MES40 heat issues

[hamrhead1971]

Good morning, gentlemen. It's been quite a while since I've posted on here but I am having some issues and hopefully y'all can help. Gen1 mes4 quit working a few months back. Called Masterbuilt and ordered a control panel. Put the new panel on, smoker heated up. First two smokes went terrible, 20hrs on a Boston but that went in the oven to finish.
Put my accutherm on the grate to check smoker temps. With the controller set at 275, the meat probe read 210 and accutherm read 212. Called masterbuilt and they said it was a faulty control panel and they would send me a replacement. 7 phone calls, 15 emails and 2 1/2 months later I finally got the replacement. If I didn't like my mes so much, dealing with customer service this time would have turned me against masterbuilt. But anywho, I installed the new panel and get the same results. 55-60 degrees difference in controller readout versus the meat probe and my meat therm.
Any idea what could be causing this? Masterbuilt customer service seems to be clueless on this one.

 

[SonnyE]

My bet is the over temperature thermo disc switch has gotten wonkey.
It is the only thing that could be limiting the temperature too low.

 

[hamrhead1971]

My bet is the over temperature thermo disc switch has gotten wonkey.
It is the only thing that could be limiting the temperature too low.

My issue is that I have had two different control panels that read 45-60 degrees higher than the meat probe and my accutherm show.

 

[lovethemeats]

I to love my MES30 and MES40. Never had any issues with the 30. Had it for a couple years and still works great. Bought the 40 and nothing but issues with the controller. So I decided that if I was going to love it like the 30. Something had to be done. Kept reading about the controller issues others have had and feeling that sick feeling in my gut. Then I came across a couple good posts in here from fellow members. During the early spring I picked up a new controller and high temp 12g wire and went to town on it. I love the new setup I have with it. Did a complete rewire on it. When my 30 controller dies. I will do the same to it but only buy the probe for the controller and mount it in the box like I did on the 40.
Great units. But they have issues with some of them that roll off the line.

This controller is awesome. Even comes with memory so you can store temp profiles.

Hope this helps with any decisions you make with your unit in the future.
Rob

 

[hamrhead1971]

Rob, did your rewire include replacing the temp probe?

 

[lovethemeats]

Yes. It came with the controller when I bought it. The last picture is the probe going into the Mes where the other one was. I did it this way so I can replace it if need be in the future

 

[SonnyE]

But anywho, I installed the new panel and get the same results. 55-60 degrees difference in controller readout versus the meat probe and my meat therm.
Any idea what could be causing this?

The only other thing controlling the temperature is the snap disc. Your controller is calling for a temperature, but the snap disc is not allowing that temperature to be achieved.

But if you don't want to believe that, keep the frustration of dealing with someone inadept at Masterbuilt.

Good Luck.