Heating Elements ... the Good, the Bad & the Ugly

smoker pete · February 19, 2011, 03:25:31 PM

Just finished re-installing 2 new elements that I bought directly from Bradley. Just finished running a test with the PID and they performed as advertised at 250º for 3 hours. Ready again to continue my smoking adventures ;D ;D

Now I'm no engineer so I don't profess to infer anything by the following photo of the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly. Just found it interesting so I took a photo and posted it.

What you see on the left is a new element (the Good). In the middle you can see 2 burned out elements (the Bad). On the right is my functioning element from when I bought my OBS in 2007. It's totally different in that it's got some sort of red material (the Ugly).

A question for the experts ... My deflector plate came apart at the welds and as such I am only using the side brackets for mounting the second element. Anyone know what harm could occur if I don't use the reflector plate? Everything just ran fine for 3 hours. Should I be concerned and buy a new reflector plate to install or just leave it?

Quarlow · February 19, 2011, 04:10:37 PM

Why not just use a couple of small Pop rivets and put it back together?

TestRocket · February 19, 2011, 04:37:58 PM

Right pop rivets or small drilled holes and a few 4-40 nuts and bolts!

SouthernSmoked · February 19, 2011, 07:24:32 PM

You could do that or the next time you place an order with Yard and Pool order a new Replacement Heat Element Reflector - $7.99

http://www.yardandpool.com/Bradley-Smoker-Replacement-Heat-Element-Reflector-p/reflector.htm

TedEbear · February 20, 2011, 05:57:37 AM

I don't know what you used to drill the holes for the second element but when I did mine I started with smaller bits and worked my way up. I found that when I got close to 1/2-inch holes the thin metal reflector tended to want to tear instead of cut.

The end result holes are about 9/16-inch. To get to that point I used a cone shaped grinding bit and it went a lot smoother. I recommend using the cone bit after you get to the 3/8-inch point to avoid tearing the metal or breaking welds.

Interesting observation on the new heating element color. Bradley claims nothing has changed.

Bradley (Head Office) · February 20, 2011, 06:41:49 AM

QuoteWhat you see on the left is a new element (the Good). In the middle you can see 2 burned out elements (the Bad). On the right is my functioning element from when I bought my OBS in 2007. It's totally different in that it's got some sort of red material (the Ugly).

Smoker Pete... Were the middle two heat elements the in the front on your dual element set up?

The red colored material is high temperature silicone it is just a plug to keep the fill material from running out when they are manufactured.
in the other they have used white colored silicone.

QuoteInteresting observation on the new heating element color. Bradley claims nothing has changed.

Tedebear... We stated we have used the same type of heat element for the past 8 years changing the color of the silicone does not have anything to do with the
components inside the heat element.

West TN Smoker · February 20, 2011, 09:00:08 AM

I have been having problems with these things going out as well, I have the Sg mounted PID - is there any chance that the PID is doing something to take out the elements?

GusRobin · February 20, 2011, 09:09:15 AM

I have had my OBS since Dec 2009 and have used the Auber PID both dual and single without any element problem.

smoker pete · February 20, 2011, 09:16:27 AM

Quote from: Bradley (Head Office) on February 20, 2011, 06:41:49 AM

Smoker Pete... Were the middle two heat elements the in the front on your dual element set up?

The first one that failed was in the front. I replaced that burnt element with the old element from my OBS which I bought in 2007. The second failure was the rear element. That only left me the front element which as stated before is my old element. The 2 element failures were the new elements I bought from Yard & Pool.

I have now installed 2 new elements again and am hopeful that all will be well ;D ;D As I said before "... I don't profess to infer anything ..."

Bradley (Head Office) · February 20, 2011, 09:27:53 AM

Thanks for the information SP

The reason I asked is out of all the elements I have had returned for inspection none of them showed the cracking
on the end like yours have.

Is it possible for you to send me a couple of close up pictures, one of the end and the other a side view of the entire element

If you can email them to me at brian at bradleysmoker.com the larger MB the better it give me more room to zoom in and check details.

thanks

Brian.

smoker pete · February 20, 2011, 10:08:46 AM

Quote from: Bradley (Head Office) on February 20, 2011, 09:27:53 AM
Thanks for the information SP

The reason I asked is out of all the elements I have had returned for inspection none of them showed the cracking
on the end like yours have.

Is it possible for you to send me a couple of close up pictures, one of the end and the other a side view of the entire element

If you can email them to me at brian at bradleysmoker.com the larger MB the better it give me more room to zoom in and check details.

thanks

Brian.

Brian, Will take some detailed pictures and send it to you. PM me with your mailing address and I will gladly send you the elements for your inspection.

West TN Smoker · February 20, 2011, 10:20:18 AM

Interesting! I have 3 bad elements here, and one is red (the original one) and 2 white ones, just like Smoker Pete.

All 3 of my bad ones are cracked like the one in Petes picture - including the one with red sealer. The 2 white ones I ordered from Bradley less than two months ago - I will send these 3 to you if you want to see them, Brian.

I am going to order a couple of replacements this week and I will mention this thread when I call in, last time I think it was Jackie that took care of me and she was great.

Jon

Bradley (Head Office) · February 20, 2011, 10:43:25 AM

Thanks TN

I will send you a PM

Brian.

devo · February 25, 2011, 07:47:56 AM

Just recieved my replacement today. Got it in and fired it up. Seems to be working just fine. Thanks bradley for the good service. Now if you can just send me some warm weather ;D

I took the insulators off my old one and yes it has the same cracks as the pictures above.

West TN Smoker · February 25, 2011, 09:30:54 AM

devo, I got my replacements today as well, and saw that Bradley has my ole ones for analysis.

One thought that crossed my mind - I wonder if the nuts holding the ceramic caps on the ends are too tight, causing the cracking and the early demise of some of these things?

I am going to back them off and finger snug them before I put the wire, washer, and outside nut on this time and see.