And, having done it myself, I believe an “average joe” with any wiring experience at all could follow the instructions to mod a digital MB box for PID control. I’m not an advanced or professional wiring guy, and it was simple for me. It was maybe an hour job, taking my time.

The now-defunct 340G gave me a box tall enough to handle the hanging sausage I process and wide enough to handle full racks of ribs without trimming. Nirvana. And the raised, wheeled platform made it mobile and ergonomically accessible. And the Auber makes it feel like an extension of my will.

It’s like motorcycles. I want a LOT of them. If I could have 10, I’m sure at least one would be a Harley. But I can only have 1 so it’s a BMW. I can’t have 10 smokers, so I don’t have a pellet burner.

NOW who have I annoyed???

mikemikemike Our posts are crossing. As I said, I modified it using simple instructions available via a quick google search. It bypassed all of the digital electronics. My MB40 is now just a nice box with a heating element completely controlled by my Auber.

I understand what you did. Its not a easy task for the average joe though. I don’t think pid is needed for electric, but pellet is a whole other ball game. You should look into it, especially if you have the electronic knowledge to modify. You can get a Pit Boss on sale for cheap, and add a Rec Tec WiFi controller.

The MB40 I bought needed to be modified (using simple instructions available on the web) to route around the controller and allow the heating element to be controlled by a PID - turning it into an analog cooking tool. Some electric smokers, including some MB smokers, are natively analog and will require no such modification.

And, as I’ve said before, the PID is great for other cooking tasks using tools that are already analog. Like most crock pots, or roaster ovens. I really like it. 22quarts of venison stock placidly processing in my garage at a precise 190° for 24 hours or so makes me kind of giddy.

I’ve used a couple of iterations of MB30’s over the years, and have smoked on a kamado joe using a partyQ. And caveman style using a Weber grill. And over a water smoker. If I had more budget, motivation and time, I’d probably be looking at a reverse flow stick burner. But this MB40/Auber/Mailbox is a combo that works better than any other setup I have used. If you got the impression I think it works better then setups I have NOT used, you are reading more in to my words than is actually there.

Whether Aubers that can be set up with a blower for charcoal is something I never researched. And it really has nothing to do with this thread. I never looked into it, because it had nothing to do with my setup.

I did buy the Auber circulation fan kit, for installation in the MB box - which handily prevents hot/cold spots. Really happy with it.

Like I said, I’m just in it for the smoking. I decided I wanted to go PID controilled. And decided I liked the 40" masterbuilt box up on a rolling pedestal. I have no desire to attack or defend the MB brand. The reality is that they are built to a price point and marketed to an audience that is price sensitive. Slaving the MB40 to my Auber has achieved all of my goals without spending way more than I thought made sense.

I do not question that your pellet burner has achieved your goals. I just happen to prefer electrics, now that I have control of the temp via the PID, and over the smoke via the mailbox mod. I’m just a happy smoker sharing my experience, not a brand or technique evangelist looking to save souls.

So you have a Electric MB40. How exactly are you controlling that with a PID controller? As far as i know, once you pull the plug on a MB it resets to zero. I don’t know of any models that keep heating up after power is lost.

I do not question that your pellet burner has achieved your goals. I just happen to prefer electrics, now that I have control of the temp via the PID, and over the smoke via the mailbox mod. I’m just a happy smoker sharing my experience, not a brand or technique evangelist looking to save souls.

You still have not answered my question. What type of smokers are you working with besides an Electric Masterbuilt?

I can’t inform you on a better alternative till i know what you are working with.

I absolutely agree with you that modding a digitally controlled electric smoker is outside the realm of the “average joe”, though it is not exactly rocket surgery.

I am “the average joe”, but I was so profoundly frustrated with my smoking experiences I devoted a slightly illogical amount of energy and expense to the problem. But am very satisfied with the result.

As I said already, I claim no expertise. And though I am not anxious to spend more money right now I am wide open to being educated on “new technology”.

The Auber is my only experience with a PID – so you are correct I am not informed on the technology of other PIDs. I am in no position to debate the relative merits of the Auber vs alternatives.

If you have anything to say about PID’s, I look forward to becoming better educated on the topic. I have no “brand loyalty”, and just want to smoke well, often, and easily. By all means, mention better/cheaper products than Auber. If anyone wants to debate you about it, it won’t be me - I barely know anything about the topic and have no preconceptions. I’m just here to enjoy smoking. Using a PID has increased my enjoyment.

What other smoker do you have besides a Masterbuilt? Auber AFIAK only sells PID controllers. They might sell a controller and a blower for charcoal, but i am not aware of any Auber product that somehow magicly works with Electric smokers like Masterbuilt that is the topic of this thread. Seems like you and the other guy are barking up the wrong tree? I suggest both of you look into pellet smokers. I have wasted $$$ over the years with electric, gas/charcoal, charcoal smokers over the years. Pellet is the way to go.

I’m no expert, but if it won’t hit 275 in anything approaching normal weather, it is either a problem with the element, the control, or the integrity of the box.

Whatever it is, I can tell you that by spending a couple of hundred bucks on a PID device (Auber WSD-1500H-W), and bypassing the internal controls to give the PID direct control of the element, for the first time in many years of smoking with electric smokers I am comfortable it will do what I say without drama.

Not only that, the PID works with any AC controlled analog heat source - for instance controlling a roaster oven to hold a big batch of stock at precisely 185º for 24 hours unattended. A powerful, flexible and accurate tool.

Thats more then an average Joe would do. I have plenty of PID controllers i built over the years, but if i was starting from scratch, with the knowledge i know, I would tell some one to go Pellet smoker. Rec Tec having the best WiFi PID controller for Pellet smokers.

You are either not informed on new technology, or you work for Auber. But if you want to debate, i am more then willing to mention better/cheaper products then Auber.

Whatever it is, I can tell you that by spending a couple of hundred bucks on a PID device (Auber WSD-1500H-W), and bypassing the internal controls to give the PID direct control of the element, for the first time in many years of smoking with electric smokers I am comfortable it will do what I say without drama.

Not only that, the PID works with any AC controlled analog heat source - for instance controlling a roaster oven to hold a big batch of stock at precisely 185º for 24 hours unattended. A powerful, flexible and accurate tool.

Its worth the $60 on amazon. I used to use my Masterbuilt electric for years before i upgraded to a vertical pellet smoker. Pellet smokers push air so much that bad smoke doesn’t have a chance to linger. But thats a whole other topic im not going to get into in this thread.