Heating element tripping gfci

[Mac MacFarlane]

Hello, I have two 1650w elements got them wired today using hot pods as my enclosure, as I contact the ground m it trips the gfci, both elements are doing the same thing.

 

[Broken Crow]

From your previous postings, I see you had the inkbird/SSR setup and intended to use that for one element with the other presumably just on a plug. I'm unclear in understanding how you can 'contact the ground' without contacting it all at once, but if you mean simply plugging it in, I'm wondering what type of GFCI you are plugging it in to and what it's rating is.
Perhaps a picture of the equipment from the element to your GFCI will help those of us reading to try and sleuth out the issue.
(Nice looking setup BTW )

 

[Mac MacFarlane]

The hot pod have two parts one connected to the ground wire, when I joint the two together it trips I’ve tried three gfci and made new cord still tripping.

 

[Broken Crow]

I don't know what level of electricianness you have, and didn't want to sound patronizing by asking if the GFCI's are actually rated for your purpose. (I have seen some people quite innocently plug 50A units into a GFCI made for small appliances) The way you've descibed your issue, it sounds like you are somehow connecting the power without a ground and all is fine until you ground it. Without any visualization of what you are describing, I am unable to begin even guessing.
Please, some more technical details. I believe brewing beer is one of the great priviledges of living and don't want to see anyone denied that over a technical issue, and will help if I can.

 

[Dland]

Have not seen prevoius posts, but agree on Broken Crow you should know specs of all components used and not exceed them.

Does it work W/O GFCI?

Do you have a multi meter, or at least some means of testing continuity? Absent of that or desire to learn to use them, I'd suggest you get some help from someone who knows what they are doing and can look at your rig.

 

[doug293cz]

Hello, I have two 1650w elements got them wired today using hot pods as my enclosure, as I contact the ground m it trips the gfci, both elements are doing the same thing.

The hot pod have two parts one connected to the ground wire, when I joint the two together it trips I’ve tried three gfci and made new cord still tripping.

Exactly what have you connected to the ground wire? Do you have a wiring diagram, or photos of the connections?

Brew on

 

[Mac MacFarlane]

Both gfci are 15amp 1800w plus the ink bird built in gfci. Both run fine with gfci until with ground part of the hot pod makes contact with the part against the kettle.

 

[Bobby_M]

I would disconnect the wires from the element terminals and test resistance between each terminal and the kettle wall. They should read infinite ohms each time. If any combo reads a lower number than infinite, you have a partial short between the inside heating wire and the sheath of the element (partially electrifying the kettle). I wouldn't recommend plugging either element in again without the ground being connected.

Follow up question. With the pods put together (connecting the ground to the kettle), does either element plugged in individually work without tripping?

 

[Mac MacFarlane]

Neither work connected

 

[Bobby_M]

The way I interpreted what you wrote, the controller has a GFCI on the plug and you're plugging that into another outlet that is also a GFCI?

What if you plug the element directly into a GFCI outlet and bypass the controller?

Do you have any other device/appliance handy that has a 3-prong plug on it? If so, does that also trip the GFCI when plugged in?

 

[Mac MacFarlane]

I found a cheap $10 3000w 240v element at the hardware store to try and it fired up no problem. I’m thinking I may have damaged the elements when I bent them to make them fit. I’m not sure if it matters but on both the plastic where you screw the wires in is loose.

 

[doug293cz]

I found a cheap $10 3000w 240v element at the hardware store to try and it fired up no problem. I’m thinking I may have damaged the elements when I bent them to make them fit. I’m not sure if it matters but on both the plastic where you screw the wires in is loose.

Sounds like you might have damaged the elements. It is usually ok to bend them a bit, but not near the junction with the mounting/wiring block.

Brew on