Smoker trips the household circuit breaker or GFCI as soon as it is turned on or when heating starts.

Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker. Unplug the smoker and keep it unplugged until the fault is corrected.

Steps to locate the fault:

• Inspect power cord: Look for cuts, crushed sections, or melted areas. Replace the cord if any damage is found.
• Check for moisture: Open the control housing and rear panel. If you see condensation or water, dry thoroughly with a cloth and allow several hours of air drying before retesting.
• Inspect wiring harness: Follow all wires from the power inlet to the control board and heating element. Look for pinched or rubbed-through insulation where wires pass through metal. Repair with heat-shrink or replace the harness.
• Test heating element for ground fault: With wires removed, measure resistance between each element terminal and the metal cabinet. Any reading other than infinite (OL) indicates a ground fault; replace the element.
• Reassemble and test on a dedicated circuit: After repairs, test the smoker on a known-good circuit without other heavy loads.