New MES Bluetooth Digital smoker

[daricksta]

Since our Gen 1's have the heating element, back wall Mes heat sensor and vent in a straight line in the right rear corner from the bottom of the smoker to the top vent, by design heat needs to be pushed to the opposite corners before it comes back to go out the ven. The back right corner gets much hotter than the others. The heat makes it around but it's much hotter in the right rear corner. People cooking Chxn say the Mes says 275*F (max) but Mav's read much lower in other corners, not actually getting to 275*F. Deflecting heat raises actual Mav temps more evenly to the far front left corner. I want the actual temp as close to the Mes contoller temp as possible, if not higher. Now when my MES controller reads 225*F = cycling temps between 225*-248*F on my Mav's. (236*F average.)
-Kurt

The heat difference between the two sides in my MES 30 is minimal, as borne out by the temp displays on my Mav. Bear reminds me that since the 40 is larger than the 30, the heating element is closer to the right side on the larger smoker. So, the minimum temp difference offsets space being at a premium inside my smoker, And contributes to me being a lazy but contented smoker each time out.

 

[daricksta]

 
I use a tooth brush to clean the indented sections after wiping them with a wet paper towel and wipe a final time with the wet towel after using the tooth brush.

***Not, the tooth brush I use is one of those made for cleaning false teeth. They have a bit stiffer bristles than a regular tooth brush.

That's a wonderful idea! We have an all-purpose "toothbrush" from Pampered Chef. That would also work. The wife wants to buy 1-2 more anyway.

 

[Bearcarver]

 
The heat difference between the two sides in my MES 30 is minimal, as borne out by the temp displays on my Mav. Bear reminds me that since the 40 is larger than the 30, the heating element is closer to the right side on the larger smoker. So, the minimum temp difference offsets space being at a premium inside my smoker, And contributes to me being a lazy but contented smoker each time out.

You got it Rick!!

Well the MES 40 element is not actually closer to the right side, but farther from the middle & the left side than in the MES 30.

Bear

 

[dr k]

 
The heat difference between the two sides in my MES 30 is minimal, as borne out by the temp displays on my Mav. Bear reminds me that since the 40 is larger than the 30, the heating element is closer to the right side on the larger smoker. So, the minimum temp difference offsets space being at a premium inside my smoker, And contributes to me being a lazy but contented smoker each time out.

Yes.  Your 30" Gen 1 is more centered than the 40" by design (volume.)  As well as 400 less watts from the heating element.  Gen 1's have more metal shrouding, incasing the chip tray than the Gen 2 and 2.5.  This holds more heat in the right rear corner.  But, I prefer to customize heat distribution than the newer placement of the top vents and sensors in the model Gen 2 and 2.5.  The Gen 1 is the only MB smoker of the three that has a housing, completely enclosing the chip tray.  The left side of the chip tray housing has holes in a triangle, stoking the AMNPS.  Look up from underneath the triangle of holes and you'll find three more vent holes pointing down towards the drip pan.  Air is brought in through the chip loader hole to the center of the smoker before it disperses.  I had to deny MB three times on the Gen 2 offer.  The BT 2.5 was never offered but I was sticking to the Gen 1 for spare parts.

-Kurt    

 

[rhaugle]

This next pic I have a question about.. I noticed the big scorch mark when cleaning the unit. If I push on this area, it actually makes a "crunching" noise. Like the insulation on the inside got totally fried.. Does this happen to every MES in this area because its so close to the chip burner/heating element? Or is this a defect that I have in my unit? I got the 3 year warranty from Sam's club when I bought it, and I'm well within my 90 days from Masterbuilt still. 

20150827_212741.jpg

• rhaugle
• Aug 27, 2015

Bear, any experience with this?

 

[brickguy221]

 
That's a wonderful idea! We have an all-purpose "toothbrush" from Pampered Chef. That would also work. The wife wants to buy 1-2 more anyway.

Rick, this the type toothbrush I use to clean that notched button on the smoker ...

 

[candurin]

This would work as well and not look as silly as the denture brush (I know, I'm vain when it comes to my smoker!):

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Bear, any experience with this?

Not that I know of:

By that I mean that since the whole interior of mine now has a Beautiful Smelling Black coating that wouldn't allow me to see that if it was a there.

It looks like yours is a Gen #2.5, and I would guess that you had a pile of wood chips that had a pretty good flame going on in there, but I can't say for sure.

I believe an AMNPS would keep that from happening again.

Bear

 

[rhaugle]

 
Not that I know of:

By that I mean that since the whole interior of mine now has a Beautiful Smelling Black coating that wouldn't allow me to see that if it was a there.

It looks like yours is a Gen #2.5, and I would guess that you had a pile of wood chips that had a pretty good flame going on in there, but I can't say for sure.

I believe an AMNPS would keep that from happening again.

Bear

I'm not worried about the color, I'm worried about the actual insulation between the walls. The "crunchy" sound is only in spots where these burns are and thats my concern.. if the insulation is ruptured in some way, I can only expect it would get worse over time. Heat loss or a 250 hot spot on the side or even a fire all sound like bad news to me! I'm trying to figure out if this sound (crunch when pushing on the burn marks) I'm hearing is ok or not. 

 

[Bearcarver]

 
I'm not worried about the color, I'm worried about the actual insulation between the walls. The "crunchy" sound is only in spots where these burns are and thats my concern.. if the insulation is ruptured in some way, I can only expect it would get worse over time. Heat loss or a 250 hot spot on the side or even a fire all sound like bad news to me! I'm trying to figure out if this sound (crunch when pushing on the burn marks) I'm hearing is ok or not. 

You missed my point. I didn't mean you should worry about the color. I only meant if mine had been scorched, I couldn't see it because the whole inside of my MES is black coated.

As for your crunch, that's a little over my pay grade, but I can't believe there's a lot of internal damage inside the walls due to those scorch marks.

Bear

 

[rhaugle]

 
You missed my point. I didn't mean you should worry about the color. I only meant if mine had been scorched, I couldn't see it because the whole inside of my MES is black coated.

As for your crunch, that's a little over my pay grade, but I can't believe there's a lot of internal damage inside the walls due to those scorch marks.

Bear

Ahhh... you are correct. I did not read your post right. I just took a video of it, and will put on youtube with a link in a little bit. The noise can be heard all around the heat deflector above the chip tray. Also, the interior walls will "give" a little when pushed on. No where else in the smoker will they move at all when pushed with the same amount of force.

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Ahhh... you are correct. I did not read your post right. I just took a video of it, and will put on youtube with a link in a little bit. The noise can be heard all around the heat deflector above the chip tray. Also, the interior walls will "give" a little when pushed on. No where else in the smoker will they move at all when pushed with the same amount of force.

Almost sounds like some of the insulation got crisped up inside!  You could call Masterbuilt & explain that to them.

However missing a little insulation there shouldn't hurt much, after all the posts I read from guys actually removing their chip dumpers & letting a lot of air in.

I don't see that it would effect the working of your smoker or the quality of your smokes, as long as you don't have any more campfires going on in there.

I would recommend an AMNPS to avoid the chip & chunk burning completely. That's what I did.

Bear

 

[rhaugle]

Thanks Bear. I have an email into them already, but will call on Monday.

I see a lot of people buy directly from Todd (not sure exactly who he is). Is this through the amazenproducts.com website? Or should I PM him an order?

Smoke on!

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Thanks Bear. I have an email into them already, but will call on Monday.

I see a lot of people buy directly from Todd (not sure exactly who he is). Is this through the amazenproducts.com website? Or should I PM him an order?

Smoke on!

You can order from that site, or PM him & he'll help you out.

Tell him Bear sent you, and he'll take good care of you. (Actually he takes care of everybody)

Bear

 

[dr k]

 
Ahhh... you are correct. I did not read your post right. I just took a video of it, and will put on youtube with a link in a little bit. The noise can be heard all around the heat deflector above the chip tray. Also, the interior walls will "give" a little when pushed on. No where else in the smoker will they move at all when pushed with the same amount of force.

If you know some one with an infra red thermometer you could heat up your smoker and go around the whole smoker to see if that area is hotter on the outside of the smoker from deteriorated insulation.

-Kurt 

 

[Bearcarver]

 
If you know some one with an infra red thermometer you could heat up your smoker and go around the whole smoker to see if that area is hotter on the outside of the smoker from deteriorated insulation.

-Kurt 

That area is the hottest outside on my MES 40 all the time. Always has been.

The right side of my top is pretty warm. I keep my Mavericks on the left side of the top.

Then it gets hotter as you go down that whole right side, on the outside.

I assumed they all are like that, because my old MES 30 was like that too.

Just thought I'd mention this.

Bear

 

[dr k]

 
That area is the hottest outside on my MES 40 all the time. Always has been.

The right side of my top is pretty warm. I keep my Mavericks on the left side of the top.

Then it gets hotter as you go down that whole right side, on the outside.

I assumed they all are like that, because my old MES 30 was like that too.

Just thought I'd mention this.

Bear

It was hotter on the right side around the chip loader when I checked mine. 

-Kurt

 

[rhaugle]

 
If you know some one with an infra red thermometer you could heat up your smoker and go around the whole smoker to see if that area is hotter on the outside of the smoker from deteriorated insulation.

-Kurt 

Thats a good idea.. I've got one in the garage... Harbor Freight Special!

 
It was hotter on the right side around the chip loader when I checked mine. 

-Kurt

 
That area is the hottest outside on my MES 40 all the time. Always has been.

The right side of my top is pretty warm. I keep my Mavericks on the left side of the top.

Then it gets hotter as you go down that whole right side, on the outside.

I assumed they all are like that, because my old MES 30 was like that too.

Just thought I'd mention this.

Bear

What temp readings do you guys see on the outside of the unit? Middle of right side, and closer to chip loader? I will check mine tonight and let ya know some temps on a few different places. 

 

[Bearcarver]

What temp readings do you guys see on the outside of the unit? Middle of right side, and closer to chip loader? I will check mine tonight and let ya know some temps on a few different places. 

I never measured mine.

I do the hand touch test:

At the top---------Ouch

Half-way down-------Ouch-Ouch

At the Chip Dumper--------Ouch-Ouch--Yowooo-Ouch!!!

If I think of it I'll shoot those places next time I use it. I hate to get my infra-red gun out-----When I pull the Velcro pouch open, Smokey comes running---Thinks I'm gonna let him chase the little red dot all over the place!!!

Bear

 

[dr k]

 
Thats a good idea.. I've got one in the garage... Harbor Freight Special!

What temp readings do you guys see on the outside of the unit? Middle of right side, and closer to chip loader? I will check mine tonight and let ya know some temps on a few different places. 

I have the Harbor Freight special IR therm as well.  I'll have to check the hotter right side.  The other two walls were in the 80's I believe.  I'll get back to you on my next smoke.

-Kurt