SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Overheating

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20210914-7C786-2147360514. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Masterbuilt Slow smoker model MB20100112 (The product is a Masterbuilt slow smoker model MB20100112 that is designed to be used as an add-on and alternative smoke source for most Masterbuilt smokers. Once fitted alongside the existing smoker, it can be used for extended smoking time instead of using the wood chip dispenser on the original smoker. Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.4 x 18 inches, weight: 9.95 pounds). Incident: My Masterbuilt slow smoker stopped working. I found that it had tripped the gfci breaker on the outlet feeding it. When I tested the power cord to the smoker with a multimeter, I found the the live and neutral power terminals were shorted to ground. I opened the smoker and saw melted wires. The internal wires to the electrical heating element have high temperature insulation, but the wires on the electrical cord powering the smoker do not. The insulation had melted and the wires were shorted together and to the housing. I contacted Masterbuilt customer service twice and only received one response stating the the smoke temperature emanating from the smoker is less than 105�C. They did not address the real problem that the power cable is held against the heating element with zip ties, causing the insulation to fail. Their power cord insulation is the incorrect type for this high temperature application and poses a shock hazard to the user once melted through. NEC table 400.4 states that thermoset insulation should be used for heater elements which this insulation is definitely not. It seems to be thermoplastic from the way it melts. Additionally, the use of this cable violates NEC article 310.15(A)(3) that states that the insulated conductor's temperature rating may not be exceeded.