What to Do with a "Decommissioned" MES 30?

[howink]

Any ideas, y'all?  Here's the story.  I bought an MES #20070910 a few weeks ago.  On its second outing, it refused to start, with the controller making a series of soft, rapid clicks (and nothing else light-wise or heat-wise) when I plugged it in. After checking the connections and other basic troubleshooting, I called Masterbuilt.

The customer service lady was polite and friendly, and after checking with others there, said that I should pry off one of the metal serial number plates from the back, cut off the end of the AC cord, and mail them back.  She would send me a new smoker, she said.

Good to her word, a new #20070910 arrived yesterday (not the updated model as some others have experienced), and right after Thanksgiving I'll be setting it up.  The question is what to do with the first one.  I don't have much space, so I'm not spring-loaded to keep it, but it seems like a waste to throw the thing out.  In fact, the dump would probably charge me a pretty penny.

I'd happily give the thing away to anyone who could use it, but I'm up in Mineral Bluff, Georgia - a stone's throw from Blue Ridge, GA, or Copper Hill, TN.

Your thoughts?

HoWink

 

[deltadude]

If it was me, I would try to figure out how to get the defective MES working again, and either find a use or sell it. Replacing the cut cord is easy.  There isn't many parts, digital controller, maybe separate relay, heating element, some connector terminal, and wiring, the thermal probes.

If you don't want to go to all that trouble, you convert it into a hot holding cabinet.  There are elements you can buy that already have a reostate type temp control dial, make the appropriate holes, and you will have a hot food holding, remove the smoke tray/tube assy and elements, add addition rack.

 

[daveomak]

Wink, afternoon..... It is probably an 800 watt element....  On the lower back panel is an inspection plate... remove it an hook wiring to the element directly, then to a dimmer switch (1500 watt incandescent rated)....  control the heat with the dimmer.... just like controlling the heat on a gas cook top.... I have done that to mine but still using the controller for over temp.... the over temp is not necessary....  

Just hook up to the element... skip the part where the wiring goes to the controller....    If you need help, I'm here... PM me....  Dave

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/g/a/9195/mes-30-modification-w-dimmer-switch/

 

[driedstick]

Use it as a seperate cold smoker for cheese and what not, just put the amzpt down there and let her go. then you could have two going at same time bacons, salmon??? just a thought.

 

[venture]

It is still a good box.

Use it to make a real smoker?

Good luck and good smoking.