Masterbuilt Electric Smoker wide temperature swings

[Jibberish]

Hello,
I have a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker, model 20070106 with the digital display on top, and a Maverick ET-733 temperature gauge. Lately I have had wide temperature swings causing my barbecue thermometer to go off often. FYI I do not open the BBQ to look at the meat. I trust my Maverick.

I set the Barbecue min-max temperatures at 210 and 235, with the main temp at 225 degrees Fahrenheit on the Maverick. I set the Masterbuilt temp to 225. I put water in the tray to help keep the temperature stable. Once everything is warmed up and I put my meat in with the Maverick probe in the meat and one for the BBQ. I don't use the probe attached to the Masterbuilt. Within 10-20 minutes my BBQ Temp alarm goes off, minimum temp hit and going down below 210. Wow. I turn the BBQ Temp up 2 degrees and reset the Maverick. 10-20 minutes later the Maverick goes off again, hitting high temp and rising.

OK so at this point I reset the High - Low temp on the Maverick to 200 - 240. After a while the alarm goes off again, high or low, the Masterbuilt is not keeping my set temperature. So I set up the oven in the kitchen to finish the meat.

I checked my Masterbuilt guide but cannot find where the internal temperature gauges are for the digital display. No mention anywhere. Looking in the BBQ I see a disk about the size of a dime, and a probe like piece of metal sticking out about a quarter inch from the back wall. They are covered in smoke grime. I cleaned them off, and got ready for the next meal.

This time the swing was not so wide. I could set the BBQ Min-Max at 210-235 and had fewer alarms. But the temp still swings too much.

There are no instructions on cleaning the Masterbuilt. I've never done it. I'm hoping I can get some help here on how to clean it without "breaking" my smoker, if you think that' the issue. I don't think the problem is with the Maverick.

I know there are some major experts here, so I'm hoping you can help.

Thank you very much!
Jibberish

[BigBear]

There is a video about Cleaning and Maintenance on the Masterbuilt website.

[Spinaker]

First, I would get rid of your water pan. (but thats another discussion on another thread)

Second, I wouldn't bet on your Mav and the Masterbuilt thermostat to be calibrated the same. I would, like you, rely on the Mav. But it would also be beneficial to check the Mav for accuracy. Some times the steam bath given off by the water pan can affect the Mav electronically. Although this has all but been fixed with the new probes, its easy to check with a pot of boiling water.

Third, I would turn your smoker up to ranges in 235 F to 250 F. And don't set the alarm on your Mav. Then sit there and watch the handset on the Mav to see how the temps run. Do they drop below the set point on your controller? If so, you know the discrepancy. I think this maybe more of an issue of the two separate thermometers not being calibrated exactly the same.

Fourth, If the temps are swinging really bad, you may have a leak in the door or on the lid or somewhere else. Gaskets are a great way to remedy this. This would allow wind to blow around the unit and pull out the hot air. Then when the heating element comes back on, it recovers quickly but over shoots you high-end target.

My first smoker was a Master-built bullet smoker, I had similar issues. To clean it, I removed the element and cleaned it in the yard with a hose and hot soapy water.

[RonB]

I don't have a Masterbuilt, but I don't think fairly wide swings are uncommon. I hope someone with a Masterbuilt will chime in. It's not uncommon for indoor electric ovens to swing + or - 20 or 30 degrees. Unless your Masterbuilt has a computerized thermostat the temp will vary. When the temp reaches the high set point the heating element will cut off. But the temp will continue to rise until the element cools. It's the reverse for low temp - when the temp drops to the low set point, the element will turn on, but it takes it a while to heat up, so the temp continues to drop for a bit. You are shooting for an average temp - not an absolute temp, although a rock steady temp would be ideal.
Of course, the thermostat could be going bad, (I guess), so I'd watch to see if the swing gets greater. If the swing really bothers you or you think it's affecting your cook, you could try replacing the thermostat.

EDIT to add that Spinaker made some good points too.

[Jibberish]

Thanks all! I know the Masterbuilt probe thermometer is separate from the heat control, and I just don't use it. I use the Mav exclusively. I made ribs last night, and noticed the heat indicator was still on when the Masterbuilt (MB) displayed a temp above my setting. IE: Set Temp to 200. Heat indicator lights. Temp goes to 210 on the MB before the heat indicator turns off! That seems wrong to me.

Thank you for the tip about the water tray. I will investigate. I thought the water tray helped keep the temp from varying too much, but maybe I misread.

Thank you for the tip about the videos to clean the MB!!! I will check them out. I was worried I would short something out and I don't have $$$ to replace the MB if I mess up.

BTW the ribs came out OK. Not "fall off the bone" but tasty! I attached a photo. Didn't see a smoke ring but I lightly smoke my ribs. I think I pulled them half an hour too soon.

You guys are the greatest! Thank you from the bottom of my rib roast!
Jibberish

[Huskee]

Looking fine!

[RonB]

An electric smoker doesn't produce a smoke ring unless you use wood or charcoal to add smoke. And even then, you are not going to get as much as with a stickburner.

[Jibberish]

There is a video about Cleaning and Maintenance on the Masterbuilt website.

I searched and searched their site and could not find any videos. Can you provide a link please?

[Meathead]

Clean the tip of the temp probe. It is probably covered in carbon. Her is why ther is no smoke ring http://amazingribs.com/BBQ_buyers_gu...ing_guide.html

[andy.wpg]

I don't have a Masterbuilt, but I don't think fairly wide swings are uncommon. I hope someone with a Masterbuilt will chime in. It's not uncommon for indoor electric ovens to swing + or - 20 or 30 degrees. Unless your Masterbuilt has a computerized thermostat the temp will vary. When the temp reaches the high set point the heating element will cut off. But the temp will continue to rise until the element cools. It's the reverse for low temp - when the temp drops to the low set point, the element will turn on, but it takes it a while to heat up, so the temp continues to drop for a bit. You are shooting for an average temp - not an absolute temp, although a rock steady temp would be ideal.

I have an MBE smoker and have used it a lot this summer. With a setpoint of 225F and the Maverick alarms set at 200 and 250 respectively, I have never had an over / under temp alarm. The swings I see are from about 213 to 233 or so.

As you said, the thermostat might be going.

Here's a link to the Masterbuilt video on cleaning. I do this every time I use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqVY-dzr-oU

[Jibberish]

Andy, I gotta say: LOL! The youtube video shows a very clean smoker. Mine is black black black inside. I don't think I can ever get the shiny metal sheen back on this puppy. As they said, "it's Seasoned". With that in mind, I really thank you for the link. I will endevor to persevere. It will take several days to clean the smoker to "clean". Does it really need to be that clean? Seems like a real waste of time. In any case, thanks for the link.

[Steve R.]

It will take multiple SOS pads and some serious elbow grease, but the shiny can come back. I sold mine on Craigslist after I bought my Weber kettle, and really felt the need to clean it up.

[andy.wpg]

No. I think the point if it is to get the grease off. You'll never stop it turning black.....

[Jibberish]

Thanks Andy! I was thinking I was gonna hafta scrub until my arms fell off!!!

[Backpacker Brown]

I also have a Masterbuilt 30. My temp swings when i first start up the smoker are +/- 10-15 degrees, but after awhile they settle down to about +/- 5 degrees or so. If you have the patience, take a pen and paper and watching your Maverick and your MES readouts, record the min and max temps as well as when the power comes on and goes off. I did it for an hour or so and it helped me to get some understanding of how my smoker operated. I think I took the readings with no meat in the smoker. Try it both ways - with and without the meat.

By the way, I think the "dime sized" disc is the high temp cutout and the little probe that sticks out about ⅜" is the "box" temp probe. Not totally sure, but that's what I've been told.

[RonB]

A Thermoworks Chefalarm will record max and min temps over time. If you have one, just go ahead and set up your smoker and put the Chefalarm probe inside. Then let it run until it's up to temp, and then reset the min/max feature and let it run a while longer. Let it cycle through the on and off cycle several times. It should eventually give similar min/max readings. To achieve the set temp you want, set the temp as in the below example:

You want to run @ 250*. You have checked and when you set the smoker to 250*, the swing is 240* to 270*. That's a 30* swing and gives an average temp of 255*, (halfway between 240* and 270*). So in this example, to achieve an average temp of 250*, you would need to set the temp at 245*. That should give you an average temp of 250*.

If this isn't clear, let me know and I will try to make it clearer.

[droopie69]

I'm a little late to this party, but I have an analog masterbuilt and after about 4 years of using it 4 or 5 times a year I noticed the temp swings, but mainly it struggled to get up to temp. I replaced the element with a universal one from Amazon. I haven't had problems since. I had to drill 2 new holes to mount it, but I covered up the old ones. I also bought a $5 moving blanket at Harbor Freight and cover the smoker anytime I used it (except the hole at the top back corner where my Maverick Probes go in) and I think that helps protect it from wind and door seal leaks some.