Is Your Rec Tec Tripping GFCI? :5 Reasons And 6 Solutions!

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Cooking outdoors is a great way to enjoy food with your family and friends.

Of course, a connoisseur will seek the ultimate taste in their proteins.

So, a Rec Tec Grill or Smoker is your chosen cooking device.

A smoker can elevate the ambiance.

All you have to do is plug it into your garage GFCI and get cooking.

The food might take longer to prepare, but the wait is worth it!

Now, what happens when you plan to tailgate a feast and you find the smoker not working?

Is your Rec Tec tripping GFCI frequently?

Read this article to find out why and how to solve the problem!

Is Your Rec Tec Tripping GFCI? Here Are Some Common Causes!

There are so many reasons why your GFCI could be tripping.

Let’s take a look at some common causes!

The GFCI is Protecting Too Many Devices

A common reason why tripping occurs is that too many appliances are being protected by one GFCI.

The circuit breaking is shielding multiple downstream.

Multiple devices lead to energy leakages.

A circuit overload occurs when the GFCI takes more than it can handle.

In this case, it’s best to limit the number of devices used.

Unfortunately, this overload can also be caused by malfunctioning devices.

That’s why the GFCI “trips” so often.

Here’s what you can do to see if too many devices are the problem.

Unplug all the appliances, including your Rec Tec Grill or Smoker.
Reset the circuit.
Wait a few minutes.
Plug the Rec Tec Grill or Smoker back in and see if it’s still tripping.

If not, then your smoker isn’t the problem. Overloading is!

The GFCI was Not Properly Wired and Set-Up

Check whether the GFCI is installed correctly.

See if the neutral wire is connected to a suitable circuit.

You can consult an electrician if you’re confused because not everyone knows how to test GFCI devices.

A proper verification wouldn’t hurt!

The Area is Too Damp

Where is the GFCI device placed?

What’s the weather like in your town?

Check whether the GFCI is placed near dishwater, shower, or washing machine.

Too much moisture might be tripping your GFCI too.

If your GFCI is placed in a location with too much moisture, then the device might be tripping regardless.

So don’t blame your Rec Tec for this mishap!

See if you can make any operational or environmental changes.

If you reduce moisture near the device, you’re good to go.

A weatherproof cover like the Heavy Duty Outdoor GFCI Cover by Enterlites will do the trick!

Its Polycarbonate thermoplastic construction renders maximum durability from severe weather conditions.

The weatherproof enclosure protects outlets from outdoor elements like rain, mud, snow, as well as dirt.

This cover provides protection against pets and other animals too.

Your Rec Tec may have defects

There’s a likely chance your Rec Tec Grill or Smoker may be leaking too much current.

A manufacturing defect could cause this leakage to the ground.

Smokers are allowed a certain amount of leakage.

Unfortunately, manufacturers may not build up some parts to standards.

That’s why GFCI protection is required to begin with.

However, if the tripping persists, contact their customer care service.

They will take a look into your smoker and repair it.

The GFCI Device May Be Faulty

No electronic device lasts forever. GFCI devices are no different.

In fact, you might even find some faulty devices from the get-go.

That’s why experts recommend changing GFCI breakers every five years or so.

It’s essential to test the breakers and receptacles each month.

This way, you know everything’s functioning.

Then, if you place your smoker near the pool, you can consider getting the GFCI Plug Assembly by Aneken.

The circuit interrupter comes with surge protection. It’s also easy to install.

The rugged design makes it ideal for heavy use.

So, if you frequently host BBQ and pool parties, you know what to fall back on!

Know Here How to Upgrade Rec Tec WiFi Controller.

How Do I Stop Rec Tec From Tripping GFCI?

Now you know what’s causing the GFCI to trip. Here are some quick fixes.

Get Rid of the Rest of the Appliances

Is your Rec Tec tripping GFCI while you’re trying to kickstart your BBQ party? This is the first thing you need to do.

Disconnect any appliances that take a lot of amperages.

Refrigerators, freezers, and battery chargers should be the first few to go.

Anything that pulls a lot of amps needs to be taken off the same circuit.

If you fire up your smoker while keeping those in the same GFCI, another 200 Watts is added to the draw.

Just Try Another GFCI

Yes, this can happen.

Sadly, there are some weak spots in your house.

So, the easiest solution is to shift your smoker to a different spot.

Disconnect the Rec Tec Grill from that circuit and shift it to another one.

This also lets you test whether something’s wrong with your grill itself.

Suppose the smoker or grill runs fine in the second circuit.

So, before you do anything on your grill, make sure your house is on order.

Replace the GFCI Outlet

To follow up on the previous point, you can look out for what’s causing the leak. Electrical appliances don’t last forever.

They tend to have a short lifespan.

Here are some reasons why your GFCI outlet is no longer working.
The outlet could be exposed to moisture, or the electrical wiring might have deteriorated with time.

Dust and debris are common factors to this problem as well.

Finally, the insulation could have simply worn out.

If your insulation is worn, more electrical leaks take place.

You can easily get a leakage current clamp meter to prevent this.

The Inrush Clamp Meter by Kaiweets is worth considering.

You can easily diagnose the problem with this device.

With the clamp meter, you can detect whether the outlet is the problem or the circuit breaker itself.

Replacing the GFCI outlet takes little time and effort.

It’s certainly more cost-effective than replacing a circuit board.

Minimize the Use of Aluminum Foil

Many smokers and grill manufacturers warn you from using aluminum foil.

All we have to say is use it carefully!

Aluminum foils obstruct airflow and cause your device to heat up.

That’s why you should position it carefully and ensure it doesn’t drain your appliance.

Replace igniter rod

Check under the front of your Rec Tec grill, look towards the rear on left hand side, there is a big bundle of wires which are zip tied.

Cut the zip tie, you can see there is a red wire which is plugged into the braided fiberglass wire.

You need to unplug that wire and turn your Rec Tec back on.

After this, if your Rec Tec doesn’t trip, the you locate the problem.

If there is a problem in igniter rod, you need to replace the igniter rod with new one.

If you need to cook right now on your grill, we have temporary solution.

Fill the firepot with carboard paper and burn it for about 30 to 60 seconds.

You’ll get good flame and then turn the grill on.

Put everything back on the grill and your grill is ready to cook manually.

In this way you can manually ignite the grill.

Clean the Residue

Sometimes all you have to do is get rid of the dirt.

Your smoker’s accumulated residues and dirt can also cause power outages.

So, if your Rec Tec powers down often, it could be because it’s not cleaned enough.

Another symptom of this is fluctuating temperature readings.

Inspect the heating element.

What’s causing the problem?

Is it too much moisture? Is there food residue remaining?

Use steel wool to dislodge the grime.

Is your Rec Tec tripping GFCI despite all these fixes?

Here is a summary of all the tips to consider:

Check if the Rec Tec smoker is plugged in properly.
See if GFCI has signs of damage.
Inspect the smoker for signs of food residues.
Look at the heating rod or element for signs of damage.
Check for frayed cables in the smoker and GFCI.
Finally, plug your smoker into a different GFCI.

How to Replace the Fuse on Rec Tec Pellet Grill?

Firstly, unplug your Rec Tec Pellet Grill.

Now look for the access panel under the side sheet of your grill.

Then, remove the panel using a socket.

Use an 8mm socket to get it sorted easily.

Once that’s sorted, you’ll notice two white wires with red connectors.

Use a plier to unplug them. Then, unscrew the hardware from the inside of the grill.

The older models have one screw. Newer ones tend to have more.

Now, remove the bracket from the old RTD and keep it aside for the new one.

Pull the RTD out! Mind you, this is the fuse you’re looking for.

Now take your new RTD and push the wires in one time.

Then, take them through the side shelf hole.

Remember that bracket? Slide it back onto the new RTD and screw it in.

Plug the RTD wires into the controller and place the access panel back on.

Voila! You’ve successfully replaced the fuse on your pellet grill.

Final Thoughts

The article addressed a simple question: Is your Rec Tec tripping GFCI while you’re trying to smoke meat?

As you can see, the answer is hardly straightforward.

This is because there are so many elements that come into play.

You might have to take numerous steps to come to a solid conclusion.

However, the overall process isn’t too hard.

Power outages are unavoidable.

You just have to pinpoint the symptoms early on.

Using a Rec Tec Grill or Smoker can lead to repeated circuit breaks if not dealt with properly.

Be smart. Deal with your appliances safely.

Once you get everything sorted, you can become the favorite grill master in town!

References:

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