MES 30 blowing fuses after the move

[tempnexus]

I just moved and when I plug my MES 30 into my GFI outlet it blows the fuse. I have unscrewed the back and it looks fine, not rusted, I have removed the top controler and tried just testing the smoker, nope blown fuse. I have checked the front where the heating element is and it looks fine...no breaks in metal.

What else can I do?

 

[PAS]

GFI outlets do wear out. Try using a non GFI outlet.

 

[tempnexus]

GFI outlets do wear out. Try using a non GFI outlet.

new house. When I don't use a non GFI outlet then I blow the fuse at the panel

 

[ristau5741]

is the a 15A or 20A circuit? is this a15A or 20A GFI,
what else is connected to the GFI circuit? (e.g. when you GFI pops, what else goes out)

What is the AMP draw of the MES 30? What are the AMP draws of the other devices connected to the circuit?

 

[tempnexus]

is the a 15A or 20A circuit? is this a15A or 20A GFI,
what else is connected to the GFI circuit? (e.g. when you GFI pops, what else goes out)

What is the AMP draw of the MES 30? What are the AMP draws of the other devices connected to the circuit?

20A, nothing else is on when I try to turn on the smoker so there should be minimal draw. Well the back says 800 Watt element so I presume it's at least 7 Amps, I don't know the actual cold draw amps, I don't have a current meter hooked up to it.

 

[Bearcarver]

new house. When I don't use a non GFI outlet then I blow the fuse at the panel

New house?
Then you do mean it "Kicks the breaker", right?
You don't have fuses in a new house, right?

Also ---No problem like that at the other house before you moved?

Bear

 

[tempnexus]

New house?
Then you do mean it "Kicks the breaker", right?
You don't have fuses in a new house, right?

Also ---No problem like that at the other house before you moved?

Bear

nope no problem.

Yeah breakers not fuses...I call them the same but yeah.

 

[Bearcarver]

nope no problem.

Yeah breakers not fuses...I call them the same but yeah.

No problem,
It took me many years to stop calling them fuses, even after we changed my first house from a fuse box to 200 Amp service with breakers.

On the other thing, I'm thinking unless something happened to your Smoker during the move, there is something wrong with a circuit or two at the new house.

I would try a couple other outlets that aren't on the same circuit as that GFI outlet.

Bear

 

[dr k]

I just put this up on another thread incase the insulation failed between the resistence wire and outside jacket of the element. Or shorting from water, humidity or grease.

If you unplug smoker and disconnect the wires to the element and then plug in and turn on, if it doesnt trip it would be the element most likely or wires to the element. When unplugged and wires are disconnected from the element, if you check continuity from one element leg around to the inside of the smoker touching the metal outside element jacket there should not be continuity.

 

[tempnexus]

I just put this up on another thread incase the insulation failed between the resistence wire and outside jacket of the element. Or shorting from water, humidity or grease.

If you unplug smoker and disconnect the wires to the element and then plug in and turn on, if it doesnt trip it would be the element most likely or wires to the element. When unplugged and wires are disconnected from the element, if you check continuity from one element leg around to the inside of the smoker touching the metal outside element jacket there should not be continuity.

Yeap I just did that...and I have 14 Ohm continuity between the element poles and the chassis or the ground screw. So something is borked. The question is what.

 

[river100]

If you have 14 Ohm from element to ground and... the elements have no other wiring connected to them then the element is bad.
To check the smoker control and related wiring, unplug the wires from the element, isolate them( some tape on them), turn on set a temp. If it trips GF or breaker you have other issues such as shorted wiring or a shorted control.
You need to do what is called an isolation test, test each section, isolated / not connected to other parts to ground.