PID for (this) dummy

[smokin pop-pop]

Evening all,
So I've been reading all the posts I can find about rewiring and using a PID. I have a MES130B I bought at Cableas on sale two Christmas's ago. I mainly use it for cold smoking bacon as I don't need to actually to the unit on. but when I do use it for other smoking I have a hell of a time keeping things under control. My problem is I see alot of step by step on what wires to cut and splice on the smoker but nothing about how to wire the PID to the unit. And does it even get wired to the unit as I don't even know how a PID actually works. I do know that the controller on top of the smoker is useless for temp readings or settings. TIA

 

[Winterrider]

Unit gets plugged into the PID with electrical cord

 

[Winterrider]

If questions on the wiring, take a picture and tallbm will tell you exactly which to where. He walked me thru it.
He is in my "will" now.

 

[jmusser]

My PID was plug and play with the Bradley. Glad I didn't have to do the wiring stuff. I'm an electrical dummy. PID is so much nicer though. I think you will really enjoy what it does for you. I have had mine about a year and couldn't be happier with it. I wish I would have sprung the little extra for blu tooth.

 

[smokin pop-pop]

Unit gets plugged into the PID with electrical cord

Can you recommend a particular PID unit?

 

[jkc64]

Auber PID is a very popular one

 

[jkc64]

I bought a new MES 30 last year to replace an old one and ordered the Auber PID the same day.

 

[smokin pop-pop]

I bought a new MES 30 last year to replace an old one and ordered the Auber PID the same day.

is there a specific Auber unit I should look for

 

[jkc64]

It's all about your budget. This is the one I bought Auber PID it cost more than the smoker but it is wi-fi and I can do everything with it from the app on my phone. There is a much less expensive one but you have to do all the programing at the unit.

 

[Winterrider]

Many of us on here go with this

Multi Purpose Controller [WS-1510ELPM] - $159.95 : Auber Instruments, Inc., Temperature control solutions for home and industry

Auber Instruments, Inc. Multi Purpose Controller [WS-1510ELPM] - The WS-1510ELPM is a versatile temperature controller to have in your home. It can be used for various applications such as Sous Vide cooking, controlling an electric smoker, making yogurt, dough proofing, controlling the...

www.auberins.com

 

[tallbm]

Yeah it seems the guys have you covered pretty well.

In short if you do the simple rewire it makes your MES dumb. So if plugged into a wall the power goes directly to the heating element and it just continues to heat forever until it bursts into flame hahaha.

The way the rewire and PID work together is that with the dumb MES you simply plug the MES into the PID controller, then plug the PID into the wall.
You throw the PID temp probe into the smoker and set the temp on the PID and it will cut power on/off to the smoker until it hits the set temp and then holds the temp.

That's the simple magic of it all.
Both Auber PID options provided by the guys above will work it just comes down to bells and whistles and cost for ya :)

I hope this clears things up :)