I'm replacing my old 30" MES with a new one that I believe is pretty much like my old one . Digital control on top at the back of the smoker . This is the unit that the terminals disintegrated after using it for a month or so so I put the appliance terminals on the wires and all's been well for 7 years or so ?? (can't really remember when I got it ??) Anyway , when I fired it up the other night I noticed it wasn't heating so I turned it off and back on reset temp and time and still no heat , then the 3rd time it started to heat and ran fine , but i ordered a new one anyway . Mine has been used quite a bit and the new one was $150 . My question is for the folks that have purchased one say in the last year or so . Do they still have the problems with the wiring to the heating element , as far as the terminals disintegrating ? I'm just wondering if after checking to make sure it works I should just go ahead and do the terminal repair ? I thought this time I would just solder the wires to the terminals of the heating element , if they still have that problem , but if recent buyers haven't experienced the problem for the last year or so I'll just use it as is . Thanks .