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A common issue that some Traeger grill owners face is their grill tripping the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet.
This can be a frustrating problem, but with some guidance from Traeger support, we’ll help you understand why this happens and what steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Here’s screenshots of our conversation with Traeger Support:
Understanding GFCI Tripping:
A GFCI outlet is equipped with sensors that constantly check for electrical surges inside the wire. When a fault is detected, the GFCI instantly disables the outlet’s power supply. GFCI outlets prevent your home’s breaker from tripping completely, protecting your entire house.
When your Traeger grill trips the GFCI, it usually means a grill component is pulling too much energy, or there was a surge greater than the grill is designed to handle, causing it to lose power.
Checking the Fuse:
The first thing to check when your Traeger trips the GFCI is the fuse in the back of the controller. If the fuse is blown, you’ll need to replace it.
The replacement fuse is typically a 3-5 amp, 250-volt fuse, which can be found at your local hardware store. Replacing the fuse is an easy process.
Wattage of Traeger Grill Models:
The wattage pulled by your Traeger grill depends on the model. For example, a Pro 575 model pulls 110 watts initially, with watt usage dropping to 10W-20W after reaching the desired temperature.
The Ranger model, on the other hand, pulls 300 watts initially, with watt usage dropping to 45W-100W after reaching the desired temperature.
Checking Other Components:
If the fuse isn’t the issue, you’ll need to test each component individually to see which part is causing the GFCI to trip. The faulty part should be replaced.
Traeger has a helpful article that covers this process and shows you how to check the grill components: https://support.traeger.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407219975579
Final Thoughts:
Tripping the GFCI outlet can be an annoying issue for Traeger grill owners. However, by understanding the root cause and following the troubleshooting steps provided by Traeger support, you can resolve the problem and get back to grilling in no time.
Remember to check your fuse first and then test each component individually to identify and replace the faulty part.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.