Mastebuilt PID smoker shuts off

[Shluffer]

I attempted to search. If their is another thread on this please direct me.

Model 20072415. Has worked well for years. Starting last week it shuts off randomly. Sometimes within 5 minutes sometimes after 30. Numbers on the digital display sort of blink when plugged in (don't shut completely off, just waiver). I opened the back and didn't see anything to be concerned about. I then took apart the control panel to look at the connectors. They have a little corrosion on the pins but nothing to explain the random shutoff. How do I troubleshoot?

Thanks in advance

 

[GaryHibbert]

tallbm will hopefully see this and help you. He is an expert on this kind of problem.
Gary

 

[Shluffer]

Turns out their are two more panels I somehow missed. I opened them up and they dripped water. Also have a bunch of rust. One of these connections could be shorting.

 

[Shluffer]

Found a severed wire. The black wire isn't connected.

 

[cmayna]

Do you keep the smoker covered when not in use? If not, this might be why you are having electrical issues.

 

[Shluffer]

Unfortunately the cover doesn't always get used. I'm going to dry it out and redo the wire connections. I'm optimistic that will get it done.

 

[cmayna]

That's the spirit to have. Keep us posted.

 

[Shluffer]

I should have taken pictures. Cut the harness off, twisted the pairs, covered with wire nuts. Problem is fixed. Now I have to sort out a new water pan. Old one rusted through. I'm thinking an aluminum loaf pan ........

 

[cmayna]

So, what's controlling the element? Not sure what you mean by cutting the harness off.

 

[Shluffer]

It come stock with wire harnesses to connect the variousparts together. In my picture posted above there is a black wire harness with a wire that broke off. I cut the harness off and spliced the wires using wing nuts.

 

[mrclean92124]

I had both same issues as above. The element had an internal short and would trip the breaker every once in a while, and eventually got worse and stopped working. New element and good as new.

As far as the water pan, THIS ONE is the only thing I found as the part is now discontinued with Masterbuilt. It's stainless and way better than the original, and the size is perfect 6 1/2" x 7". What you are looking for is a 1/4 steam pan with correct dimensions.