Oven Temp and Digital Issue

[mikemontauk]

Morning Group. I'm new at this, and trying to start my 2nd Smoke on the BDS. 1st one went well (Pork Butt). Currently I am stumped as my element will not work (heard that could be a problem), but what I also see is the the oven temp on the digital display is reading different high numbers, ex. 250, 270, when the oven is not being heated by the non working element.
Steps I've taken:
1. Unplugged everything, reconnected.
2. Plugged smoker directly into outlet (no extension cord) though the 1st smoke was with extension cord and it worked just fine.
3. Smoker works just fine.
Obviously its Sunday and Customer Service is closed. Trying to save a Turkey Breast.
Thanks,
Mike

[beefmann]

here is a  few other things to try,

1) plug the Tower directly into the power source. not into the smoke generator.  see if the element works , if it  does  go to  2.
2) open the smoke generator and check for loose connections, remove and  re seat all connections . some  work loose

if the above dont work call bradly

others may chime in with there views

[Saber 4]

beefman has you in the right direction for checking before calling Bradley, as for saving the turkey, if your smoke time is finished move it to your oven to finish so you don't stay in the danger zone to long with the breast.

[mikemontauk]

Thanks for the leading me in the right direction. I believe I determined that the element is working. It will not kick on because the "oven temp" continues to read extremely high temperatures, ie 330,320. The oven temp setting is at 240 and the outside temp is mid 20's so I know we aren't close. Is the sensor in the oven bad? Is the sensor wire bad?
For a short period the oven temp reading went below 240 and the element kicked in. After a few minutes of joy, the temp reading shot back up to 300 and it shut down.
Birds in the oven......bummer.

[Saber 4]

sounds like a bad temp sensor to me, I don't know if it can be bypassed or anything to get you by, maybe some of the mechanical experts will have a solution. Of course you'll probably need to call customer service tomorrow.

[KyNola]

You might try this trick and see if it helps.  With your Bradley off, remove all of the trays.  The heat sensor is on the back wall and is circular, like a coin.  Take an ice cube and hold it against the sensor for a while.  If your sensor is "stuck" in the high temp mode, the coldness of the ice might help to restore it.  Don't know if that will fix your problem but it can't hurt. :)

[mikemontauk]

Thanks for all of the hints. Ice cube trick didn't work. Element kicks right on when plugged directly into the wall. I guess its a bad sensor. Took out of box, made a great pork shoulder last week. Really excited for the Turkey today. Oh well its looking good in oven at 325. Will call Bradley. Kind of disheartening that something malfunctioned after 1 use.
Cheers,
Mike

[TedEbear]

Apparently your Bradley "thinks" the chamber temp is already above the setpoint and that's why it is not letting the heating element turn on.  I have the OBS model, not the digital, and I can't be of much further help.  Possibly a bad temp probe.  Check the sensor cable and see if it is kinked anywhere or other damage.

[mikemontauk]

Since the Smoker was bought over a year ago, but used for the 1st time 12/30/13, it was not warrantied. No worries. Sent over 2 new sensors for a few bucks. When I took off old sensor I did see some grease/soot on bracket. This tells me it might not have been screwed in tight enough. New sensor in....Pork Chops being smoked.
We're back in the game.

[Smoker John]

Glad to hear things have worked out.