smoker and saved dinner. This evening I opened the panel on the back of the MES30 and the wirenuts and melted and the terminals look corroded.


I guess this time I will hit lowes or home depot and get some high temp wire and connectors and replace these two connectors from end to end. Any sugestions on cleaning the ends on the heating element? And would there be any advantages or drawbacks to soldering the connectors rather than just sliding them on? I am thinking the solder would make a much better contact.

Thanks.........John
 
That was my thought, larger wire soldered for a better connection and heat shrink.

Thanks
 
i don't see a problem with heat and solder. don't use a lead solder.

Solder AlloyMelting Point (°C)Melting Point (°F)
5Sn-95Pb307585
0.5Sn-92.5Pb-2.5Ag280536
Sn/5Sb243469
100Sn[sup]3[/sup]232450
99.3Sn-0.7Cu227440
96.5Sn-3.5Ag221430
Sn/3.0Ag/0.5Cu219426
Sn/3.8Ag/1.0Cu217423
Sn/3.5Ag/1.0Cu/3Bi213415
50In-50Pb209402
45Sn-55Pb204400
55Sn-45Pb193379
60Sn-40Pb186368
63Sn-37Pb183361
62Sn-36Pb-2Ag179354
97In-3Ag143289
Sn/57Bi139282
52In-48Sn118244

David
 
Last edited:
I got over the connector after a couple failures..

And the connector lug on the element burned away..

I cleaned with wire brush and emery cloth and soldered the wire right on to the element with some duct tape..

Been holding for a good while so far..1 year 5 months...

It will need a new element next time and new wires...

Read this...

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/115314/mes-30-wire-repair-with-r-view

  Craig
 
I knew this was a problem with these units from all the great info posted here, that's why I didn't panic when it happened to me. I was expecting the repair to last longer than a couple of months though. I will get some good solder (don't know what my r/c solder is) and heavy high heat wire and replace the entire length of wire this time. Thanks for asll the feedback.

john
 
So I was to most of the big stores and a couple of hardware stores this past weekend, none carry high temp wire. I was going to hit up an appliance repair shop this week but my wife scored some wire for me. My question now is wheather it is too large. It is almost three times the size wire I took out of the unit.


I also have these connectors but am also concerned that they are not heavy duty enough


I was planning to strip the yellow jacket off and solder the wire in rather than crimp. Maybe someone who is more familiar with electricity and wire resistance can help me out here.

john
 
So I was to most of the big stores and a couple of hardware stores this past weekend, none carry high temp wire. I was going to hit up an appliance repair shop this week but my wife scored some wire for me. My question now is wheather it is too large. It is almost three times the size wire I took out of the unit.


I also have these connectors but am also concerned that they are not heavy duty enough


I was planning to strip the yellow jacket off and solder the wire in rather than crimp. Maybe someone who is more familiar with electricity and wire resistance can help me out here.

john
I can't tell what size wire or ends are in the pics. I think that is a yellow end. If so that is the large. A stereo store might have a heaver end, Remember size Matters.

Now to is it to large. If you can get it in the ends,No If not trim a few wires. as few as possable.

You will be good to go.

Remember when you put it back in the cabinet. You don't want it touching the inside walls.

What i use for ends in my car builds is copper pipe flattened then soldered.

Happy smoken.

David

Let us know how it works
 
Yes the connectors are the yellow large type, the wire just fits the connector snug. I don't know my wire sizes but in automotive terms I didn't know if going from a red connector size to a yellow was too big. hope I am making sense.

john
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky