Ref; Winter is coming! Oh No!

[TomKnollRFV]

Alright, so I was thinking of how to get the MES to fire up in winter, my first idea is when I light the pellets, I'll just put them in near the sensor on the back, try to trick it into being hot that way. But what if that doesn't work? I don't even own a hair dryer. I live in WI, so it needs some serious heat to get up there right?

I might try the heat lamp that would be used for a reptile tank. I used to own reptiles, and even when my room was 50f, I had some that kept part of a 40 gal long tank around 87f for them. If that doesn't work, I'm fairly stumped.

 

[Medina Joe]

Wish I could help Tom.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I'm just going over ideas. I read some people take apart the control unit to bring it in. That I won't do! Lol.

 

[dr k]

Some put an ice cube on the snap disc to reset it quicker so maybe a damp paper towel with hot water for the cold Mes sensor. Or a bowl of hot water under the sensor. Light bulb, hairdryer if you have a gen 1 with light bulb inside keep the smoker plugged in the day before with the light on. It's only 15 watts though. I did the PID so it comes inside and the ceramic bulb socket in the smoker is rated at 75 watts. I wired in a 16 guage extension cord and shrink tubed cord since the socket has screw terminals. I just plug in for night smokes. Sealed hole with 700° RTV silicone. Could only find a 40 watt bulb but that is almost 3xs brighter.

 

[zwiller]

I keep MES in the detached unheated garage but I didn't have any problems and I was doing stuff at -15F ambient at times. I do a PC controlled Christmas light show and the light bulb hack is well known to keep stuff warm with minimal fuss.

 

[Braz]

I wasn't aware that an MES wouldn't work in cold temps. I guess I have just not had occasion to use it when it was really cold.

 

[normanaj]

Never had issues the MES in cold temps and we had a stretch of some of the coldest weather in many years last Winter,had mine going on -8f day with no probs.Can't speak for the one I bought this past April.

 

[Kevin DeShazo]

The couple times Ive run into the issue, I pressed my hand against the sensor for a few mins, but Im in SC, where you are, may not work, esp if you have cold hands.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Huh, yah if I had a model with that light bulb..wait I think mine has a light. I turned it on twice by accident and didn't notice. <Red light, that seemed about 20 watts. Useless..>

I'm just planning to have my MES not work in the cold, and I got stuff that can heat up a reptile enclosure no problem. Heck I might have a heating rock, but those are also known to fry things/start cords on fire and I'd never want to mess with it in damp/ice/snow/cold conditions!