Block Heater Short

[Jolsen]

Long story short. I plug in block heater GFI outlet breaker trips. I don't see any breaks in the wiring. So is my cord from the block heater bad? Is the block heater bad? or both? It was all working up until this week. I used the same outlet and extension cord with some power tools and they all worked fine.

[Silverdodge]

Test the cord and heater with a multimeter

[Jolsen]

that would be great if I knew where to set the multi meter lol. too many choices on the damn thing lol

[Silverdodge]

Google I forgot what it should be

[Me78569]

Any cheapo multimeter will read resistance

[Jolsen]

is that the Omega sign one? if so what should I see off the meter? I have been buying tools but electric still is a bit confusing lol.

[JAG1]

Actually the GFCI is a pretty good tester/ indicator that either the power cord or heat element is bad. I happened to my first gen right after the heater was changed. That was finally at about 400k miles the cord insulation cracked and shorted. New cord was $14.95 at O reillys' a few years ago. I installed it with a bit more protection from rubbing by running it thru soft rubber hose in places.

 

I would try a new cord first, go from there.

Edited March 16, 2017 by JAG1

[Jolsen]

Yeah no reading on the plug ends...