MES 20070106 650 watt

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nightowl

Fire Starter
Original poster
Feb 10, 2009
34
10
I got this on a trade, although I have smoked with good luck, it has a hard time recouping temps on a warm day. I've read about upgrades, can the 650 watt be upgraded to the 1200 watt element?
 
owl, morning...   Try filling the water pan with gravel or sand first....   cover with foil to keep it clean...   start the smoker on high to preheat everything.....  then run the smoker as you normally would...  do not open the door to look at stuff....  

My MES has an 800 watt element with a dimmer switch controlling the output of the element....  I generally run it at about 500-600 watts to reduce the temp swing and it works fine....   a 10 minute recovery is no big deal when it takes 12 hours to smoke a hunk of meat...   

Dave
 
What Dave said above, with the biggest part being, "DON'T OPEN THE DOOR ALL THE TIME!!!"

650 watts should be enough for an MES 30.

I think I have heard some aren't bad changing & some are difficult to change the element.

Bear
 
Thanks, I'll give it try with sand. I have always filled the pan with water on all my smokes before.
 
Tried water pan filled with sand, had temp set at 225 because I know it gets hotter than set. After 45 minutes to get to temp, I put 10 lbs of wings in. After 2 hrs it still had not recouped, heating element stayed on the whole time. The unit was given to me last year so I have nothing invested in it. Masterbuilt sent me a new controller but that wasn't the problem.
Should I try upgrading to a larger element? Or maybe I'll pull the trigger and buy a new one.
Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Did you have the vent wide open? If not the moisture from the chicken will hold the temp down for a very long time.
 
Tried water pan filled with sand, had temp set at 225 because I know it gets hotter than set. After 45 minutes to get to temp, I put 10 lbs of wings in. After 2 hrs it still had not recouped, heating element stayed on the whole time. The unit was given to me last year so I have nothing invested in it. Masterbuilt sent me a new controller but that wasn't the problem.
Should I try upgrading to a larger element? Or maybe I'll pull the trigger and buy a new one.
Thanks for any suggestions.
There must be something wrong with the smoker. Even with a 650 watt element, it shouldn't take times like that to get the temp up!!

The money spent to try to fix it or to replace the element could be put toward a nice new MES 40, with 1200 watt element, more room, glass viewing door, and remote control.

Just my 2 Piasters.

Bear
 
nightowl, evening....  Do you have an aftermarket thermometer, that is calibrated, in the smoker for a back up temp reading ???  Getting an accurate temp is important and the OEM thermometer is  usually off....  mine reads about 20 Deg low....  Also, the 10 lbs of wings will consume a lot of BTU's getting up to temp....  

If you do decide to get a MES 40, keep the 30.....   mount it above the 40 and connect the exhaust of the 40 to the inlet of the 30 with a good length of 3" aluminum flex duct.... then the 30 becomes a cold smoker using the 40 for smoke and maybe a little heat on those cold winter days.....    length of the 3" flex duct will determine how much heat is lost through the walls of the flex to keep the 30 cool, below 70 deg F for cold smoking....     There a 2 cents for you....    

Dave
 
Thanks for the replies. I don't need the mes 40, the 30 is big enough for me, I'm looking at the 20070910 30 from amazon for $177. The reviews are good. Is it 850 watt? Any reason I shouldn't buy it?
 
Thanks for the replies. I don't need the mes 40, the 30 is big enough for me, I'm looking at the 20070910 30 from amazon for $177. The reviews are good. Is it 850 watt? Any reason I shouldn't buy it?
nightowl, morning......  Some folks have had problems with some of the newer MES units....  not sure which ones......  Problems with the electronics if memory serves me correctly.....   No problem with the exchanges and no problems with Masterbuilt standing behind their products even after the 90 day warranty expires... They seem to stand behind their product at almost any cost.....   I wouldn't worry about buying one with what I've read here....  If you have problems, and waiting for new parts from the warranty department is not a problem, if it fails, go for it.....

Dave
 
Thanks for the replies. I don't need the mes 40, the 30 is big enough for me, I'm looking at the 20070910 30 from amazon for $177. The reviews are good. Is it 850 watt? Any reason I shouldn't buy it?
Nightowl,

If the ME 30 is big enough for you, that's a good price for it.   

I have to warn you though, that most of those who bought the MES 30, thinking it was big enough, ended up getting the MES 40 (including me).

My turning point was when I could only put 7 pounds of Beef Sticks in one load.

So then since I ended up buying both, my total outlay was $550. Then I sold the MES 30 for $50. Wish I would have bought the MES 40 first---Thought I was saving money--LOL.

Bear
 
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