Everyone has given you great suggestions and the MES is totally functional using the chip loader. However, if you truly want it to be a set it and forget it type smoker, I suggest you use the
AMNPS (A-MAZE-N Pellet Smoker). Many advantages to this simple but brilliant product:
1. Beautiful thin blue smoke for 11-12 hours without doing a thing (other than lighting it correctly)
2. Pellets are available in every variety of smoking wood you can imagine
3. Allows your MES to cold smoke without adding a significant amount of heat which is great for smoking cheese, bacon, etc.
4. Great customer service. Todd, the owner of the company is a member on this site and will help you with any issues you have.
No, I do not work for this company, nor am I getting paid for this promotion haha. It's just a great product!
Just search
AMNPS in the search bar and you'll find plenty of posts on what it does, how to light it, and plenty of great food smoked with it.