MES additonal heater mod

[davenh]

Hi Illini...I have a 650W heater on the way, should have it tomorrow. I'm going to control it with the dimmer. The cost was higher than in my catalog, $59

. This one should hold up. I'll post a pic before and after I bend it into shape.

 

[richtee]

Bend? It's not ceramic encased is it?

 

[davenh]

They are supposed to be customer bendable for custom field installations. Here are a couple links if anyone is interested. I'm getting the .260" dia, model TRI-3216/120V.

The second link is to the applications notes. If I'm reading correctly (sometimes I'm not

), in still air (ovens) this heater should work in temp up to 700F.

http://www.omega.com/Heaters/pdf/TRI_HEATER.pdf

http://www.omega.com/toc_asp/framese...R_APP_NOTE_REF

 

[richtee]

Huh. Cool. Never heard tell O this stuff.

 

[davenh]

Got the element today, will install it Friday. Bent into shape without too much trouble. Not much of an artist, but it should fit and function ok.

Here is a before and after pic.

 

[morkdach]

whats the wattage on that puppy looks like it will do the trick i buy all the elec indoor grills i can at yard sales flea market or what ever 3bucks or less if possiable send more pics as avail

 

[irwinwd]

Dave, great mod. I was wishing the larger MES had been available at the price I saw them at Sam's back when I bought mine. I have the smaller one, so I haven't seen the same issue.

 

[davenh]

Hi morkdach...It's 650W, along with the 780W heater already in there, it won't be under powered anymore

. Your $3 price sounds a lot better! Needed one right away and a specific size so had to bite the bullet. Have a few extras in the repair shop now

. I enjoy the projects.

 

[davenh]

Hi irwinwd...There are some advantages to getting the smaller one if you don't need the extra space, cheaper price, correctly sized heater and the Bradley cover fits.

I didn't realize the Sam's club MES was a different size until I already had it and found this forum. Having fun with it and we love the food it makes. Just needs a little help to be better when it's a*s biting cold out

. In the summer it won't be such an issue.

 

[davenh]

Well finally got my replacement heaters, bent the other too much and cracked the sheath

. Was a couple weeks, but they are here

! Hope to install tonight or tomorrow night. Will post some pics when finished.

The new one is 650W, larger dia and a little shorter. Should be a better fit. Would like to do a quick Turkey at higher temps on Sunday, will make for a good test. See if I can maintain 275 or higher and good smoke with a 14 lb bird with out going nuclear again

.

 

[davenh]

Here are a few pics of round three with the heater mod. I'm thinking this one is a keeper

. I'll seal up the top area of the outlet box with some clear silicon to make it a little more weather/spill proof.

Maybe the next mod will be handles on the sides to make it a little easier to carry it outside.

 

[richtee]

Well, by golly.... I think yer cookin' with gas- err...electric now LOL!

 

[illini]

Looks good Dave

Hope it works as you expect.....

 

[morkdach]

WOW Dave looks great whats the wattage of your dimmer switch and did you have to mod the outlet plate on the elec box.

 

[davenh]

Hi morkdach...the dimmer is a standard 600W. It seems to limit around 570W all the way up. So with things not requiring low and slow I can just max it out. Somewhere in the middle to help the recovery times on larger food loads or really cold days.

The outlet box is a standard deep exposed area box. The cover is also standard. It had the cut outs for standard and GFCI outlets. I did have to trim the dimmer aluminum mounting plate/heatsink a little to fit in the GFCI slot.

I figured the outlet would come in handy for a light or something. Plus it fit the hole

. Everything full tilt will draw about 11 amps, so can't plug in much more than a light.

 

[richtee]

The triac device that is used in dimmers is not a 100% passing device, due to limitations of triggering the gate and solid state semiconductor inherent limitations. You COULD toss in a 'bypass" "turbo" switch..applying the line directly across the element and not worry about damaging the dimmer tho :{)

 

[morkdach]

WTF are you tring to say
bypass turbo switch

 

[davenh]

:PDT_Armataz _01_14:

..Too Funny!!!

I believe he saying to switch power directly to the element, bypass the electronic dimmer with a switch, to squeeze out the last 100w if I need full power.

 

[morkdach]

thanks for clearing that up i'm ready to start a mod on one of mine now later dave

 

[wavector]

A 3 position switch would work for manual applications to by pass the dimmer. By the way, I think I have 1000 watt dimmer laying around here somewhere.