Building a MES questions

[NHRA1877]

hey guys. I have been lurking here for a while and have used the search feature quite a bit. I have decided that I am going to build an MES. I am going to buy a new MES, a auber ws PID controller, the amazing smoke tube or tray, and will be building a mailbox mod. The main question I have, since I will be doing the PID right off the bat, I have looked on amazon and found an MES 30 analog smoker. It has a 1500 watt heating element and an analog control. The plan would be to use the pid as plug and play and keep the Tstat on the smoker on its highest setting so the PID does all the work. The smoker is 115$ and the reason I was thinking this way was if I am not using Amy of the factory controls why pay more for the digital versions. Does this sound logical or am I missing something? Any other things to look at or look into? Thank you in advance for any help you guys can give!!

 

[Braz]

I can't help with your actual questions but I can't help but wonder, if you are going to go to that much trouble to build it, why limit yourself to the 30" instead of the 40"?

 

[NHRA1877]

Main reason was price, for 115 I have the cabinet and the element. Any others have to digital controls and I feel like it might be a waste to pay for them to never use them?

 

[daveomak]

Good choices... If you find the element puts out too much heat, you can lower the wattage with a SCR.. About $15 on Amazon....

 

[NHRA1877]

My thought was the larger element should be an advantage if I’m running the pid as it will be able to regulate temp better in colder months with more power at hand?

 

[daveomak]

The PID will regulate within 1-2 deg... at 1500 watts, it may overshoot due to the delay... I run my smoker on a dimmer switch... the element is on all the time... I regulate the heat by adjusting the wattage...
Just saying... something to think about after you get it up and running.....
The SCR I noted is a more sophisticated dimmer and about 1/4 the price.. I have 2 SCR's I use to control heating devices..

 

[browneyesvictim]

You are doing what I have been thinking of for a long time. And you will end up with a better smoker I think. But I understand that one does not have the chip loader and therefore doesn't have the same airflow to support the A-Maze-N pellets to burn inside either. How are you going to plumb the mailbox mod?

 

[NHRA1877]

This is exactly why I wanted to post before I buy! I was not aware of one not having a chip loader. If there is no chip loader would it be realistic to drill a 3” hole on the side and use a 3” pipe nipple that I would use to attach a mail box mod for cold smoking and have a cap with holes drilled to be able to regulate the burn rate of the amazing tube?

 

[browneyesvictim]

Yes. If it were me, I think I would opt for putting the 3" hole in through the bottom. A pipe nipple and locking nuts would do just dandy, and seal it up with high temp silicone. Isnt there already a grease drain hole there already? I dunno what size it is...
You will need to regulate inlet airflow with either fixed offices or with a valve of some kind.
You would likely prefer the pellet tray over the tube smoker, so whatever you build or buy, you should make sure it fits.

 

[tallbm]

hey guys. I have been lurking here for a while and have used the search feature quite a bit. I have decided that I am going to build an MES. I am going to buy a new MES, a auber ws PID controller, the amazing smoke tube or tray, and will be building a mailbox mod. The main question I have, since I will be doing the PID right off the bat, I have looked on amazon and found an MES 30 analog smoker. It has a 1500 watt heating element and an analog control. The plan would be to use the pid as plug and play and keep the Tstat on the smoker on its highest setting so the PID does all the work. The smoker is 115$ and the reason I was thinking this way was if I am not using Amy of the factory controls why pay more for the digital versions. Does this sound logical or am I missing something? Any other things to look at or look into? Thank you in advance for any help you guys can give!!

Hi there and welcome!

What you are thinking is right on with how the auber PID would work with the Masterbuilt Analogue smoker so you should be good.

Some things to consider:
-As already mentioned, consider a larger version of the analogue if there is one. the 30" is a little small if you plan on smoking big things like brisket or plenty of sausage, etc. Just saying.

-I believe the Analogue smoker has NO insulation. You may want to find a welding blanket or something like that you can wrap around your smoker should you encounter plenty of cold weather and or want to avoid temp drops if the wind is blowing.

Let us know how it goes and best of luck! :)

 

[NHRA1877]

Thanks for all the replies so far!!

Does anyone know if they make a 40” version with the analog control? I haven’t seen one but would definetly go with it if possible.

I was thinking about the insulation and wondering if it would have any. I don’t have the smoker yet but was interested to see the construction. My thought was if there is a double wall, with a gap between the inside and outside of of the smoker, would I be able to drill a hole to fill with some form of spray insulation. The first thing that comes to mind is the great stuff expanding foam. They make a version we have used in construction that is a fire barrier, I would have to look at the temp ratings but I could drill a hole of multiple holes. Extend the spray tube and fill the sides with foam to add some form of insulation barrier? What do you guys think?

 

[tallbm]

Thanks for all the replies so far!!

Does anyone know if they make a 40” version with the analog control? I haven’t seen one but would definetly go with it if possible.

I was thinking about the insulation and wondering if it would have any. I don’t have the smoker yet but was interested to see the construction. My thought was if there is a double wall, with a gap between the inside and outside of of the smoker, would I be able to drill a hole to fill with some form of spray insulation. The first thing that comes to mind is the great stuff expanding foam. They make a version we have used in construction that is a fire barrier, I would have to look at the temp ratings but I could drill a hole of multiple holes. Extend the spray tube and fill the sides with foam to add some form of insulation barrier? What do you guys think?

I think there is a gap. I believe someone on here did and posted in detail what you are thinking with the exception that they didn't use Spray insulation they used oven insulation or something like that. I personally know from my own research that the spray foam insulation has some problems. You would be better off getting real insulation like oven insulation or some other high temp insulation and just filling the gaps. The spray insulation didn't have very high ratings and if heated high could give off gas and stuff if I remember correctly.

As for the larger size I'm not sure with the analogue version I know they make the propane in a larger size but I'm not positive about the analog electric. In any case for $115 I'm sure that's a hard price to beat and any working smoker is better than none :)

 

[PerazziMx14]

For the last few months I have been using the MES cold smoker attachment with my MES 30" with great success. I understand lots of folk have an issue with it overheating but I do not. I load up the hopper with dry chips do turn the element on until the smoke starts going and then turn the element off and it self feeds and stays smoking for a couple of hours. I do use a fan at the exhaust to help the draft but other than that no other mods. This weekend I am going to try and put a pipe between the MES and the generator to see if that helps or is just extra work. YMMV.

 

[browneyesvictim]

I don't know if you really have to go to all that trouble to add insulation. It is double walled so that in itself would be better than almost all of the other bullet smokers out there- Brinkmans, WSM's etc. Unless you are in really windy conditions it likely wont be an issue for that element to keep up.
The really cool thing is that electric smoker goes up to 400*!!!
Nope. Havent seen a 40 analog. But for that price you could by 2 30" smokers. :p

 

[tallbm]

Oooh, word to the wise. Make sure you get an Auber PID that suppots 1500watt elements. They have a number of versions and a lot of them are for 1200watt or lower. Best of luck! :)

 

[johnnyb54]

NHRA1877, here is a link to how I modified my 40” MES. TallBM was instrumental in my modding adventure. I changed the thermo cutoff switch as I wanted to be able to cook at a higher temp if I needed to. I also direct wired the MES to the Auber so the stock controls would not interfere with the Auber.

http://smokingmeatforums.com/index....-hybrid-the-frankenbuilt.260975/#post-1741490

After I did a few cooks with the new mod I decided to flip my heating element so the heating element is now in the center of the MES instead of being offset. For smoke I use a AMPS with the old chip load as an air intake. One of these days I plan on totally removing the chip loader and replacing it with a hinged air damper. Good luck with you mod, I hope this helps.

http://smokingmeatforums.com/index....auber-masterbuilt-hybrid.265741/#post-1732995

 

[sweenner]

I'm a bit late to the party here ... but NHRA1877, I agree with the others that if you can get you hands on the larger unit, it's worth it.

I actually recently built a custom PID for my MES 40. I wired it directly to the element, bypassing all of the stock digital controls. I did lose the use of the stock remote, but brought my operating temps to within 2 degrees .. so I'll take it.

I like Daveomak's idea of the SCR to control wattage, but would say that if you should be fine if the the your equipment is regulating properly. The big thing going this route is making sure that the SSR you have controlling you element is a high enough amperage. Being a 1500W element, anything over 15A will work (at most you will draw 12.5A). I would most certainly recommend a heat sink for your SSR, because it will get warm with that kind of juice.

Its a very similar setup to what I did with mine, so if you have any questions on the wiring side of it, let me know .. be happy to help.