Reviving a MES 30 --> PID

[smotrs]

Got it up and running and looks like it just now stabilized at set temp. Now to read up more on how to set this up, thanks @tallbm for the link. Then attack the inside more to continue cleaning it up so it looks prettier. And thanks @chopsaw @normanaj @dsk and @schlotz for the help as well.

 

[tallbm]

Got it up and running and looks like it just now stabilized at set temp. Now to read up more on how to set this up, thanks @tallbm for the link. Then attack the inside more to continue cleaning it up so it looks prettier. And thanks @chopsaw @normanaj @dsk and @schlotz for the help as well.
View attachment 703791View attachment 703792View attachment 703793

Oh nice!!! Setting the P-I-D values should be even easier with the Auber unit you have. I believe you can do it through the app.

One thing to note. I get better responsive behavior with the temp probe on the underside, in the center of the lowest rack.
Try some things tested out and get to where you are happy with your empty smoker performance and you will be good to go for some food and I think you will be ok no matter what. Enjoy!!! :D

 

[dr k]

Got it up and running and looks like it just now stabilized at set temp. Now to read up more on how to set this up, thanks @tallbm for the link. Then attack the inside more to continue cleaning it up so it looks prettier. And thanks @chopsaw @normanaj @dsk and @schlotz for the help as well.
View attachment 703791View attachment 703792View attachment 703793

This is the first Mes 30 Gen 2.5 hybrid I saw on the HSN with colored doors with windows 6+ years ago. This started the new slanted top to the right chip burner roof that pushed heat to the right rear corner before going back left to the top left vent like the Gen 2.0 that did it with the slant drip tray with left side vent, then left top vent before Gen 2.5 and the baby water pan we called it with a chip burner flat roof Gen 2.0 but the Gen 2.5 roof heat distribution wasn't any different than the Gen 2.0 slant drip pan above it, baking the insulation in the right rear corner. That's why we remove all the metal around the heating element for keeping the integrity of the corner insulation, quicker response and more even heating throughout the smoker. Your hybrid had the Gen 1 oval drip pan but two level like a deep and shallow end swimming pool to accommodate the hybrid chip burner roof. These Gen 2 and 2.5 boomed with different part numbers for different stores vs the Gen 1 simplicity. This boom was so out of control MB couldn't keep up with customer service warranty issues and they kept pumping out crap and what worked for them was Covid. They came out with the 440 and 430 independent chip and chuck burner with a 150 watt independent burner with a top broiler element , rotisserie that ended in 3 years. From 2020 though today and on going there is no support unless you go to FB and message them on their page. You only need a box, door and element and a spare element on FB marketplace or anywhere and never buy anything new from MB. The PID price pays for the headache of not dealing with MB.

I'm surprised how low they put the thermal safety snap disk to the heating element in your Gen 2.5. I'm curious if this was an issue with these sensors below bottom rack and closer to the element vs the Gen 1 that has their's many inches higher and closer to the left wall. This is my Gen 1 Mes 30 and zooming in you can see how far away its from the element between the two middle racks. Mes 30 Gen 1 uses my OEM controller for chxn and small things smoker. I love my Gen 1 40 Mes PID all SS inside and out no paint anywhere. The black window trim, plastic top hinge cover is good but top/bottom door trim will probably crack in the first year with what you get now but not an issue. Put in the bottom rack and slide a disposable baking sheet one rung left or right and see the heat above and around your food left or right change. Test PID with a load of water, bricks or food, or all of them, then you'll see what parameters of PID you want to change or eliminate if you don't want to wait for the heat and flashes way low of your recipe temp. Especially, if you want to do a recipe and the next step didn't make the temp before it with stupid minutes you have to enter for each step. I took in out of program mode and use single step mode and a smartphone timer tells me to manually bump up the auber 1510-ELPM. My OEM controller is right on for my Mes 30 which is rare. I use the Auber for my larger smokes and ramping sausage, fish, dried beef, jerky and chipotle drying super hot peppers etc. Lock down the learning curve of the PID coming into a landing before the hour is up and then not hitting it before going to the next temp/time step. You'll be messing with it awhile weeks to a year. I do P=1, D=0 and I=0 which is P mode since all others are 0, then P D mode, Then P I mode then P I D mode, then if P=0 then it's an on off heater controller at the set temp like the OEM controller. I read the manual online at Auber and read it two more times before pulling the trigger like buying a car. I received a cd with my auber. It maybe a thumb drive now. There's a reason they show P mode. write down the outta the box parameters and you can always put it back but autotune and the outta the box settings are not used used 99% of the time. I tried (Mes 40 air volume with load) outta the box and in 5 min it was flashing 30 degrees below set temp, deal breaker. Autotune does two cycles (not enough) to put in the PID Parameters for the algorithm and just as bad flashing many degrees below set point.

 

[smotrs]

This is the first Mes 30 Gen 2.5 hybrid I saw on the HSN with colored doors with windows 6+ years ago. <snipped-rest>

A lot to read there that I want to ask questions about and re-read for testing. So I'll get back to that.

First, you mention something about hacking the heat shield as it puts to much heat in top right corner. That on my version or a different version?

I just put the racks in to mount the thermal clip, rest of the pieces, btm tray, etc.. are in a box next to the smoker at the moment as I didn't want to keep removing as I was flipping it around. When I get it back together, I'll get a pan and start testing that as well.

Manual is now on thumb drive.

I'm on my mobile so I still can't quite see yours zooming in. I'll try on computer in a bit.

 

[smotrs]

@jchad send me your ZIP code. I took the whole brick out. I'll find a box, wrap it and check with UPS today or tomorrow to find out how much it cost to ship to your ZIP and let you know.

 

[jchad]

@jchad send me your ZIP code. I took the whole brick out. I'll find a box, wrap it and check with UPS today or tomorrow to find out how much it cost to ship to your ZIP and let you know.
View attachment 703845

Started a chat! I really appreciate your help!

 

[dr k]

A lot to read there that I want to ask questions about and re-read for testing. So I'll get back to that.

First, you mention something about hacking the heat shield as it puts to much heat in top right corner. That on my version or a different version?

I just put the racks in to mount the thermal clip, rest of the pieces, btm tray, etc.. are in a box next to the smoker at the moment as I didn't want to keep removing as I was flipping it around. When I get it back together, I'll get a pan and start testing that as well.

Manual is now on thumb drive.

I'm on my mobile so I still can't quite see yours zooming in. I'll try on computer in a bit.

When using the stock chip burner as intended all models kept heat, charing the bottom right corner of the smoker and the insulation would smoke and some catch fire you could see when they took off the back of the smoker. Some can hear crunching noise from the chared insulation in the walls when pushing the inside walls in the bottom right corner. With the PID you need an independent smoke generator since the element won't be on long enough to burn chips etc when it gets to set temp, cycling on and off so much. So getting everything out from around the element so it's just a bare element lets more heat go left. I use disposable aluminum cake pans in the Mes 30 that fit on the oval pan holder. I didn't like the stock oval pan because it didn't catch as many drips and the rectangle pan that is off the back wall an inch lets heat rise all around it up the walls. I use a disposable baking sheet on the bottom rack in the Mes 40 for a drip pan. Sliding the baking sheet just one rung width on the bottom rack right or left really makes a difference evening heat left or right in the Mes 40 smoker. The 30 doesn't need anything done to it after the chip burner housing comes out.