Smoker shows E15 and immediately shuts down when attempting to start a cook cycle.

Safety first: Unplug the smoker and do not attempt to bypass any safety devices. Risk of electric shock.

Inspection steps:

• Remove the rear or bottom panel to inspect the heating element terminals and wiring for moisture, rust, or carbon tracking.
• Dry any moisture thoroughly and correct any source of water ingress (damaged grommets, missing covers).
• Inspect wiring harnesses for nicks or cuts where copper conductors may contact the metal cabinet. Repair with high-temperature heat-shrink and proper connectors.
• Test the heating element for continuity to ground using a multimeter (one lead on element terminal, one on metal chassis). Any measurable continuity indicates a ground fault and the element must be replaced.

If no obvious ground fault is found, the internal detection circuit on the control board may be overly sensitive or defective and should be evaluated by a technician.