MES 30 Owners, please help!

vikings8480 · Jun 16, 2015

I bought a MES 30 last July. I've gotten good use out of it, but a couple weeks ago, my smoker died in the middle of the night. The control panel still comes on and says it was heating but the element wouldn't turn on. I tested the voltage at the connectors of the heating element and there was voltage when I told the control unit to heat. So, I called Masterbuilt and they sent me a new element.

This weekend, I installed the new element and it wouldn't heat, at all. I thought it might be a bad ground so I moved the ground wire to a different location directly on the frame of the unit. The heating element started heating so, I thought I was in good shape. I turned the control unit off but, the heating element kept on heating and wouldn't stop heating until I unplugged the unit from the wall.

Does anyone know what is causing this? Control unit? Improper grounding? Any help would be much appreciated!

jted · Jun 17, 2015

Vikings8480 said:
I bought a MES 30 last July. I've gotten good use out of it, but a couple weeks ago, my smoker died in the middle of the night. The control panel still comes on and says it was heating but the element wouldn't turn on. I tested the voltage at the connectors of the heating element and there was voltage when I told the control unit to heat. So, I called Master built and they sent me a new element.

This weekend, I installed the new element and it wouldn't heat, at all. I thought it might be a bad ground so I moved the ground wire to a different location directly on the frame of the unit. The heating element started heating so, I thought I was in good shape. I turned the control unit off but, the heating element kept on heating and wouldn't stop heating until I unplugged the unit from the wall.

Does anyone know what is causing this? Control unit? Improper grounding? Any help would be much appreciated!

Well seeing that you have a new element and you are still having problems it might be a safe bet it is not the element. Get back with Master built and request a new controller. Since it appears you have and know how to use a multi meter you should check the resistance of the new element and compare it with the old one. You may have 2 good elements. You could also check the voltage at the element when the controller is in the heating mode. That will tell you if is acting right. Those controllers are either full on or satisfied.

Just some trouble shooting things to do before talking to Master built. If the CSR thinks you know something you may get to talk to a repair person. Jted

daveomak · Jun 17, 2015

Evidently that wasn't a ground wire.... move it back to where it was....

I think it was a connection on the element not making good contact.... clean the contacts where the element and wiring join together... Un plug the connectors, sand or wire brush, reconnect and crimp tightly..... then plug it in again and try the unit.... those connectors are notorious for losing contact..... If it works, solder the connections....

vikings8480 · Jun 18, 2015

Thanks for the input guys! I'll dink with it a little more over the weekend and then call Masterbuilt on Monday if I can't find a solution.

vikings8480 · Jun 25, 2015

I called Masterbuilt and they are sending out another unit, less the door, racks, waterpan, etc. Sweet. Despite it being almost a year old, they got me covered!

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MES 30 Owners, please help!

vikings8480

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jted

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daveomak

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vikings8480

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