anyone got a temp controller hooked up to their MES?

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guys..the reason I want to add a temp controller to my MES 30 is because it fluctuates in temp far too much for my liking.  It swings a good 20-30 degrees over the course of a smoke. I will add a PID controller to hopefully hold that swing to a few degrees..or even better.

I got my Masterbuilt Electric smoker from Cabela's.....it does have the digital temp unit on top of the smoker.

Here is a photo
7c1e7269_masterbuilt.jpg
i have  a question, When you say it swings 20 - 30 degrees during a cook . What are you basing this on ? probe temps or the cabinet temps that dysplay on the digi readout?
 
 
So a new guy gets an MES, and after a run or two, something isn't right. He thinks it needs a PID. I, who has an MES for quite some time now, figure it's just the same old MES problems that every MES owner knows about, and it doesn't have anything to do with the control unit. So I proceed to try to explain what the problems are with the MES units. You, on the other hand want to help him buy something that just maybe he really doesn't need, because you don't know the MES like MES long time owners know it. I would have only made the comment once, but then after you encouraged him to buy a PID (DIY or not), I figured I should try to explain the workings of the MES. That last post was my last post, and he could do what he wanted, because like I said, it was his money, except for my 2 1/2 cents.

That was it, it was up to him, but then along came an ankle biter using words like silly, live & let live, attitude like our government, and other typical smart#$% comments. 

Everything I have learned, I try to help others with. I don't need a wise guy telling me to live & let live.

No matter what kind of smart$%^ reply you come up with now, it will not get me to respond. I don't like to do this to this forum. Others know who's trying to start trouble here.

BTW: I said this----[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]I don't have to know anything about PID controllers to point out that the MES digital controller works fine on it's own.[/color]

And you say I said this---I don't know what it is or how it works and don't need to know to know that you don't need it

If you don't see the difference between those two sentences----Never mind.

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Flyweed,

Sorry for stepping on your thread with an argument. I tried to help you. I gave you what I know about the MES. You know the decision is up to you entirely. Whatever you do, I hope it works out great for you, so we can all get some Awesome Qview from you real soon.
PDT_Armataz_01_34.gif


Bearcarver
 
guys...first and foremost..I want to thank you ALL for your passionate reponses..One thing COOL about this forum is that you are ALL passionate about smoking, and smokers...which is awesome. I AM a relative newbie when it comes to smoking..but have used my MES 30 now at least a dozen or so times.  I have NEVER been happy with the temp flucuations on it.  I am sort of a perfectionist. so I want to try and get my smoker..so I can hit a target temp and hold within a couple degrees throughout the course of the smoke.  That's all I want

I used the temp gauge on the smokers digital readout exactly ONCE to find it wasn't at all accurate.

I bought a meat probe, and I also bought a Maverick ET-73 to monitor my temps on my smoker.

It's my maverick smoker probe (which I have mounted in a piece of cherry wood) and place on the middle rack that shows me a wide flucuation on temps....so since I know that my Maverick is accurate, as I tested it in boiling water and ice water and it was dead on.

I want the PID to control my heat range more accurately than the simple "on/off" device the MES uses.  I KNOW I can get it more accurate than the stock unit.

Plus I like to upgrade and modify..so adding a PID is just something I'd eventually do anyway..because I can never leave well enough alone!

ha ha ha

Thanks for ALL of your insite guys.

Dan
 
I want to control my temps in my smoker, so I am thinking of buying one of these to do it
http://auberinc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=72:3e3710651a89da74e368da58f2b095bc

Then I want to control the power going into my MES cold smoker attachment, because if you don't dial it back it produces too much smoke. So to help reduce the power I am thinking of getting one of these.

http://auberinc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=452

Do you think this will work and can you guys think of anything else? 
 
I use Auber's PID's on all my electric smokers, especially the MES40.  Love it big time.
 
 
I use Auber's PID's on all my electric smokers, especially the MES40.  Love it big time.
Well I have the cold smoke attachment and want to regulate the power to this unit, because if left on 100% of the power it produces too much smoke. So what I am confused about is how to wire it? If any one has pictures as to how this unit is wired and receives it's power? I have heard people use an old extension cord, but I like to see a picture of it wired up.
 
In order to control the temp using a PID, the temp probe of such device must be located in the chamber that you are trying to control.  In your case, you would need to put the probe in the cold smoker itself.   Don't know how well this would work.   Another idea is to install a control knob to the circuitry of the cold smoker which might be a little challenge itself but I'm sure it can be done.    I installed controllers to both of my big chief smokers who were similar to your cold smoker.   I basically gutted the heating element and controller out of a Fifth burner by Proctor Silex.

I will say that another way is to dump the cold smoker and use a Mailbox with a AMNPS or AMNTS pellet burner.  Just another idea to consider.
 
 
In order to control the temp using a PID, the temp probe of such device must be located in the chamber that you are trying to control.  In your case, you would need to put the probe in the cold smoker itself.   Don't know how well this would work.   Another idea is to install a control knob to the circuitry of the cold smoker which might be a little challenge itself but I'm sure it can be done.    I installed controllers to both of my big chief smokers who were similar to your cold smoker.   I basically gutted the heating element and controller out of a Fifth burner by Proctor Silex.

I will say that another way is to dump the cold smoker and use a Mailbox with a AMNPS or AMNTS pellet burner.  Just another idea to consider.
I have tried the ANMPS and had nothing but issues keeping it lit, this cold smoker works really well, but I'd just like to control the power and I think this will do it but I am a little iffy on the wiring of it. I am not sure if it is the same as wiring an inline dimmer switch or if there is more too it?

Here is the power regulator I was referring to
http://auberinc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=452
 
I know nothing about those power regulators.  Hopefully someone with experience will chime in.   What type of wood have you been using in the cold smoker?   Maybe less?
 
None of your urls to Auberins are working for me. Tells me that the site is down for maintenance. I have pix of how I modified the MES 40 to use the 1200 watt PID.

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=380





Auber plugs into the wall. Smoker plugs into Auber. Temp probe for meat. Temp probe for enclosure. Sorted.

Only $190 + shipping more!!! LOL
 
 
None of your urls to Auberins are working for me. Tells me that the site is down for maintenance. I have pix of how I modified the MES 40 to use the 1200 watt PID.

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=380





Auber plugs into the wall. Smoker plugs into Auber. Temp probe for meat. Temp probe for enclosure. Sorted.

Only $190 + shipping more!!! LOL
I am buying the Auber WS-1211GPH, it is plug n play, only bad part is it is a single probe. I don't think I will need a dual probe though. 
 
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