MES only heats up to 300

kumatae · Jan 31, 2015

I've had my MES for about 3 years and have been using it fairly often. Last year I replaced the connectors to the heat element whi check has prolonged its life. Most recently, I noticed that my MES will heat up to 300. The temperature reads right temperature but no matter what I set, it ignores and heats it up to 300. Would replacing the thermometer inside the unit fix this? Or just suck it up and upgrade the wiring to thicker guage? Love making beef jerky on the MES so not sure what I would replace it with. Thanks.

Bearcarver · Jan 31, 2015

kumatae said:
I've had my MES for about 3 years and have been using it fairly often. Last year I replaced the connectors to the heat element whi check has prolonged its life. Most recently, I noticed that my MES will heat up to 300. The temperature reads right temperature but no matter what I set, it ignores and heats it up to 300. Would replacing the thermometer inside the unit fix this? Or just suck it up and upgrade the wiring to thicker guage? Love making beef jerky on the MES so not sure what I would replace it with. Thanks.

Just a chance:

How about cleaning the temp sensor on the back wall of the MES. It looks like a little toggle switch.

Bear

gary s · Jan 31, 2015

I need to clean my temp sensor, Uh Oh I don't have one on my RF

Gary

kumatae · Jan 31, 2015

How ironic that you would respond Bear because I'm preparing to make your baked beans!! I just cleaned the connectors and the thermometer. But thermometer reads the temperature right. When I set for example 175 degrees, it will indicate starting temp of 80 degrees (california) and will slowly go up with the display showing 90 five min later and so on all the way up to 300.

hope that I can make the beans for super bowl tomorrow...

Bearcarver · Feb 1, 2015

kumatae said:
How ironic that you would respond Bear because I'm preparing to make your baked beans!! I just cleaned the connectors and the thermometer. But thermometer reads the temperature right. When I set for example 175 degrees, it will indicate starting temp of 80 degrees (california) and will slowly go up with the display showing 90 five min later and so on all the way up to 300.

hope that I can make the beans for super bowl tomorrow...

I don't get it----You set it at 175°, and it reads 80°.

Then 5 minutes later it reads 90°. (it takes 5 minutes to get from 80° to 90°??)

Then it gradually gets to reading 300°? (How long does that take?) And it's still set at 175°??

I don't have a Baked Beans recipe.

That must be Dutch's recipe you got.

Bear

tropics · Feb 1, 2015

kumatae are you using the MES control to read the temp, they are known to be way off. I would get an external probe Maverick or what ever you can to check the CC. Be sure the do the boiling water test on the probe.

kumatae · Feb 3, 2015

Totally apologize for the mistake Bear! I just used starting temp as 80 degree as an example to illustrate that my thermometer reports what is the temperature in the smoker. Also to perhaps brag a bit that it was 80 degrees this past weekend here in so cal. :biggrin:
It's definitely the control that isn't working to stop heating once it gets to my desired temperature. It just keeps going and going.
Going to save and save for a Rec Tec or GMG and call it good.

Bearcarver said:
I don't get it----You set it at 175°, and it reads 80°.
Then 5 minutes later it reads 90°. (it takes 5 minutes to get from 80° to 90°??)
Then it gradually gets to reading 300°? (How long does that take?) And it's still set at 175°??

I don't have a Baked Beans recipe.
That must be Dutch's recipe you got.

Bear

tropics said:
kumatae are you using the MES control to read the temp, they are known to be way off. I would get an external probe Maverick or what ever you can to check the CC. Be sure the do the boiling water test on the probe.

bmaddox · Feb 4, 2015

kumatae said:
Totally apologize for the mistake Bear! I just used starting temp as 80 degree as an example to illustrate that my thermometer reports what is the temperature in the smoker. Also to perhaps brag a bit that it was 80 degrees this past weekend here in so cal.

It's definitely the control that isn't working to stop heating once it gets to my desired temperature. It just keeps going and going.
Going to save and save for a Rec Tec or GMG and call it good.

That sounds like an issue with the temp controller itself. Does the heating element turn off or does it stay constantly on and the temp gauge just stops reading at 300?

Bearcarver · Feb 4, 2015

kumatae said:
Totally apologize for the mistake Bear! I just used starting temp as 80 degree as an example to illustrate that my thermometer reports what is the temperature in the smoker. Also to perhaps brag a bit that it was 80 degrees this past weekend here in so cal.

It's definitely the control that isn't working to stop heating once it gets to my desired temperature. It just keeps going and going.
Going to save and save for a Rec Tec or GMG and call it good.

Not sure exactly what yours is doing, but If I start my MES in 80° weather, and set it for 275°, the element will shut off at 275°, but the heat will continue to rise to temps in the area of 300°, before it begins to drop again.

Is your element still on after it gets to your set point, or is the heat just coasting upwards after the element shuts off?

Bear

daricksta · Feb 4, 2015

kumatae said:
I've had my MES for about 3 years and have been using it fairly often. Last year I replaced the connectors to the heat element whi check has prolonged its life. Most recently, I noticed that my MES will heat up to 300. The temperature reads right temperature but no matter what I set, it ignores and heats it up to 300. Would replacing the thermometer inside the unit fix this? Or just suck it up and upgrade the wiring to thicker guage? Love making beef jerky on the MES so not sure what I would replace it with. Thanks.

It's not the temp sensor; it's the round sensor on the left side of the back wall--the high temp limit switch. When that gets dirty and clogged your MES temp will go up to 300 no matter what else you do. Simply clean it off with a damp paper towel. I also cleaned out the notches with a toothpick. I had the same problem and the same fix worked on my MES 30 Gen 1.

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MES only heats up to 300

kumatae

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Bearcarver

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gary s

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kumatae

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Bearcarver

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tropics

Epic Pitmaster

kumatae

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bmaddox

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Bearcarver

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daricksta

Master of the Pit

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