mhoy Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2008 Posts: 139 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 Grinder: KA Proline Roaster: HotTop KN-8828D
Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008, 8:40am Subject: Is a HotTop KN-8828D sufficient or should I upgrade it to a newer "B" model?
I picked up a used KN-8828D and I've done a couple of nice roasts. Way easier to hear first crack than my Iroast2. :-) I really appreciate the larger roast size too, one roast and I'm set for the week. I seem to need to input the max time and them bump it up a bit at the end for the roasting I want to do. I'll be doing all my roasting outside since I don't have sufficient venting in my kitchen. How does the "D" model hold up when it's < 70 outside?
Would it be worth it to upgrade to the newer "B" model? Seems too steep to get to the P model, and a lot of you guys appear to like the "B" model. Anyone upgrade from the "B" to "P" want to sell their old board front input board? Then I'd only need the controller upgraded.
Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008, 9:53am Subject: Re: Is a HotTop KN-8828D sufficient or should I upgrade it to a newer "B" model?
The strange thing about the B upgrade kit from Hottop is that the main board (used for the B and P mdoels) costs the same as the kit that includes the main board plus the control panel and cables, etc. So if you plan on buying one of them, you might as well get the kit for the same price. Just something I noticed, and I'm thinking about the B upgrade as well but the cost is a little higher than I'd like to spend on it right now. The B upgade kit costs about as much as a refurbished Behmor lol.
Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008, 12:41pm Subject: Re: Is a HotTop KN-8828D sufficient or should I upgrade it to a newer "B" model?
Tell you what I would do for controls: hardwire the heater to a variac (ok to leave overtemp protection ;^), put a speed control directly to the fan. Control panel would have probe readout for environment and bean mass temps and watt meter for the heater. Add a timer and a month(or more) of roasts to figure out how to control it. It may sound rude and crude but it will give direct control and feedback of the roast vitals. I think you could do this for about the same upgrade price. Take a look at Jim's PID Hottop as well. Your packaging job will not look as nice as a stock Hottop, but we have to make compromises somewhere.
mhoy Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2008 Posts: 139 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 Grinder: KA Proline Roaster: HotTop KN-8828D
Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008, 12:45pm Subject: Re: Is a HotTop KN-8828D sufficient or should I upgrade it to a newer "B" model?
Frost: If I go through all that, I might as well build a controller board too. :-) Which isn't entirely out of the question, but I think I'd rather buy it.
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