MES Question

mdk

Fire Starter

Original poster

Dec 16, 2006

39

10

Wellman, Iowa

• Jan 6, 2008

• #1

I have a MES with a non working digital readout and it is not covered under warranty. Has anyone ever gotten into one of these to see what I can do to get this back up and running? There are 4 small wires going up to the readout.
Thanks,
Mike

 

buckeye smoker

Fire Starter

Dec 5, 2007

38

10

Southeastern Ohio

• Jan 6, 2008

• #2

MDK,
I am not familiar with the MES, but there are folks around here who are. They will be along after a while. If you don't get any replies tonight, bump it up again in the morning.

Doug

 

ds7662

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

Sep 30, 2007

985

10

Richmond,VA

• Jan 6, 2008

• #3

1st you might check to make sure they are all tight. Then try cleaning connections where they connect.
I would do this before I went to tearing into it.

 

mdk

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 16, 2006

39

10

Wellman, Iowa

• Jan 7, 2008

• #4

Thanks so far guys.
I have cleaned the connections and they are fine. I have back probed the connector on the control panel side and I have power and ground at the control panel but no lights or controls work.

Thanks,
Mike

 

kookie

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Mar 27, 2007

2,850

10

Mandan North Dakota

• Jan 7, 2008

• #5

Have you checked with Materbuilt to see how much a new control panel would cost? I have heard that they have great customer service. Just a thought.

Kookie

 

illini

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

Jul 11, 2006

576

27

West Central Illinois

• Jan 7, 2008

• #6

This is the first reported failure that has been posted on SMF about a controller failure that I know of.

Doubt whether there is a fix other than replacement.
If you would report the outcome of cost and experience with Masterbuilt on this issue we would be grateful.

 

mdk

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 16, 2006

39

10

Wellman, Iowa

• Jan 14, 2008

• #7

Guys,
I do not want to taint Masterbuilt becasue they have been more then wonderful for me. I have an extra unit that does not have a working controller on top of it. My other one is perfect. I was just hoping that I could get this other one working and have 2 smokers.
Sorry if I mislead anyone here. I did not know if anyone had tried to build a PID for a Masterbuilt or not and if they used the factory wires in it.
Again sorry I did not mean to mislead anyone becasue I think Masterbuilt is #1.

 

placebo

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Jul 24, 2007

969

12

Sacramento, CA

• Jan 14, 2008

• #8

No worries mate we understand. Can you give us a little background on the non-working MES? Like did you get it at a garage sale? Did it ever work while you had it?

There is a good chance it is merely a bad solder connection. Happens all the time with TV's.