3F: 2 Year Day 6 - Freeze Dryer Mid-batch Heater Failure Repair
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- Опубліковано 12 січ 2022
- This Harvest Right Freeze Dryer has certainly increased our KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities - can you tell we are ex-state employees?). We are finally getting our feet back under us after losing my mom to cancer and moving forward with fixing the freeze dryer after being down for a few months. We had a mid-batch heater failure and followed the Harvest Right recommended steps to resolve the issue (harvestright.com/v50/). In this video we do the following: Step 1 - Check the shelving plug connection, Step 2 - Test the computer relays, Step 3 - Replace the relay board and Step 4 - run a test batch of bread. As of the publishing of this video, the freeze dryer is running great! Forever Foods Farm. January 13, 2022.
As an electrician, I can tell you that brown/black area up by that terminal lug happened because of a poor connection between the terminal and the wire. Probably wasn't crimped properly and should be replaced with a new terminal lug. When you pulled that terminal lug off it might have caused a slightly better connection that fixed your problem. I would have replaced any terminal that looked burnt. Cutting the old terminal off along with a little of the wire at the terminal that had gotten hot. Extending the wire with a butt splice if necessary. Also i would run the functional tests longer than just on and off. For proper relay testing you need a clamp on amp meter to ensure the relay contacts are making a continously good connection when energized.
That damaged(burnt!) wire(s) should be replaced or properly fixed ASAP. There are a lot of amps going through those wires. ITS NO JOKE! It could potentially cause an electrical fire. IMO your burnt wire problem is due to poor quality crimps on the part of the wire harness that plugs into the relay board. Also, a wire heating up that hot could easily cause the relay board to fail prematurely.
I hope this helps you. I would NOT leave the unit running unattended until the wire(s) are fixed properly
i also commented on your vacuum leak vid. This is so helpful. Thanks for bringing us along.
Yes, we have regretted our purchase as well. Thanks for being honest about it all!
I felt so sorry for your husband in this video. I know how it feels to get "beyond the point of frustration," with something you invest a great deal of money/time into, that shouldn't be giving you these types of issues. I'm afraid now, since I bought one 4 months ago November (2021). I only recently have assembled it, and plan to run my first batch within a week or so.
Good luck! We got almost a year of constant running before we had issues. I hope you get that and much more!
@@foreverfoodsfarm thanks. Yeah, mine probably won't be used as often as you guys. Mine is for prepping and just having stored food (for personal use). Fingers crossed.
If you haven't, I'd urge you to go back and replace those wires and terminals that melted. They are now damaged and likely won't be able to carry the same current they did prior to melting, and not what they are rated for. Definitely a future safety hazard (I spent 20 years repairing electronics). If the unit is getting that hot, it really wouldn't hurt to stick a fan on the outside blowing right into the large air vents towards the top of the unit (where the motherboard/relay board is) to help remove hot air and keep air circulating.
it was probably a loose fitting connection....either the connector to the spade on the board and or the crimp was bad. Either way that wire and connectors need to be replaced or the same failure will most likely happen again.
Just saw this video thanks. I too am worried about the large unit I am waiting for. I wish your channel had a playlist devoted just to freeze drying. Would be easier to find all FD episodes
That is a great idea! I am going to do that. Thank you!
@@foreverfoodsfarm THANKS!I will be looking for it. And subscribing
Thanks for video. I have the exact same symptoms. It won't go through a batch and gives same error message. But the test function and heaters clearly are working. Would you think my best bet is just to replace the relay? Are things running well still with your machine?
10/22/2022 We were able to do about 40 batches before our machine started having problems. Then it has gone from good to bad very quickly. It started only going thru the freeze cycle ( we always pre freeze everything before freeze drying. Anyway, it would just keep saying it needed more time to freeze and would not go any further in the process. I got in touch with Harvest Right and they sent me an upgrade for the software. I am not sure why they waited to send us an upgrade only when we started having trouble, but that is how I found out there actually was an upgrade. We installed it, and machine got to vacuum freezing then came up with error " Mid-batch heater failure". I have asked for a full refund since this machine is under warranty and we have only had it a few months. I sure hope they do not skip out on their customers, but they have major issues as I just found out some of my family members that have purchased the freeze dryers are having same or worse issues. One family member just texted me theirs burnt the food and melted the door! Harvest Right replaced the door and sent them a new mother board but now the pump isn't working. Thank goodness they were home and close to the room it was in when it melted the door. This is getting worse by the day. I also am not sure why we paid that kind of money and we are having to trouble shoot and be our own technician? This makes no sense to me. I am now like everyone else...waiting for a reply from Harvest Right. If anyone knows what to do to help us out, I would appreciate it.
What a nightmare!!! Replacing the relay board and replacing our oil free pump with the basic oil one fixed both our pump issue and the mid batch heater error. My understanding is that a restocking fee makes returning the dryer very cost prohibitive. I wish you the best of luck!
@@foreverfoodsfarm Well I have good news! We decided to check the plug that attaches the shelving and it was not exactly right so we fixed it and then I saw the reply about the reset switch on the back of the shelving and we reset it and now we are doing bread run and it is actually drying now! I sure hope everyone gets theirs working. We were blessed to get ours working. We at least think its working. Can't say absolutely till we get through the whole process but will update if we do or even if we don't :)
@@joycehendrix9913 fingers crossed!!! I really hope it is fixed. I know people get upset about us doing our own troubleshooting but I know for me it is empowering when you get it to work! Great job!
@@foreverfoodsfarm Bread run made it through just fine. :) Back in business for now!
Your videos are very helpful. My HR freeze dryer not a year old and it is constantly displaying error codes, mainly vacuum errors but I did have midbatch heater code. I don't believe I have run more that 3 batches without getting code. I don't have 50 batches on the freeze dryer. Beginning to wonder if it is worth all the expense. But, like you, I keep plugging away at it, always worry I will hear that dreaded beep letting me know it has quit working.
Good luck. Hope the relay board has solved all your problems.
That dreaded beep gives me anxiety! My heater problem started intermittent then Eventually was every run. The relay board has fixed the problem so far. Getting my confidence back. If you are still under warranty you might want to see if you can get that board replaced. I feel it might’ve solved other issues as well. Good luck with yours!
I saw a puff of smoke when the relay switched off!
I saw that as well
Where did you get your replacement board and how much was it. After testing and watching your video I’m convinced i need to replace mine. (Maybe you said and i missed it?)
I called Harvest right customer support and asked them to send me one. It was a little over $100. I did not have to open up a ticket.
Thanks for sharing. How much was the relay board? did you have to open a ticket and pay the dumb fee to buy it?
$100.70 and I did not have a ticket. Just called and asked them to send me one. Past warranty you have to pay to open a ticket and then they want the log files which is an additional cost. I just watched their tutorials and went from there. Working like a champ right now! Fingers and toes crossed.
You should replace the power connector that is dark. It will be a problem. Cut it off and crimp on a new connector. All connectors must be tight.
Absolutely! There is a poor connection there and that is causing that spade connector to over heat. Guaranteed it will only get worse as the constant heating will increase the resistance between the wire and spade connector. The spade connectors are cheap but you also would need to purchase the crimping tool. Those tools are not expensive but are the proper one for the job. Any good hardware store will have both.
@@mikewurlitzer5217 YES! It could cause an electrical fire if not replaced. Poor quality control for sure.
I have the same problem. Replacing the heat relay circuit tonight, but not replacing the whole relay board… yet.. lol.
I would love to see how that’s done. I feel like the rest of my old board is completely fine. I just don’t know how to do what you’re doing. Let me know if it worked. Good luck!
How did it work for I have the same problem going try it out for my self.... Just going to move the drain relay to the heater relay....
Ya, I couldn’t unsolder the pieces I needed, so I broke down and ordered a new board. But now my machine works amazingly.
Hi, thank your for uploading good videos. I'm little curios about the freeze drying method and have couple of questions. The first question is what is common temperature for freezing foods and heating the food to evacuate the moist? and my second question is about the whole procedure. It seems that the process have two steps namely 1.freezing, and 2. heating, vacuum and draining. can you tell me how much time each step takes to complete?
Great questions that I wish I had the answers to. I will try my best. So Harvest Right has managed to automate the process well enough that we don't really need to know how it works, it just does. What I notice is that depending on if your food is frozen, raw, liquid or solid changes all steps in the process. If I slice up strawberries and put them in the freeze dryer directly then the entire process takes about 30 hours. If I make a puree that has a lot of juice it can take over 60 hours. It also depends on how hot your room is and how much humidity you have. So it isn't so much a set time it is more about what type of food and what time of year or weather. It is complicated and I'm really glad it is somewhat automated. I find myself letting it run for what it thinks it needs and then I add time to make it end at a time convenient for me (i.e. if it is going to stop in the middle of the night or something like that). I know that isn't really answering your questions but hopefully it is helpful.
@@foreverfoodsfarm Oh, Thank you that was very helpful for me! best wishes! ❤️
The drain relay appears to be a normally closed relay. So the light will be on when the drain would be closed and the light would be off when the drain is open. Simply put the drain needs power to be closed and no power would open it. That’s backwards from all the other functions. The heater needs power to be on. The compressor needs power to be on. The vacuum needs power to be on. The drain needs power to be closed. It needs turned off to open.
Thank you for explaining that so well. That makes sense now!
I'm also starting to have problems with my machine or if no where. First it was no heat detected so i called harvest right and they sent me an updated firmware. I installed it and tried running a batch and ended up getting a mid batch heater failure. A now here i am at this video.
I hope this video is helpful. This resolved our problem and we have had smooth sailing for over a year now. It has been working hard! Good luck!
I've been watching your videos and it seems you may have received a big lemon. I certainly hope I don't experience all of the issues you've been having, that scares me - a lot. There is a new home freeze dryer available, but it's around 6k :(
I can appreciate where you are coming from. We had a good year and then got hit with multiple issues. We have been going strong again since Christmas. We run it hard and hopefully will get a good solid run for a while!
It was not a lemon, you will have issues. I have had my FD for a little over a yr now. Had to change power switch, now mid batch fail. My warranty is up so just to have HR techs look at the log file it will cost me $45. Im sure parts will not be cheap.
@@usha777 My advice would be to change the board out and not worry about the log files. Doing that resolved my issues and have been going strong for the past eight months. The cost was just over $100. Good luck!
The oil keeps disappearing on my machine. I filled it to midpoint which took a couple oz more than 2 cups as instructed.
That doesn’t sound good. I heard where it can end up on the food. Mine usually gets water in it and the level increases slightly after a run.
Check your pump and see if it’s leaking out of your pump. I have a premium pump that’s leaking after only two batches through it. Realized that after the third batch when we smelled a electrical/oil smell during the run
Thanks. Does anyone know how much this relay board costs?
Ours was just over $100
@@foreverfoodsfarm Where did you get it?
@@n7sithis336 we got it directly from harvest right.
@@foreverfoodsfarm Are you under warranty? I have 3 of these machines, two of the large and one medium. Harvest right charged almost $500 for the board last time we replaced it, and it looks exactly like the board you have in this video.
@@n7sithis336 I was out of warranty and we have a medium. Dang! I hope they didn’t go up that much! That is crazy!
This looks like a bad crimp. Replace the full wire and crimp. This is a Fire Hazard!
Look the thing they don’t tell you is that there is a reset button. Go to the back of the tray box. There are 4 screws. Take them out. There is a little black button right there. Push it. Test the heat. Should instantly heat back up!
drive.google.com/file/d/10oxPl_aHA5an94So8bmjqfGtpxuammZL/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1zAqWSdItP0QfA18gQFiCVBQMd9TiMDBj/view?usp=sharing
From harvest right
That is a little gem I didn’t know about. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Thank you the reset button fixed our heater problem.
Hey Jill,
Sharing is caring! Your post has made my day. I wish I knew about it before I bought the new relay board.
Thanks again,
Trendy
So if you are talking about the tray holder, the part you are speaking of is called a thermal overload protector. No need to take the screws off, just reset it by sticking something small through that hole and it will reset. There isn't a click or any way to tell it has reset. Plug the tray holder back in and and run through the diagnostics to make sure the trays are warming up. I have done this twice, not that Harvest Right would help at all without charging me a $45 fee. Harvest Right used to be very help with problems, now they take days to answer and want you to pay them for any advice to help with their broken product. I think their days are numbered as a company, if there were another alternative to Harvest Right I would sell this thing and get something else.
Much appreciated for the tip!!! The tech I was working with swore it was the relay board. That didn’t make sense to me as all of the relays are working correctly and I was getting the correct voltages out of them when they did fire. They need to add a step at the beginning of the tech’s script to have the customer push the relay button…stupid easy thing to do that can save $100 for a relay board I don’t need. I guess I have a back up now, one is none and two is one…
With what you people pay for a harvest right food dryer, the machines look like a piece of expensive junk ! 4500 bucks
To have it break down, right out of the box ? Saw too many utube videos about problems people have with these machines, I really wanted to buy a large unit, but this all changed my outlook for an expensive purchase ! I hope people really think beforehand, before they purchase.
Where’s Ada?
Really?
Do NOT get the oil free pump. I spent $1500 on it and it lasted less than 2 dozen uses. It is just out of warranty and they won't even talk to you without paying $45 just to talk to support. I already took it apart and know what part of the scroll pump failed and sent pictures, but it does not matter. Not a very reputable company.
The oil pump has worked like a charm! My oil free is a gigantic paperweight!
I totally agree. I purchased the oil free pump thinking it would be nice to not have to change or filter the oil. I've already had it in for 2 rebuilds while under warranty. I also have a premiere pump which is definitely a better buy. It's not that much trouble to filter and change the oil after every 5 batches.
What part actually fails in a scroll oil free pump. Does one of the 2 scrolls actually go bad? I know the bearings get replaced. There's a stationary scroll and a rotating scroll do they get holes in them?
Plus harvest right wants around $400 for a scroll rebuild kit. And maybe another $100 for labor to install the kit if you don't do it yourself. And if you have them rebuild it you pay for shipping both ways if out of warranty.
@@pstoneking3418 there was not an option of rebuild your own when ours went. Nice to know that has changed.
WOW apparently Harvest Right has some really bad quality problems in addition to all their design mistakes. I am engineer and for the amperage this unit pulls they should have used screw terminals. Also they could have spent a little more on relays you could replace individually, but profit is more important to Harvest Right. As I watch more videos I see what a bad choice these machines are.
Hopefully they will make these improvements! I feel like I’m driving Henry Ford’s first car!
Faulty board
Absolutely because we have been working great since changing it out!
Think I will turn my machine off after 17 hours just to be sure.
Worst purchase I've made...this machine is garbage...beware before u buy🤬
I was very disappointed myself. 2 years after warranty expires i encountered problem #3. I called Harvest Right and I was advise to pay 45.00 US before I can speak to a technician to assist me.
Same/ thats bs. For such an expensive machine- they need to provide customer support. I dont mind paying for parts..