MES MB20071619 Temp accuracy

[will.burleson]

I have a MES that has huge temp variation. I don’t trust the temp on the controller at all anymore. I use thermopro external thermometers that seem pretty constistant. They read 30-100 degrees colder than what the built in controller reads. The smoker heats up and seems to maintain temp fine. It is just reading way high so the element shuts off before it gets to my desired temp. I have been smoking everything at 225 for a long time because that was about the max I could get my smoker to, but now it is maxing out at around 200. I tried to look on masterbuilt website and I even tried to contact them, but I always get an automated reply that is no help. I dont see any temp probe on the parts page for my model.

Does anyone know what my problem might be and how to fix it?

 

[normanaj]

The MES temp has never been known to be accurate and they do suffer from temp swings by design.

That being said maxing out at 200℉ would indicate something is wrong.First I would verify that your ThermoPro is accurate by doing an icewater/boiling water test to verify accuracy and if they check out then there would seem to be a problem.

I am not an electronics genius by any stretch but we have some pretty smart folks here and I'll tag a couple so they see this. tallbm and chopsaw are two that come right to mind and there are others too.

 

[chopsaw]

It is just reading way high so the element shuts off before it gets to my desired temp.

Sounds like you're thinking the stock therm probe is cycling the smoker off at the wrong time / to early ?

I would say it's more than likely cycling on the limit switch . Either from a bad switch ( bi-metal disc is weak ) or the smoker is running away at a high temp .

That's just guessing from the comment above .

I troubleshoot a lot of stuff , and I always start slow . Don't look past the obvious and look for a bigger problem . Make your way to that point by checking the simple stuff first .

I would clean off both the thermodisc and the temp probe , and see what it does .

I use thermopro external thermometers that seem pretty constistant. They read 30-100 degrees colder than what the built in controller reads.

You need more than 1 therm inside to check against the controller read out , and each other .
at this point you don't know which is right or wrong .

What Thermopro do you have ? I had a TP-20 that tested good at boiling and good in ice water . Was using it one day and noticed some weird behavior .
I used my SV to test it for mid temp . SV set to 150 , the TP-20 was way off .

Clean the probes , and take some temps .
Also have the time to stand at the smoker and watch to see if it cycles off on the limit .

 

[will.burleson]

Thank for all the replies!

To clarify some information:

Yes the smoker does appear to be cycling off before reaching temp. When I stand at the smoker and watch it cycle off the smoker controller reads 275 and cycles off but my thermopro only reads 200.

I have not done the boiling or ice water tests on my thermopro probes, but I have had three different probes in the smoker all reading the same within a few degrees.

I will try to clean the probes first I guess. Where are the built in probes located?

 

[chopsaw]

The limit switch is on the left . Flat round looking disc . Temp probe on the right . Looks like a short therm probe . Coming through the back wall .