Posted Mon Jun 30, 2008, 9:43pm Subject: heating element on my Gene Café Roaster broke down -> external cooling culprit?
Hey all,
Yesterday I sent my GCR away for repairs because the heating element didn't work anymore. Luckily it was still under warranty but could my always hitting the emergency button to cool externally have something to do with the machine breaking down? What do you think?
Breeze Senior Member Joined: 3 Dec 2006 Posts: 351 Location: St. Croix, V.I. Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Pasquini Livia S Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Ford Ranger Drip: TechniVorm Roaster: Toper 1 kilo
Posted Tue Jul 1, 2008, 2:43am Subject: Re: heating element on my Gene Café Roaster broke down -> external cooling culpr
I'm on my second unit in two years or so and it is now failing. Temp reaches high 140's, falls back and increases again. I replaced the heater twice on my first unit, supplied by the Distributor at no cost. The first unit finally expired completely due to a bad circuit board and was replaced with a new machine.
New unit's led began to fail at six months but I could still tell what the temp was. It has been suggested that voltage much over 120 can damage the heating element. I had the power company tap my transformer down to provide 119 max at my outlet.
Specifically, going into E stop to remove the drum, while allowing the blower to continue, should not harm the unit but.....you're talking to a guy who does that and has a pile of burned out heaters in the corner. I also admit to roasting a fair amount of coffee with my unit(s) so possibly I just pushed the designed limits too far. My solution..my crazy solution, was to order a Toper 1 Kilo Gas fired unit which I hope to have installed and roasting by early August. Anybody wanna buy a bag of coffee?
Best of luck as these problems are frustrating, to say the least.
Breeze Senior Member Joined: 3 Dec 2006 Posts: 351 Location: St. Croix, V.I. Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Pasquini Livia S Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Ford Ranger Drip: TechniVorm Roaster: Toper 1 kilo
Posted Tue Jul 1, 2008, 2:46am Subject: Re: heating element on my Gene Café Roaster broke down -> external cooling culpr
I failed to note your location in the Netherlands. My voltage numbers were all based on 120V, 60 Cycle power. It as been posted here previously that European units have different heating elements, sized for the particular power provided in various countries.
I love Holland! Years ago I used to have business there and rented canal boats to travel around the country. Wow!
Posted Tue Jul 1, 2008, 4:27am Subject: Re: heating element on my Gene Café Roaster broke down
Merlino Said:
Hey all,
Yesterday I sent my GCR away for repairs because the heating element didn't work anymore. Luckily it was still under warranty but could my always hitting the emergency button to cool externally have something to do with the machine breaking down? What do you think?
It's not clear what is causing these heater failures, as far as I can tell. I've seen causes of reduced airflow and overvoltage as both being problems; I would think one could design properly around these problems to produce a more robust product but the market is probably not big enough to have a Gene Café V2.0.
Recently I started having problems, but taking the pieces apart and thoroughly cleaning them (intake fan and screen, chaff collector) fixed the problem fairly well. I have an overvoltage problem here in NYC (~125V instead of standard 120) that seemed to be adding to the problem. I don't know if there is still a problem caused by overvoltage, but I'm keeping a variac on the circuit just to be sure and keeping the voltage down. What might be the problem here is that a reduced airflow overheats the heater box internally, and it cuts out to save itself. Overvoltage could have the same effect. Perhaps the damage is cumulative, causing eventual total failure but I wonder why this needs to be true.
Taking the unit apart and cleaning it is not for the average consumer. There are too many things to mess up when putting it back together. But I was past warranty and figured I was mechanically and electrically competent enough to manage it myself. I can tell you there are several gotchas to avoid when doing this yourself, but I was fortunately successful.
Posted Thu Jul 3, 2008, 9:33pm Subject: Re: heating element on my Gene Café Roaster broke down [...]
Hey all! I'm sorry for taking so long to reply. Thanks for all of your comments. I haven't gotten the GCR back yet but my vendor e-mailed me to explain that he replaced the CPU of the device and that it's working like a charm now. Should be receiving it today if all goes well.
Posted Fri Jul 4, 2008, 12:02am Subject: Re: heating element on my Gene Café Roaster broke down -> external cooling culpr
I wish Nesco would do this. I would be happy even if there was a nominal charge as I am pretty hard on my heater.
Phil
Breeze Said:
I'm on my second unit in two years or so and it is now failing. Temp reaches high 140's, falls back and increases again. I replaced the heater twice on my first unit, supplied by the Distributor at no cost. The first unit finally expired completely due to a bad circuit board and was replaced with a new machine.
New unit's led began to fail at six months but I could still tell what the temp was. It has been suggested that voltage much over 120 can damage the heating element. I had the power company tap my transformer down to provide 119 max at my outlet.
Specifically, going into E stop to remove the drum, while allowing the blower to continue, should not harm the unit but.....you're talking to a guy who does that and has a pile of burned out heaters in the corner. I also admit to roasting a fair amount of coffee with my unit(s) so possibly I just pushed the designed limits too far. My solution..my crazy solution, was to order a Toper 1 Kilo Gas fired unit which I hope to have installed and roasting by early August. Anybody wanna buy a bag of coffee?
Best of luck as these problems are frustrating, to say the least.
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