Hi guys....I have a new heating issue.. my mes is about 4 years old, have replaced the coil once already. The unit heats up, but not to temp. I will set it to 230, and it only gets to about 145. So I jacked it up to 275, and it only got to 175. The unit "thinks" it's to temp, as it shuts off the coil eventually. I have verified these temp issues with 3 different thermometers...
Again, set to 225, only reaches 145, coil shuts off. Display reads 225. Raised to 275, heats to 175, coil shuts off and display says 275.
Thoughts?
One thing not mentioned and something I have personally experienced is that your rollout safety limit switch is cutting power to the element.
This happens when it is overheating at the switch due to the wire connectors corroding away.
See when there is a bad connection that causes resistance which causes heat.
So if the connectors to the safety switch are heating the switch up due to bad connection, the switch gets hot after a period of time and hits its limit and cuts power.
If you have a panel on the back of your MES about halfway up (right hand side for MES40, sometimes middle location on MES 30) you can go in there and check the connections and u will notice if they are corroding away. This is a SUPER common failure point on MES smokers.
If you don't have a panel well you have to drill out the rivets on the back of the MES and pull the back up/off and that will get you to the houseing and then to the switch to check. I would cut and create a panel in this case to avoid having to pull the back off again. You refasten the back with #12 self tapping hex head sheet metal screws (3/4 inch long) and its all good.
NOW if your safety rollout switch is ok and the connectors are bad, you replace with hi temp stainless steel 16AWG female spade connectors.
If the switch is showing signs of damage (melting, burn marks), then I would bet $100 it fails soon too. You can either replace it or you can just cut the wires and splice them together and boom you are back in business BUT without a safety switch in the mix. I've had to do this to finish a smoke cause I've had like 5 switches melt down on me. They are delecate so you cannot bend or wiggle the tabs at all or it will fail after some time.
So before you go and by controllers and heating elements check your connectors here, at the heating element, and even underneath on the controller board.
My money is on the safety limit switch connectors causing the switch to overheat... its happened to numerous people here (and many times to me) and is a simple fix... especially if you already have a panel :D