MES and big orange extension cord OK?

[jsanders]

What is up my smokas? Merry Christmas! I need to glean some knowledge from you old wise ones.

Will it hurt my MES to use an extension cord? It says not to in the instructions but I've heard it's ok with a big wnough cord.

 

[smokeguy]

You'll be ok if it's a 10-12 gauge at any reasonable distance. Happy Smokin'!

 

[bbq engineer]

What Smokeguy said...if it is one of the super cheap orange cords (14 gauge wire or smaller), You are better off finding an outside outlet and plugging in direct.

Use a large gauge wire and you'll be OK.

 

[mballi3011]

Yeah ehat theses guys said. If the cord is heavy enough for the smoker. At laest a 12 better a 10 gauge wire so when your smokers kicks on it don't kick the breaker and you don't know it and you end up throwing the meat away.

 

[fmcowboy]

yeah, I been using one on my MES since June. Never an issue holding temps.

 

[zapper]

How far is the distance you need to stretch?

At any rate use the shortest and fattest you can find or make.

I now use one of those grey appliance extension cords that is about 12' or so. I am pretty sure that it is 10 gauge wire. I was using a good heavy 12 ga.50 footer for a long time because it was all I had but it did get a little warm. So I figured that useing a shorter cord would put some more of that warm into the smoker instead into the air.


Really and truely running a 20 or 30 amp dedicated circuit depending on you electrical load would be the best. I have had to do some minor electrical repairs/upgrades around this old shack myself

 

[rambler]

So you know the danger with it would be pulling to much voltage and heating up the electrical cord. Keep and eye on it for awhile and if it is pulling to much power for the element and the cord gets hot don't do it.

 

[deltadude]

When I first got my MES 1.5 years ago, I tried using a 50' 12 ga construction grade extension cord. Bad idea, the funny thing I only wanted to move the MES about 8' away from the house so the smoke wouldn't go up the eaves and get smoke smell in the house. After having problems on the 1st and then 2nd smoke I simply taped over the 3 closest eaves and plugged the MES directly into the outside house outlet, NO more problems.