MES 130B is way off. Causes or Fixes?

[Omnivore]

Hi all.

I just threw on a little 6 pound bone-in shoulder - the first one I've done in the MES. Fired up the amnps and set the temp for 250. 45 minutes later the temperature on the MES is reading 253 and my Inkbird (placed on the 2nd rack right behind the pork) is showing 200. So I just set the MES temp for 275 which is maxed out. I then check it ten minutes later and the MES was reading 285 and the Inkbird was at 219. So then I started doubting the Inkbird and opened up a NEW Inkbird thermometer that is supposed to be a gift for my father-in-law (sorry). That one is reading within 2 degrees of the first Inkbird. So it seems like its definitely the MES.

I've been smoking fish at lower temps for the last couple weeks and have not had this amount of temperature difference. Anyone have any ideas?

thanks in advance!

 

[smokerjim]

mes's thermometers are known to be off, did you test the inkbirds in boiling water and ice water to verify their accuracy, I personally would trust the inkbirds before the mes after you verify them. also try and put them on different levels in your smoker, you'll probably get two different temps but pretty close, also if you put the inkbird next to your pork shoulder my guess it might be a little cooler there for a while until your meat gets up to temp a little,(could be wrong about that) also c heck out bearcarvers step by steps he has loads of info on the mes. good luck.

 

[R Blum]

MES's thermometers are always wrong. Never trust them. My temperature always go way down when I first put a large honker of meat in there. Wait a while it should level out.

 

[Omnivore]

Thanks guys! I tested the 2nd Inkbird in boiling water and it was at 212. I didn't want to fish out the other probe from behind the pork so I assumed it's calibrated since they were reading so close to each other initially. I then set the 2nd probe a little further from the pork and when I rechecked the temp it was at 375! Drum roll... because I didn't realize I placed it right above the amnps. Shaking my head. I'm going to blame that one on no coffee and a teething baby lol. Anyway I moved it again - not near the amnps or the pork, and it's reading close to my target temp. The probe behind the pork is still reading a little low but I think smokerjim is right that it's maybe just a little cooler right there.

Per R Blum 's advice I also gave temps a little time to level out with a big hunk of cold meat in there. Maybe panicking shouldn't always be my first reaction.

My main concern was that the MES thought it was already at 285 and would keep the heating element a too low of a temp the entire time.

Long story short, we're all good. Will report back later once it's all done!

thanks again, smoker friends.

 

[smokerjim]

Maybe panicking shouldn't always be my first reaction.

yeah with a teething baby panicking shouldn't be your first move. glad you got your temps straightened out,

 

[Bearcarver]

If you want to compare your Inkbird with your MES, don't put the Inkbird any place like on another level, behind the meat. That proves nothing.
Test it with your MES empty, and put the probe close to the MES sensor (looks like a little toggle on the back wall). Then you should get a pretty accurate comparison.
Then if your Inkbird is more than 25° less than your MES says, I'd call Masterbuilt.

However if your Inkbird is reading higher than the MES, Great!!! Just make sure you keep the actual Inkbird reading below a steady 300° or a 325° Spike.

Bear

 

[Omnivore]

If you want to compare your Inkbird with your MES, don't put the Inkbird any place like on another level, behind the meat. That proves nothing.
Test it with your MES empty, and put the probe close to the MES sensor (looks like a little toggle on the back wall). Then you should get a pretty accurate comparison.
Then if your Inkbird is more than 25° less than your MES says, I'd call Masterbuilt.

However if your Inkbird is reading higher than the MES, Great!!! Just make sure you keep the actual Inkbird reading below a steady 300° or a 325° Spike.

Bear

Good call, I'll have to fire it up empty today and see where we are at. Thanks Bear

 

[Bearcarver]

Glad to help!
Just yell any time. I'll help if I can.

Bear