MES 30 G1 blows GFI after reaching temp.

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larryb

Smoke Blower
Original poster
Jan 21, 2012
84
26
Chesapeake, VA
Followed Masterbuilt process of heating to 275 for 3 hours on non gfci circuit. Worked great on non gfci. Plugging into gfci circuit it reached temp just fine then instead of shutting off heating element and continuing to monitor temp and energize element again. As soon as it reached temp it blew gfci. Any ideas?
 
I take it this is a new unit? I would start by replacing the gfci outlet. They do go bad and start to malfunction. If it still happens I would call masterbuilt as you most likely have a short somewhere in the unit.
 
Had that happen with my MES 30 when new. Replaced gfci, still tripped. Tested gfci-no prob. Checked wiring for short to ground, loose connections, proper voltage-no prob. It just didn't like gfci power. Wound up running another circuit and installing a non-gfci outlet inside a cabinet next to the MES. Never had another problem.
 
Had that happen with my MES 30 when new. Replaced gfci, still tripped. Tested gfci-no prob. Checked wiring for short to ground, loose connections, proper voltage-no prob. It just didn't like gfci power. Wound up running another circuit and installing a non-gfci outlet inside a cabinet next to the MES. Never had another problem.
  As a short term fix to finish a smoke, you can use a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter on power cord that will prevent GFI from tripping. GFI trips because some current is leaking to 3rd wire ground causing an imbalance between line & load legs of the circuit.

  A G K
 
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Using a multi-meter, check current from smoker body to ground... unplug and check continuity from smoker body to hot leg of the power cord... (narrow spade)... there should be NO continuity.. If you have it, look for a loose connector or wire...
 
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  As a short term fix to finish a smoke, you can use a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter on power cord that will prevent GFI from tripping. GFI trips because some current is leaking to 3rd wire ground causing an imbalance between line & load legs of the circuit.
  A G K
Great idea. Will
also check with meter furst.
 
If  this were a older unit I would look and clean the ground connections at the element and the ground connection at the right corner of the smoker. Do what Dave said and if you have resistance from the box to the plug clean and inspect.  Jted
 
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I feel bad for those of you who have had problems with your MES 30 Gen 1. Mine has worked great from my first smoke 3 years ago. I just wonder if there have been some bad production runs--and there should be no excuse for that.

Has anyone contacted or heard from MB Techguy lately?
 
With the locations of the GFCI & NON being different, do you have a cord laying on the ground?  This has a nasty habit of tripping a GFCI circuit.  Also may want to consider putting the smoker up on some small rubber or wood blocks, just to stop any current drain.

Don
 
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