MES 30 temp issue and probe issue

[cstallings]

I just bought a new MES 30 and I'm not sure I like it.  The temp on the MES is 15-25 degrees lower than my MAV 732.  My Mav 732 is calibrated and reads pretty accurate...within a degree or two.  Also I can't seem to hold a steady temperature.  I realize there will be swings in the temp, but it moves 15-25 degrees higher than what I have it set on.  A few times it was even over 30 degrees higher, but 20 is the norm.

For example.  I set the MES on 140  and that is roughly 160 on my MAV.  When I set the temp to 160 according to my MAV it can swing to over 180 then back to 160.  Then when it hits 160 the heating element kicks back on and it is off to 180 again.  This makes it hard to smoke sausage with these big swings.  Is this normal for other people.  

 

[daveomak]

Temp swings are normal....  Just like the oven in your kitchen...  It can be reduced some, by filling the drip pan with sand.... Or you can eliminate the temp swings by installing a dimmer switch on the heating element...  The link is one thing I have done to my MES 30....  

 http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/g/a/9195/mes-30-modification-w-dimmer-switch/      .....Click on the pics for a description.....    Dave

 

[deltadude]

cstallings, why are you posting this same topic twice in two days?  You got a lot of replies and several solid suggestions.

Whoever is the moderator of the Electric forum should merge this thread with his first thread.

Further in the previous thread, I posted a simple test that can establish what the temp difference is and may also indicate if you have a defective MES.  Try it!

 

[linguica]

Temp swings are normal....  Just like the oven in your kitchen...  It can be reduced some, by filling the drip pan with sand.... Or you can eliminate the temp swings by installing a dimmer switch on the heating element...  The link is one thing I have done to my MES 30....  

 http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/g/a/9195/mes-30-modification-w-dimmer-switch/      .....Click on the pics for a description.....    Dave

The dimmer goes any where in series with the heater element.

The dimmer must have a higher rating than the heater element.

Dave, outstanding learn by the pictures lesson.

 

[cstallings]

cstallings, why are you posting this same topic twice in two days?  You got a lot of replies and several solid suggestions.

Whoever is the moderator of the Electric forum should merge this thread with his first thread.

Further in the previous thread, I posted a simple test that can establish what the temp difference is and may also indicate if you have a defective MES.  Try it!

Sorry if you think I'm over posting. I wasn't really looking for suggestions, but really trying to see if this was typical among MES smokers . The other one was more geared toward trying to figure out what was going on between the MES and MAV. Which I figured out is all the MES. Maybe I should have posted back to the other thread...oh well. I'm not sure I really care about temperature reading difference between the MES and MAV. I have not tested it, but I may have a smoker that will get much hotter than the other MES smokers since the actual temp is much higher than the MES readings. That would be a good thing. I'm more concerned with the big temp swings.

 

[animal]

Call masterbuilt if it is out of specs. They will send you a new control panel. My mes 30 was out of specs in cold weather.
They replaced mine no charge. Problem solved.

 

[linguica]

My MES runs a constant 10% high. I consider it a blessing and make the best of it.