MES30 Thermostat Problem

[cekkk]

I'm smoking some ribs today and have run into a problem keeping the temperature up.  Actually, the termostat seems to work properly but the temperature reading is showing temp in the 270s, although the Maverick shows 219 right now.  So I have to set the temp to 275 to get the element to go on, and then it shuts down after a few degrees of rise, thinking it's at temperature. 

I opened it and let the temp drop a few degrees, but I still got a reading of 265, so the element is still shutting down after a brief rise.  Luckily this didn't begin until I removed the ribs to foil them.  That's when the problem started, so they are just about done. 

Is there anything I might do to cure this or do I need a new control?

 

[azbohunter]

I am fairly new here so certainly not an expert but I do own the same unit. The controllers are notoriously off several degrees, some over, some under. Most seem to learn to adjust accordingly using a Maverick or similar unit that is known to be accurate.

I personally scraped the controller and added a PID but it costs as much as the MES by the time I was finished, However my temps are now spot on and I can program in a schedule that will automatically raise the temps to different set points over several hours (if desired).

Search the MES group  and you will find many with the same issue.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/groups/show/8/masterbuilt-electric-smoker-mes-owners

 

[cekkk]

My unit has been off around 25 degrees from Day 1, but that's no problem.  This problem is more of a wag the dog problem.  If the unit thinks it's 275 degrees and the max setting is 275, it's not going to allow the element to come on.