To Keep Or Not To Keep The Water Pan Inside The MES During Smoking? This Answers The Question

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Dr. I don't know what setup the Bear carver uses now but the picture he sent me had both the heat deflector and water pan that was about the same size as yours in the picture but yours is attached to the pan as far as I can tell. He stated he would move his to the left if needed. Your set up looks good .Let us know how it works out.   Jted
Right,

My deflector is simpler than Dr K's, as I just put it above the water pan, and I don't trim it around the pan. The right edge of the deflector fits in between the rack holders on the right, and the left edge rests on top of an "A" shaped support, sitting in the water pan. If I need more heat on the left, I elevate the left edge a little higher by sliding the "A" support to the right a little more. If for some odd reason I need more heat on the right, I slide the whole deflector away from the right wall by a half inch or so.

I use a foil pan cut in half & set upside down above my AMNPS to protect it from drips, and it doesn't effect the smoking of the AMNPS, as long as you don't have it too close above the AMNPS.

Bear
 

 This was the image Bear sent me to show me his deflector. At the same time he recommended a slightly smaller drip pan than what I was useing. .

It is in use now but I will try to post it during a rib smoke I am doing a side by side test of cutting up a rack of ribs.

They are in for 2 1/2 hours at 260  Then I will foil them and sauce them with ancho cherry sauce. That will last about 1.5 hours and then they come out of the foil bed for 1/2 hour and get sauced.  total smoke time about just under 5 hours     .jted
 
 

 This was the image Bear sent me to show me his deflector. At the same time he recommended a slightly smaller drip pan than what I was useing. .

It is in use now but I will try to post it during a rib smoke I am doing a side by side test of cutting up a rack of ribs.

They are in for 2 1/2 hours at 260  Then I will foil them and sauce them with ancho cherry sauce. That will last about 1.5 hours and then they come out of the foil bed for 1/2 hour and get sauced.  total smoke time about just under 5 hours     .jted
Wow---That was from awhile ago, because this pic was even before I confirmed that the deflector was a permanent fixture. I know that because this was before I started covering it with foil. In fact I think I trimmed about an inch off of it since the above picture.

Bear

On Edit:   I just checked----This picture is from June of 2011.
 
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 This was the image Bear sent me to show me his deflector. At the same time he recommended a slightly smaller drip pan than what I was useing. .

It is in use now but I will try to post it during a rib smoke I am doing a side by side test of cutting up a rack of ribs.

They are in for 2 1/2 hours at 260  Then I will foil them and sauce them with ancho cherry sauce. That will last about 1.5 hours and then they come out of the foil bed for 1/2 hour and get sauced.  total smoke time about just under 5 hours     .jted
You know, Jted? I just love the name "Ancho Cherry Sauce". That name populates my mind with visions and taste sensations for those ribs. Hot and sweet. Ancho chile powder is one of my favorite spices.
 
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Dr. That looks great .Have you done temperature testing. If you have had a chance I would be very interested in your results.    Jted
I've been using the deflector since June. All corners of the second rack from the top are consistent with each other except the front left is a little cooler, being furthest away from the heating element. After my smoker start up temp stabilizes the Mes temp set at 225* F has my Mav's fluctuating between 225*-248*F. About 236*F average.
-Kurt
 
 
Wow---That was from awhile ago, because this pic was even before I confirmed that the deflector was a permanent fixture. I know that because this was before I started covering it with foil. In fact I think I trimmed about an inch off of it since the above picture.

Bear

On Edit:   I just checked----This picture is from June of 2011.
Bear apparently you just used a file photo since my P/M from you was in early 2015. Those pork belly's still look good.
 
I've been using the deflector since June. All corners of the second rack from the top are consistent with each other except the front left is a little cooler, being furthest away from the heating element. After my smoker start up temp stabilizes the Mes temp set at 225* F has my Mav's fluctuating between 225*-248*F. About 236*F average.
-Kurt
You've got a MES 40, right?
 
 
You've got a MES 40, right?
Right!  I now have two from your month of May Amazon find.  The first 40" Gen 1 appeared to be delivered by covered wagon and works perfectly after being beat to hell from the delivery.   I had to wait almost two months whereby I could use the one I have then cut the cord and send pics when MB's inventory came in .  MB offered the GEN 2 for immediate delivery but I took Bear's advice and always reconfirmed the part number for the 40" Gen 1.  I pushed enough electrical supply cord inside the smoker before I cut the cord and took a picture.  After they received and confirmed my order of the new smoker I pulled out the cord and soldered the electrical cord back together. I seasoned the new smoker for six hours without the last hour with smoke to make sure it works.  I'll use this smoker as an indoor/outdoor oven till my original smoker fails.  That may be awhile since there are so many helpful tips on testing/replacing parts for a fix.  I use my smoker at least once a week since late May.  I use my indoor oven maybe once a year.  I'm concerned about the winter cold here in central Illinois with the controller outside.  The smoker is covered when not in use.  If it wasn't for you, I may not have these amazing 40" Gen 1 smokers.  $273 with free shipping SS 40" Gen 1's with window and RF remote control.  That may be tough to find again.  Thanks Rick!

-Kurt   
 
 
Right!  I now have two from your month of May Amazon find.  The first 40" Gen 1 appeared to be delivered by covered wagon and works perfectly after being beat to hell from the delivery.   I had to wait almost two months whereby I could use the one I have then cut the cord and send pics when MB's inventory came in .  MB offered the GEN 2 for immediate delivery but I took Bear's advice and always reconfirmed the part number for the 40" Gen 1.  I pushed enough electrical supply cord inside the smoker before I cut the cord and took a picture.  After they received and confirmed my order of the new smoker I pulled out the cord and soldered the electrical cord back together. I seasoned the new smoker for six hours without the last hour with smoke to make sure it works.  I'll use this smoker as an indoor/outdoor oven till my original smoker fails.  That may be awhile since there are so many helpful tips on testing/replacing parts for a fix.  I use my smoker at least once a week since late May.  I use my indoor oven maybe once a year.  I'm concerned about the winter cold here in central Illinois with the controller outside.  The smoker is covered when not in use.  If it wasn't for you, I may not have these amazing 40" Gen 1 smokers.  $273 with free shipping SS 40" Gen 1's with window and RF remote control.  That may be tough to find again.  Thanks Rick!

-Kurt   
Dr, I understand your concerns about the controllers in the weather. since you put your controller on you know just how easy it is to remove  if you want to store it in side. I had a metal dog bowl that was not being used and I would stuff it with paper towels and put it over my controller before putting the cover on. Now I just unplug the Auber PID controller and store it inside. Jted
 
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Guys---Mine's been sitting outside on my front porch (Wide Open) for 5 years, and Pennsylvania aint exactly Hawaii during the Winter.

And Todd Johnson has a whole herd of MES Smokers & he lives in the Frozen Tundra of MN.

Bear
 
 
 
Dr, I understand your concerns about the controllers in the weather. since you put your controller on you know just how easy it is to remove  if you want to store it in side. I had a metal dog bowl that was not being used and I would stuff it with paper towels and put it over my controller before putting the cover on. Now I just unplug the Auber PID controller and store it inside. Jted
If I had a PID plug and play, I would definitely bring that inside after every smoke.  On both smokers it took me fifteen minute to get the set screw on the controller adjusted.  I had to use the screwdriver to push down a little insulation where the screw head held down the controller on top of the smoker.  I'll probably have to bring it inside.  The Mother board is under the drip pan accessible from the bottom of the smoker.  Might as well bring all electronics inside which means the whole smoker.

-Kurt 
 
 
Guys---Mine's been sitting outside on my front porch (Wide Open) for 5 years, and Pennsylvania aint exactly Hawaii during the Winter.

And Todd Johnson has a whole herd of MES Smokers & he lives in the Frozen Tundra of MN.

Bear
That's what I wanted to hear.  Thanks!  Nothing in the manual about it as well as cleaning sensors.  I guess I don't mind having an insulated over heat temp shut off sensor (button) from smoke residue.  I would rather have that circuit closed.  If it gets hot enough the circuit will open, cutting the electricity to the controller.  The Mes controller toggle heat sensor needs more attention.

-Kurt
 
 
If I had a PID plug and play, I would definitely bring that inside after every smoke.  On both smokers it took me fifteen minute to get the set screw on the controller adjusted.  I had to use the screwdriver to push down a little insulation where the screw head held down the controller on top of the smoker.  I'll probably have to bring it inside.  The Mother board is under the drip pan accessible from the bottom of the smoker.  Might as well bring all electronics inside which means the whole smoker.

-Kurt 
Hi Dr, I did not know what a pain the controller was on the 40's to get off. I have a 30 and thought they would be about the same. A couple of small screws and then a snap together plug and that's it.
 
I have mes30 with amnps and i only use my water pan if i fill with beer or apple juice depending on the flavor i want, I have never noticed any difference in the smoke whether using or not using the pan.
 
 
Hi Dr, I did not know what a pain the controller was on the 40's to get off. I have a 30 and thought they would be about the same. A couple of small screws and then a snap together plug and that's it.
I changed out the controller on my old 40" Gen 2.0 a few months ago and it was a simple task, for me anyhow. Take out a total of 8 easy to get to small screws, unplug 3 wires from old controller, plug the wires into the new one and replace the screws. Whole process takes less than 6-8 minutes.
 
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I have mes30 with amnps and i only use my water pan if i fill with beer or apple juice depending on the flavor i want, I have never noticed any difference in the smoke whether using or not using the pan.
I must have mispoken in my prevoious post. Putting on the controller is a PIA adjusting the set screw on the first setup.
 
 
Right!  I now have two from your month of May Amazon find.  The first 40" Gen 1 appeared to be delivered by covered wagon and works perfectly after being beat to hell from the delivery.   I had to wait almost two months whereby I could use the one I have then cut the cord and send pics when MB's inventory came in .  MB offered the GEN 2 for immediate delivery but I took Bear's advice and always reconfirmed the part number for the 40" Gen 1.  I pushed enough electrical supply cord inside the smoker before I cut the cord and took a picture.  After they received and confirmed my order of the new smoker I pulled out the cord and soldered the electrical cord back together. I seasoned the new smoker for six hours without the last hour with smoke to make sure it works.  I'll use this smoker as an indoor/outdoor oven till my original smoker fails.  That may be awhile since there are so many helpful tips on testing/replacing parts for a fix.  I use my smoker at least once a week since late May.  I use my indoor oven maybe once a year.  I'm concerned about the winter cold here in central Illinois with the controller outside.  The smoker is covered when not in use.  If it wasn't for you, I may not have these amazing 40" Gen 1 smokers.  $273 with free shipping SS 40" Gen 1's with window and RF remote control.  That may be tough to find again.  Thanks Rick!

-Kurt   
You're welcome, Kurt. That's why I posted that Amazon deal. I forgot about your MES 40 story.You made out big time with being able to keep both smokers. I'm sure MB knows guys are doing this but as long as they have their proof you followed their instructions they don't care after that.

I'd like a MES 40 someday but I hope my 30" keeps working for years yet.
 
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