Smoker not getting hot enough

[pocket-pair]

I have a 2-year-old MasterBuilt Electric Smoker model 299690311. I smoked an 8 lb pork butt for 16 hours last weekend. The smoker was set to 225 degrees. The meat probe said the meat only made it to 180 degrees. I used my digital thermometer to check the temperature inside the smoker. It said it was only around 175.

Why is my smoker thinking it's between 220-230 but it's actually around 175-180? Will replacing the digital control fix my issue?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Mine fluctuates quite a bit depending on what is in there. I think i depends on how the air flow is around the thermometer. I just use my inkbird and adjust the temp to get what I want. I had 3 probes in different places this weekend and they are were different temperatures. I also put 2 ceramic tiles on top shelf below exhaust to keep air flowing directly up to exhaust which seemed to help some.

 

[smokerjim]

the mes factory thermometers are known to be off, sometimes quite a bit so like Brian I use a inkbird probe to monitor the temps. a lot of people will upgrade the controller to fix that issue. mine isn't off that much so I never really worried about. check out tallbm's post on fixing the controller it may be something you want to do.

 

[zwiller]

IIRC that is a classic heat sensor issue. Lots of tips here: https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/has-anyone-fooled-the-mes-temp-sensor-before.256497/

GOOD LUCK

 

[Winterrider]

My MES used to do the same thing, even replaced new controller board which got it closer. I would have to Set it at about 280 -290° to smoke at 225 -240°. I replaced with Auber PID, set it and forget it.