MES 40" exhaust configuration

[moussaka]

I've been working on this old thing I got for free. I've done the rewire, I'll be replacing the temp safety switch when that comes in the mail, I have an Auber PID ready to go, and I have a cold smoke generator.
Now, I'm wondering if/how I should modify the exhaust. Most I've seen come out the top and I've seen people extend the exhaust up. Mine comes out the side opposite where the smoke comes in. I was thinking of grabbing a 90 to come out of the MES and attach ~ 1' of 3" duct with a cap. Is this necessary at all?

Should I drill out the rivets and get rid of the old restrictor or leave that there? Is it possible to have too much flow with these electric smokers? Very new to them. I've only previously used a Weber Smokey Mountain.

 

[tallbm]

I've been working on this old thing I got for free. I've done the rewire, I'll be replacing the temp safety switch when that comes in the mail, I have an Auber PID ready to go, and I have a cold smoke generator.
Now, I'm wondering if/how I should modify the exhaust. Most I've seen come out the top and I've seen people extend the exhaust up. Mine comes out the side opposite where the smoke comes in. I was thinking of grabbing a 90 to come out of the MES and attach ~ 1' of 3" duct with a cap. Is this necessary at all?

Should I drill out the rivets and get rid of the old restrictor or leave that there? Is it possible to have too much flow with these electric smokers? Very new to them. I've only previously used a Weber Smokey Mountain.

View attachment 703266

I'd remove the restrictor completely so it was a clean hole.

This way your 90 degree elbow would fit in well and then you could fasten the elbow to the MES by cutting on it with some tin snips to make like 3-4 tabs that stick flat on the outside of the hole while the rest of the 90degree elbow pushed into the hole. Something like this (found image online)

If you wanted to add a damper you could do that at the top of the stack in a number of simple ways.

I hope this info helps :D

 

[Winterrider]

^^^^that would probably be the best bet..I have left mine in with it wide open. The 90 doesn't fit on their real tight and when I move it when I hit a bump or bigger crack in driveway, it can and has fallen off.

 

[chopsaw]

Get yourself a 3" flange / take off for a flat surface .
Like this ,

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IMPERIAL-7-5-in-x-3-25-in-Galvanized-Steel-Airtight-Adhesive-Duct-Take-Off/1000228293?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-plb-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_LIA_PLB_Online_E-F-_-1000228293-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwlbu2BhA3EiwA3yXyu_XRMEbCM9LEZjEqnMgfA_Jxzyx838stFiKxV0vhQfDmQDnNvI-PzRoCNv8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Peel the gasket and screw it to the side . Just make sure you get the sections that work with it .
Some go inside , some go outside .
Run the stack up above the top . Run the smoker around 250 and let it heat up .
Then starting at the top of the stack ( don't burn yourself ) run your hand down until it gets hot to the touch . Then cut it off at that spot . That should keep the smoke from condensating and running back into the smoker .

 

[moussaka]

Thanks everyone! Glad to see I was on the right track.

 

[mike243]

They have no issue drawing as factory why would you make it draw faster? your heating element might not keep up with it on a cold day or it will make it run more when it is warm outside, sometimes there is no problem but folks want to fix things lol

 

[dr k]

As you can see this inferior Gen 2 side vent is 1/3 open max vs an open hole. The slanted drip pan with the baby water pan pushed heat right and the left side vent is too low. the late Bearcarver went through many discussions on this lousy smoker he tested for MB. I'd close the left exhaust vent and put a piece of alum jacketing tape over the outside and make a top center exhaust hole. Even the Gen 2 with top left vent was having more problems with the angled drip baby water pan. The element chip loading housing cover was also an enclosed shape vs the hybrids that came out. I'd make a top center vent and remove all metal around the heating element and put the bottom rack in with a disposable alum baking sheet as a drip pan. if Mes 40. If Mes 30 a cake baking disposable pan slides right on the water pan rails.




Or Mes 30

 

[Winterrider]

As you can see this inferior Gen 2 side vent is 1/3 open max vs an open hole. The slanted drip pan with the baby water pan pushed heat right and the left side vent is too low. the late Bearcarver went through many discussions on this lousy smoker he tested for MB. I'd close the left exhaust vent and put a piece of alum jacketing tape over the outside and make a top center exhaust hole. Even the Gen 2 with top left vent was having more problems with the angled drip baby water pan. The element chip loading housing cover was also an enclosed shape vs the hybrids that came out. I'd make a top center vent and remove all metal around the heating element and put the bottom rack in with a disposable alum baking sheet as a drip pan. if Mes 40. If Mes 30 a cake baking disposable pan slides right on the water pan rails.

View attachment 703351


Or Mes 30
View attachment 703352

Yep, I gutted mine out also. Only thing is heating element. I did flip so its in the middle and put a thin drip sheet (tin)above element

 

[moussaka]

After some thinking, I'm still within the return window of the cold smoke attachment. I'm going to return it and get a side fire box for about the same price to utilize as a mailbox mod of sorts with a AMNTS/tube. It's made from cast iron so I don't have to worry about paint melting, can experiment with charcoal, etc... I think it just opens more options without having to worry about clogging, paint melting, etc.