Masterbuilt 30 inch front control glass front smoker... Not heating

[Jpetermock]

Ok so I have read many different post about this smoker, which I really love for smoking... I have had mine for about 2 years now... Got ready to smoke 4 racks of ribs last week thursday... Got the meat ready while waiting for my smoker to ramp up temperature... after about 45 minutes my smoker had only reached a temp of 57F. I tried everything with no luck... Ended up cooking the meat in the Oven :( ....
My question is this... I have taken the unit apart and the heating element looks fine, ie no corrosion and the wiring is good too... so what to do now??? Put by the curb and let the junk man pick it up and get another smoker or what????
Any suggestions are welcomed!!!!
Please and Thank You!!!!
A Frustrated Smoker from Alabama needing a Smoked Meat Fix Badly!!!!

 

[lovethemeats]

Sounds like the controller went bad. If you have a meter for testing voltage. I would see if your getting the right amount of voltage to the element. If the voltage/amps are there. Then the element is at fault. But as far as I know. It can only be between the two. Not sure if they have an inline fuse anywhere.

 

[lovethemeats]

More and more as I think about it. I would look at the controller. They are known to go bad out of the blue. Thats the bad thing about circuit boards. They can fizzle out the second power is put to them or they can go during the run.

 

[Jpetermock]

so it will only be one of the 2 things.... the Sensor or the element???? I can easily get to both (my unit has screws holding both covers on in the back....
and then finding a place to get the replacement parts

 

[daveomak]

MES smokers have cheap electrical connectors.. Probably a connector on the heating element or the over temp snap switch have corroded and not making contact....

 

[dr k]

Maybe the dime sized emergency snap disk failed and has the circuit open while the controller shows the red heating light on, calling for heat. If you bypass the switch it can be a quick test if nothing else appears to be wrong. If the mes 30 heating element after disconnecting the wires is around 18 ohms then it's ok.
-Kurt