Ice Machine Computer Resetting Repairs
Ever had this thought: “there must be a computer in this ice machine and it is making me crazy”?
Ice Machine Computer Boards Rule Your World
The scenario is often like this: Ice machine makes two to three batches of ice and then stops. You turn the machine off, then turn it back on, and it makes a few more batches and cuts off. You say ” What the heck?” You are wondering why wont it keep running. Well it is turning off because the friendly computer board, which almost every machine made by man has nowadays, is not very happy with the way things are going. Did I say “made by man”? Oops. I don’t mean to offend the other half of our population consisting of women. I’m sure some women also had a hand in the introduction of computers in controlling machines. Okay, lets move on.
Ice Maker Computers Exist For A Reason
You see, for good reasons, the computer board is connected to various sensing devices throughout the unit. As theses devices input readings to the computer, the computer compares the readings to what the engineers programmed as being acceptable. Let me give you just one of many examples of how a common computer shutdown occurs. Elsewhere on this site, I discuss water issues with your ice machine. One issue that I mentioned was water leaking into the machine, going over a closed water inlet solenoid. If this is happening, water is being added to the water trough throughout the “freeze” cycle. With this particular machine, the “harvest” is activated by the float switch dropping to a pre-determined level. Since water was always dripping into the trough, the machine took a long time to get to “harvest.” The ice formation was slow due to warm water entering the trough and the water level took too long to drop. This lengthy ice making process was a problem for the machine–but why?
If You Are An Ice Maker CPU, 30 Does Not Equal 31
Well the computer was looking for ice to drop in 30 minutes or less. In this case it was taking like 31 minutes. The computer had a stop watch going and said this is taking too long to make ice. It let the machine try making ice three consecutive times and on all three times it took over 30 minutes to make the ice. At this point the computer said “NO MORE” and turned off the ice maker. Then you came along and said “what the heck?”
In The Old Days, The Ice Machine Would Have Destroyed Itself Before Anyone Noticed
In this example the ice machine could have continued making ice without any immediate threat to the world as we know it. However, the machine would be using a lot more electricity and water than necessary. Also by running so long the compressor and condenser fan motor would be overworked. Before the introduction of computers, this machine would have run and run and run without anyone noticing. Since the computer was shutting down the ice making operation it was calling out for help from its Master. PLEASE CALL JOHN at MARATHON AIR to fix me!!!!
The Control Panel is a Useful Ice Machine Repair Red Flag–So Call Us!
Even though the ice machine computer might be driving you a little batty, this control panel in the ice maker is actually a good thing. It is not there to make you “crazy.” It is there to make your machine more efficient and to protect it from damaging itself. Unfortunately the reality is that sometimes an ice machine repair by a professional is unavoidable, but can protect you from causing more expensive damage to your ice maker. Until next time. Don’t worry too much.