MES 40 Upgrade

[maplenut]

I have decided that it was time to upgrade my MES 40.
I knew that it's performance was so-so, but I never had any issues till this last smoke where I did ribs. it worked but I noticed that the smoker temp would swing all over the place.
Sometimes up to 15 degrees.

I got myself an Auber Instruments electric smoker controller WST-1510H. I looked also at the model that had wifi capability but decided it would only be as good as their app so I just went with the non-wifi one.

This modification is completely reverseable. the only modification to the smoker itself is installing a jumper to bypass the control board and operator panel on top of the smoker.
The Auber PID controller will now run the smoker.

Auber Instrument WST-1510H

Have to remove the cover on the bottom to get to the control board.

You have to make a smaller jumper wire to bypass the control board. 2 spade connectors and a few inches of 14 gauge wire.

The control board in located within the black plastic enclosure.

The black plastic enclosure uses security screws. I did not have the correct tool but I found a small screw driver worked.

The control board is now out. I only had to worry about the black and red wires that is on the relay.

Closer view of the control board. the black and red wires are the ones that need removed from the relay

Wires removed and ready for the jumper wire.

Jumper wire installed. I also wrapped the connections with electrical tape.

Control board back in the enclosure and all the wires are tucked away safely around the box.

I mounted the smoker temp probe just below the top rack in the middle. I used a self tapping screw.
I used a small piece of aluminum to make the bracket and I drilled a hole that was just big enough for the probe so that it would stay put but easy to remove.

A little wider angle view of the probe location.

Auber in action, well at least a test run.
It ran up to 225 and then stayed within 2 degrees of that for about 1 hr. what a difference.
I do plan on doing a calibration of the probes and then running an auto tune.

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

Looks good. We’re the 15* swings reading from the smoker thermometer ? I know masterbuilt is known to have wacky thermometers. I don’t even know if the 15* swings would bother me too much but looks like you did some nice work!

 

[maplenut]

I was seeing it with my own temp probe.
My thermometer is a dual probe, I use one from the meat and the other for smoker temp.

The MES just would wait too long to cycle the heating element on and it seemed that but the time it came on the smoker temp was already down almost 10 degrees and it would continue to swing lower a few more degrees before it would go back to the set temp but then it would overshoot the set point by maybe 5 degrees.

I have used the MES now for a few yrs and love it. Great little smoker. I just decided that it was time to make a few improvements to it to make it even better.

 

[FFchampMT]

Did this conversion on my 40" Adventure Series a few weekends ago and it went really well. I have the wifi version and the app is... acceptable.
Did an excellent job on summer sausage, barely any case hardening compared to the factory controller.

 

[tallbm]

Nice work!!!
Welcome to the PID club hahaha.

Just a heads up. With your smoker probe mounted so high you will get much hotter tempers at lower rack levels.
This will really only matter if you are doing sausage and/or bacon since the temp control has to be really tight to not cause fat out. If you aren't smoking this kind of stuff then you have no worries :)

I look forward to seeing how it all comes out in the end and what you make with your new smoker (adding a PID makes it like a better and new smoker lol).

 

[Winterrider]

Great job. Like tallbm stated, for that reason I left mine unattached so I can move around depending where I have racks at and place close to product being smoked.

 

[kilo charlie]

Nice write up!

 

[maplenut]

Nice work!!!
Welcome to the PID club hahaha.

Just a heads up. With your smoker probe mounted so high you will get much hotter tempers at lower rack levels.
This will really only matter if you are doing sausage and/or bacon since the temp control has to be really tight to not cause fat out. If you aren't smoking this kind of stuff then you have no worries :)

I look forward to seeing how it all comes out in the end and what you make with your new smoker (adding a PID makes it like a better and new smoker lol).

Thanks for the heads up on the temp probe location.
Maybe I can make a second bracket and mount it lower down so that I can have choices on probe location.

 

[tallbm]

Thanks for the heads up on the temp probe location.
Maybe I can make a second bracket and mount it lower down so that I can have choices on probe location.

Yeah multiple brackets for moving it would be cool

 

[MJB05615]

Great work. I added the Auber non WiFi to mine a year and a half ago. It really made it like a new Smoker.
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

 

[tallbm]

Actually now that I think of it. I always place my probe under the lowest middle rack to get the best/tightest response times so I would highly suggest you put a probe holding bracket there for sure.
The higher racks wont get as hot but all you have to do is dial up the set temp a little bit if you need higher racks to get more heat. Simple, yet you get to keep your performance super tight :)