Heating Element Not working

lepps50 · August 11, 2012, 04:12:57 PM

My smoker quit today on me, I checked the outlet and it has power, all the lights are on the cooker are red, checked the fuse and it's OK? I think it's the heat element? Is their anything else I should check?

Habanero Smoker · August 12, 2012, 02:19:27 AM

If the power light on the faceplate is working, that is an indicator the element is bad. If you have a multimeter, you can disconnect the element and test it. A good element has an OHM reading between 27 - 32 OHMs, but as I mentioned earlier, if the power light works; nine times out of ten the element is no good.

lepps50 · August 14, 2012, 05:49:50 PM

thanks for the info, smoker is under warranty and Bradley is sending me replacement

Habanero Smoker · August 15, 2012, 01:33:32 AM

Great! You should be up and smoking soon.

miken · August 22, 2012, 08:59:43 PM

Habs - is that a good factory element or any element?? I have a 900w Tempco CSF00131 and am getting a reading of about 18-19 OHMs. I am having some issues with it heating up to my set temp on the PID or even coming close to that temp when i put a load in there and was thinking this might be the problem.

TedEbear · August 22, 2012, 11:10:29 PM

Quote from: miken on August 22, 2012, 08:59:43 PMI am having some issues with it heating up to my set temp on the PID or even coming close to that temp when i put a load in there and was thinking this might be the problem.

When you added the new element did you change the existing wiring to a smaller gauge? As I said in another message I'm running 1000W worth of elements with the original wiring configuration in the tower, except for taking the slider temp control out of the circuit.

Habanero Smoker · August 23, 2012, 01:47:57 AM

Quote from: miken on August 22, 2012, 08:59:43 PM
Habs - is that a good factory element or any element?? I have a 900w Tempco CSF00131 and am getting a reading of about 18-19 OHMs. I am having some issues with it heating up to my set temp on the PID or even coming close to that temp when i put a load in there and was thinking this might be the problem.

I know that the 27 - 32 OHMs is for the factory installed element, I'm not sure what the OHM reading would be for the 900w.

Kahunas · August 23, 2012, 05:51:49 AM

Quote from: miken on August 22, 2012, 08:59:43 PM
Habs - is that a good factory element or any element?? I have a 900w Tempco CSF00131 and am getting a reading of about 18-19 OHMs. I am having some issues with it heating up to my set temp on the PID or even coming close to that temp when i put a load in there and was thinking this might be the problem.

That reading should be fine for the element. Generally when they go bad they go extremely high resistance. Check your voltage at the element. You should read full line voltage (or close to it) across the element. when the PID has it turned on.

miken · August 23, 2012, 04:54:24 PM

The voltage seems to be fine. Thought I had it working but still a no-go. The whole saga doesn't really fit into this thread and i don't want to get in "trouble" with the moderators.....so if you are interested in the rest of it, it can be found here -- http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=29271.0

Thanks for your help