MES won't heat to set temp

[spesmoker]

Hi, what a great forum.  I bought an MES 30 last fall and seasoned it then and am just now trying to cook with it.  I searched and wasn't able to find my problem, though it's probably here somewhere! 

I set the temp to 225F and after an hour the MES temp was stuck on 121 and my Maverick was reading 147.  Since then it has hovered between 145-147 and won't go above 147. It's windy out but I've got it on the back patio shielded from the wind and have the top vent and chip drawer barely open with an AMNPS going inside.  Would appreciate any help you all can provide.  Thanks!

 

[shyzabrau]

I don't have an MES, so I'm not familiar with the specifics, but are you sure that the MES element is heating at all? Have you tried it without the AMNPS? I've found that the AMNPS can put off more heat than I expected.

Some people have trouble with the terminal plugs melting/breaking which means no power to the heating element.

 

[tallbm]

 
Hi, what a great forum.  I bought an MES 30 last fall and seasoned it then and am just now trying to cook with it.  I searched and wasn't able to find my problem, though it's probably here somewhere! 

I set the temp to 225F and after an hour the MES temp was stuck on 121 and my Maverick was reading 147.  Since then it has hovered between 145-147 and won't go above 147. It's windy out but I've got it on the back patio shielded from the wind and have the top vent and chip drawer barely open with an AMNPS going inside.  Would appreciate any help you all can provide.  Thanks!

Hi there and welcome!

I don't know what your problem is but the information you have given is that:

1. It powers on since it does in fact heat up

2. It does heat up just not very high

3. Wind is likely not affecting it (I agree with you)

So I would say to:

1. run a test at full 275F and see if it can get hotter than the 145-147F you were seeing when set to 225F

2. Also look and see if the light on the controller shows that the unit is "heating" the entire time.  That light is on when it is heating. 

My guess is that if the light is on the entire time like the unit is trying to heat but is not then your heating element may be defective and simply cant get up to heat.

Also there may be no telling there is something wrong in the wiring causing a failure to run power to the element correctly.  Hopefully not because bad wiring/connections may overheat and cause something to burn up.

Finally, it is worth talking to Masterbuilt and maybe they just send you a whole new unit if you are under warranty :)

In any case more information would be needed to help figure things out.  Best of luck :)

 

[spesmoker]

Thanks for the reply.  I took out the AMNPS and the temp has been dropping so you may be right.

I took off the small plate in the lower middle of the back and everything looked in order.  It's only been turned on for maybe a total of 4 hours and it's been stored in the garage.

 

[spesmoker]

 
Hi there and welcome!

I don't know what your problem is but the information you have given is that:

1. It powers on since it does in fact heat up

2. It does heat up just not very high

3. Wind is likely not affecting it (I agree with you)

So I would say to:

1. run a test at full 275F and see if it can get hotter than the 145-147F you were seeing when set to 225F

2. Also look and see if the light on the controller shows that the unit is "heating" the entire time.  That light is on when it is heating. 

My guess is that if the light is on the entire time like the unit is trying to heat but is not then your heating element may be defective and simply cant get up to heat.

Also there may be no telling there is something wrong in the wiring causing a failure to run power to the element correctly.  Hopefully not because bad wiring/connections may overheat and cause something to burn up.

Finally, it is worth talking to Masterbuilt and maybe they just send you a whole new unit if you are under warranty :)

In any case more information would be needed to help figure things out.  Best of luck :)

I turned it back on and the heating light is not lighting up.  Guess I'll be contacting Masterbuilt.  Thanks for the input!

 

[mosparky]

Did you set a time ? It will not beging heating until you set the timer. I just set mine to 24
Hrs and run with it

 

[spesmoker]

Did you set a time ? It will not beging heating until you set the timer. I just set mine to 24
Hrs and run with it

You're my hero mosparky -- I forgot to set the timer!  Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[tallbm]

 
You're my hero mosparky -- I forgot to set the timer!  Thanks again for everyone's help!

So with the timer on , is it heating up well or still not reaching temp?

 

[spesmoker]

So with the timer on , is it heating up well or still not reaching temp?

With the timer on it's reaching temp perfectly. I feel like an idiot, but am thankful to have it figured out. Thanks!

 

[mosparky]

Yeah I also made that mistake....ONCE ! and so many others