Does A Manitowoc Ice Machine Have A Defrost Cycle?

Manitowoc ice machines, like most commercial ice makers, have what is called a harvest cycle.  This takes the place of a defrost cycle, that is most commonly found in other pieces of refrigeration.  Instead of defrosting a coil or condenser, the ice machine defrosts(harvests) the evaporator.

The harvest cycle allows the evaporator, where the ice forms, to heat up and allow the ice to melt and fall off.  This is considered the harvest cycle and will terminate once the ice drops.  Typically, once the ice breaks the contact of the bin switch, through the water curtain, the ice machine will go back into freeze mode.  The freeze, then harvest cycle will continue until the storage bin fills up and the machine shuts down.

There is also a warm water rinse on newer Manitowoc ice machines.  This typically takes place once every 500 cycles.  During the warm water rinse, all lights on the clean light and harvest light will be illuminated on the control board.  Water will cascade over the evaporator, but will not freeze.

The warm water rinse allows any ice formation behind the evaporator to melt off.  This will reduce maintenance costs and prolong the life of the evaporator and ice machine.  To cancel the warm water rinse, simply turn the switch from ICE to OFF, then back to the ICE position.  Otherwise, allow this cycle to continue and it'll go back to making ice once completed.

If you are looking for more tips on troubleshooting a Manitowoc ice machine, be sure to view the Service section on Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Manitowoc 300lb Ice Machine

Commercial ice machines that produce 300lb of ice per day is a very common size.  This amount of ice is perfect for remote locations or small restaurants.  It's also the smallest Manitowoc ice machine made that is considered modular, which means it is separate from the storage bin.  A modular machine allows it to be paired with almost any type of ice bin.

Manitowoc Indigo series is the latest series ice maker, by the leading manufacturer of commercial ice making equipment.  Advancements in diagnostics, efficiency, and ease of cleaning, make the Indigo a popular choice among those looking to buy an ice machine.

The model number varies, depending on the size of ice and type of condenser required.  The 300 comes in 115v and can produce ice in Dice or half-dice sized cubes.  It's also is available in either an air-cooled condenser or water-cooled.

The 4 model numbers available are IY0304A, IY0305W, ID0302A, and ID0303W.

Why Buy A Neo Undercounter Ice Machine?

Manitowoc's NEO undercounter ice machines have been making waves, with their advancement in ice making technology. The newly redesigned cubers now have features to make it easier for service, front facing notification lights, delay ice buttons, and more.  What's more is that these machines are priced competitively, so you can have the Cadillac of ice machines for the price of a Chevette.

The #1 benefit to the new NEO ice makers is the ability to remove the storage bin from the unit.  This allows access to all the refrigeration components, fan motors, water pumps, inlet valves and other components.  With just a few latches, unplug the control board, and unhook the drain, you can then slide the one piece bin straight off the front.  So if the ice maker is crammed under a counter, servicing has immediately become easier!

Next, the indicator lights on the front of the machine let you know what's going on inside.  If service is needed, a pretty little wrench light comes on.  If the machine is currently making ice, it'll let you know that as well.  Perhaps you want to delay the ice machine for awhile because of the noise and you are having a meeting, the NEO can now accommodate.  Simply push the delay button to trigger a delayed ice making cycle, that then automatically puts the ice machine back to making ice.

In 2013 the NEO was awarded the ACHR Design Award, thanks to it's innovative design and functionality.

"We are very pleased to receive this recognition from our service contractor community," states Rick Showers-Vice President of Marketing, Manitowoc Ice. "This award acknowledges our commitment to developing industry leading, energy efficient, operator-friendly ice machines."

With NEO you can have ice when and where you need it, without the need for extra space.  It breathes out the front, so it feels right at home underneath a counter top.  For more information, visit the official Manitowoc NEO web page, for more features and benefits.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Water Filters

Commercial ice machines require special water filtration.  Using filtered water adds life to your equipment, cuts down on nuisance maintenance calls, and makes your ice machine more energy efficient.  Manitowoc Ice sells their own line of water filters, called Aqua Pure, that are designed specifically for Manitowoc and Koolaire ice makers.

Not all filters are created equal, you should consider capacity, and scale removal ability.  A 300lb per day ice machine requires a lower capacity cartridge than a 1000lb per day ice machine.  Manitowoc water filters cover a broad line of machines to fit your particular need.

The smallest water filter by Manitowoc is the K-00374, which is designed to work ONLY in their smallest ice machine, the SM50A.  This water filter actually mounts inside the ice machine and does not require a separate mounting bracket or shut off valve in head.

The K-00374 can currently be purchased for $41.69 with free shipping from Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Next is the K-00338 water filter cartridge, which has the capacity to take care of all ice machines sized 100lb per day to 600lb per day.  The K338 should be changed out at the minimal of every 6 months.  The chemical Siliphos is used to aid in scale reduction, which is water activated and no longer effective after 6 months.

Water filter K-00338 can currently be purchased for just $55.99 with free shipping from Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Lastly, you've got the high capacity K-00339 cartridge, which is used in the AR20000 and AR40000 filter system heads.  For machines 800lb per day to 1200lb per day a single K339 cartridge will work for up to 6 months.  However, larger machines may require 2 of these cartridges to meet capacity requirements.

The K-00339 can be purchased from Ice Maker Parts Shop for just $71.56, with free shipping.

Manitowoc Bin Doors

Food inspectors will pay very close attention to the quality of ice storage bin being used.  Ice is a food product, so a storage bin is considered a food zone.  An inspector will look to make sure there are no signs of rust, proper functionality, and a good seal.  This is why it's important to replace a bin door anytime it is damaged.

Manitowoc bin doors can be very expensive, but a necessary part to keep in proper working order.  They are easily replaced, so save money by replacing a bin door yourself, instead of paying a service technician.  Many Manitowoc part dealers online can sell the door at a discount, with the part being delivered right to your door.

Ice Maker Parts Shop offers one of the most popular Manitowoc bin doors, the 7628453 for sale.  However, this does not come with the barrel hinges.  This door is used on S Series storage bins like the S400 and S570.

Before replacement, ensure that the door itself is damaged and not the part that it mounts to.  The deflector in most bins is what the door hinges on, which can have a hairline crack, keeping the door from hinging or laying properly.  A crack in the deflector will also keep the door from remaining open when lifted.

To extend the life of an ice storage bin, train your employees to properly use the equipment.  Leaning on the plastic door and being rough with opening is the most common cause of damage.  Slamming of the ice bin door can also cause premature failure, so be easy with it!

Buy Manitowoc Ice Machine Parts on Ebay

Manitowoc Parts on eBay

Looking to buy parts for your Manitowoc or Kool-Aire commercial ice machine on eBay?  No problem, you can now buy OEM parts direct from Ice Maker Parts Shop through the eBay market place.

Buying on eBay allows you to review feedback, order multiple quantities, and be assured of fast and free shipping.  Like the original website, the IMPS Store on eBay carries the most common parts for a Manitowoc or Kool-Aire ice machine that anyone could change out.  If you can turn a screw driver, you can change out most of these parts.

There is also a line of water filters, designed specifically for commercial ice machines.  Limited to just the Cuno Ice120-S replacement cartridge now, the HF20-S will soon be expanded and a line of HF40-S, HF65-S, and HF90-S cartridges will become available.

For more information on buying Manitowoc parts on eBay, visit the Ice Maker Parts Shop Store.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Parts - Free Shipping

Free Shipping On Manitowoc Parts

Our sponsor, Ice Maker Parts Shop is now offering free shipping on all Manitowoc ice machine parts.  This service will assist your company in saving time, money, and simplify the entire transaction process.  Now, the price you see is the price you pay, no hidden shipping fees.

If you need a part in a hurry, Ice Maker Parts Shop is also offering expedited freight options.  Currently there are UPS Next Day Air and 3 Day Select for guaranteed delivery options.

The free shipping option gets you your parts in 4-5 business days, all over the US.  Since they ship out of the Mid-West United States, expect delivery times much caster in states like Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois.  Major cities like Chicago, IL can get Manitowoc parts in as little as 2 days, without the need to pay for extra shipping.

Be sure to check out IceMakerPartsShop.com for Manitowoc ice machine parts.

New Water Inlet Valves Coming

Manitowoc has announced in a service bulletin, that they will be changing water inlet valve suppliers.  This change will affect all water inlet valve part numbers and physical looks of the valve.

This change is being done to streamline valve needs on a broad range of Manitowoc model numbers.  This should shrink the number of parts required to keep on a service truck, when servicing ice machines.

Below is a listing of the new Manitowoc water inlet valve part numbers.

000009120 - 115v Water Inlet Valve
000009121 - 208-230v Water Inlet Valve for S and Indigo model 1400-1800 lb machines
000009122 - 208-230v Water Inlet Valve
000009123 - 115v Water Inlet Valve
000009125 - 115v Water Inlet Valve
000009126 - 208-230v Water Inlet Valve

These valves will start becoming available once old stock has been depleted.  Once old water valves have been sold, they will no longer be available.

For more information please view the Manitowoc Service Bulletin MII-108.

Manitowoc Warns of Non-OEM Parts

Manitowoc Ice has announced that they have received complaints over the failure of non-OEM parts.  This is a very serious issue and has been addressed on how it can affect the performance and warranty coverage of your ice machine.

Failure to replace parts on your Manitowoc ice machine with OEM parts can result in the following:

• void any manufacturers warranty.
• can cause equipment malfunction and failure.
• significantly reduce the life expectancy and performance of your ice machine.
• create operator or food safety risks.
• void agency certifications.
• nullify insurance coverage.

Replacing solenoid valves with NON-OEM parts can cause shorts, which could potentially cause fires.  Consider the risks before the cost of a part and only purchase OEM ice maker parts.

Ice Maker Parts Shop is an Authorized Manitowoc Parts Dealer and only sells OEM ice machine parts.

Non-OEM Manitowoc Part Warning

What Is A Modular Ice Maker?

I'm often asked what the difference is between a self contained and modular ice maker.  A modular ice maker is an ice machine that has 2 basic parts, the ice machine head and the ice storage bin.  Now, the ice machine could be either water, air, or remote cooled, but if it's seperate from the bin, then it's considered modular.

Another common ice machine would be one that's described as self-contained.  This means that the ice maker and storage bin are physically one piece.  If the ice machine were to fail, you'd have to replace the ice maker and bin.  Although typically less expensive up front, it could cost more to replace in the future in the event of failure, because in a modular unit you'd only have to replace the top(ice maker head) part.

Modular ice makers will also provide the ability for more storage.  In addition, as demand for ice increases, larger bin capacities could be purchased to place under the ice making head.  In some cases this can save the owner money, since only one component of the ice making unit would need to be replaced at one time.

Does LuminIce Work?

Manitowoc LuminIce

Perhaps you have heard of the new technology called LuminIce, which can be purchased as an accessory for use in new Manitowoc Indigo ice machines.  This technology was designed to eliminate the use of the Guardian System, which helps inhibit bacteria growth inside the food zone of an ice maker.  Although the Guardian Sachets worked well, the LuminIce out performs the old system at almost every measurable interval.

For starters, the LuminIce bulb only needs to be replaced once every 12 months.  The Guardian sachets had to be replaced once per month to be effective.  A less frequent replacement period allows for greater effectiveness, without relying on human interaction, and saves money.

The LuminIce growth inhibitor system costs $624 list price from Manitowoc and a replacement bulb costs $82 each.  The cost is easily recouped as savings for not needing to call service companies to clean your ice maker.

We highly recommend purchasing a LuminIce accessory for a new Indigo ice maker, if your ice maker is exposed to yeast.  This would include ice machines located in bars, sandwich restaurants, or if the machine is located near stored bread.  Yes, the Lumin Ice works!

Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Maker

The major announcement from Manitowoc was their new line of undercounter ice machines.  Starting in April, the undercounter ice machine line up currently available, the Q130, Q170, Q210, and Q270 will be replaced with a new NEO line of undercounter ice makers.

Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Maker

The new NEO series will include models produce 140lb, 190lb, 240lb, ad 310lb of ice in a 24 hour period.  These new makers will be more efficient, produce more ice, and provide some exciting new features of service technicians.  The most important being the ability to 'lift off' the ice maker cabinet.

An easily accessible undercounter ice maker means that the cost of service and even cleaning should be greatly reduced!  Below are some other highlights of standard features found on the NEO undercounter ice machines.

• Easy Access - Angled door provides a larger opening making ice more visible and easier to access.
• Intelligence - Provides feedback with full bin and service indicators.  Delay function allows you to pause your machine for slow periods or days when you are closed.
• Easy to Clean - Smooth sealed food-zone with removable water trough, distribution tube, and damper door for faster cleaning.  AlphaSan added to key internal components.
• Convenience - Forward-Sliding storage bin allows for easier, quicker access to refrigeration components without having to move the entire ice machine.
• In addition, these are the first undercounter ice machines that can be equipped with LuminIce Growth Inhibitor.

Find out more about the NEO Undercounter Ice Machine at ManitowocIce.com.

News From Manitowoc At NAFEM

Promotional material has started coming out about a Manitowoc announcement at NAFEM.  Posters and advertisements are smartly referring to the announcement as 'raising the bar' and creating a 'splash'.  So what's the rumor or what are some theories about the upcoming announcement at the food show?

I'm guessing a new product line of undercounter ice makers developed for Bars.  Taking this a step further, I'm guessing it may be a new machine that makes the octagon cube found in the SM50 ice machine.  People love that larger cube for making mixed drinks, but the SM50A ice maker just does not produce nor hold enough ice to take care of larger bar applications.

Raising the bar refers to a bar application and making a big splash refers to the larger cube.  Already Manitowoc has started reintroducing the 'regular' sized cube to their modular ice maker lines.  However, as of this posting, the only size cubes available in their undercounter ice machine line, from 130 to 270lb production per day is a half dice or dice cube.  There is room for a different style cube in a larger production machine, yet maintaining undercounter characteristics.

Another thing I'm looking forward to from Manitowoc at NAFEM this year is the ability to track information on Indigo ice makers.  We've been promised since launch the ability to use software to help diagnose the Indigo series cubers and even remotely monitor performance and service issues.  So far Manitowoc has only responded that they are working on it and they are currently still field testing.

NAFEM 2013 should be full of announcements from all the ice maker manufacturers and you can guarantee I'll be there to report on the news.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Troubleshooting

Manitowoc prides itself on having the easiest machine in the industry to work on.  They have taken this a step further with the new Indigo ice maker, which boasts updated safety controls and errors that read out in laymen terms.  Even though this commercial ice maker is easier to work on, you may still need help with the Manitowoc ice machine troubleshooting.  Thankfully there is a resource that can help you diagnose and pin point what ails your ice maker.

Ice Maker Parts Shop is a phenomenal source of Manitowoc ice maker parts and they provide a self help forum for ice makers.  This means you can sign up for free, ask a question about your ice maker, and get free support from other forum members and the team at Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Troubleshooting

The team at Ice Maker Parts Shop has extensive experience in the ice machine industry and can help troubleshoot most major brands.  However, they specialize in the Manitowoc brand, and can assist with troubleshooting everything from the latest Indigo Series, to the S Series, Q Series and older.  In addition, they offer service technician handbooks for $10 each, which can cover every troubleshooting need, no matter  the model number you are working on.

Please visit Ice Maker Parts Shop for Manitowoc ice machine troubleshooting needs.
Click here for all available Manitowoc service technician handbooks, which are used by the service department at the factory.

New Ice Maker Tips

Looking to purchase a new commercial ice machine?  Well, you've got your work cut out for you, because you have a lot of options.  The big 3 ice maker manufacturers will sell you on their own brands benefits, but I want to look at some factors to consider, no matter what brand you choose.

What do you need, not what you want.

Consider advice from the professionals, nothing beats local service and having a service company make a local recommendation.  You may pay a premium, but having a professional look at your specific application is a great way to make sure that the ice machine you spend your money on, will actually work for you.  Saving money up front by buying online may catch up to you when you need to purchase a replacement or lose out on warranty due to improper installation.

What kind of condenser?

Commercial ice machines come with 3 different flavors of condensers.  Each condenser comes with it's own benefits, but not all will work in any situation.  For example, air cooled ice machines put out a lot of heat, so if it doesn't have room to breathe, it will not produce the proper amount of ice and will not be working efficiently.  A water cooled ice machine is more reliable, but will absolutely destroy your water and sewage bill, unless you have it installed on a water loop.  A remote ice maker eliminates both concerns, but requires a higher level of expertise to install, because the condenser is moved outside of the cuber head install location.

Am I getting all my ice maker warranty?

Ice machine warranties can vary, depending on brand and model number.  However, the main manufacturers all share a common set of rules.  For starters, the warranty will start from the date your ice machine is installed, not the date the machine leaves the warehouse.  So it's important to fill out that Warranty Registration card that comes with your ice maker, to ensure you are getting the maximum amount of coverage.

Typically if no registration card is filed, the warranty on file at the factory is the date it shipped out.  However, because ice machines can set in inventory at dealers and distributors warehouses, it may be easy to rob yourself of months of warranty coverage.  Save your paper work and fill out those warranty registration cards.

So remember, no matter which manufacturer of ice machine you purchase, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, or Manitowoc, cover your bases and make sure you are purchasing what you need and not what you want.  Its better to have too much ice now, than not enough later.

Blown Fuse On Manitowoc Control Board

Why does the fuse keep blowing on my ice machine?  There are a number of reasons that the fuse on the control board of your ice machine is blowing.  However the most common reason is a leaking dump valve.

Typically a dump valve will leak out of the top, allowing water to come in contact with the terminal on the coil.  This will blow the fuse located on the Manitowoc control board.

To repair, simply replace the Manitowoc dump valve and then replace the blown fuse.  Manitowoc only makes two different types of dump valves, which come complete with valve and coil.  There is a 115v dump valve, part number 000001767 and a 208-230v dump valve, part number 000001768.

Both Manitowoc dump valves can be purchased from Ice Maker Parts Shop for $56.35 each.  IceMakerPartsShop.com ships every part same day, if the order is placed before 3:00 CST.  In addition, they only ship via UPS ground, to allow for faster transit times and tracking ability.  Fix that commercial ice machine yourself, buy Manitowoc replacement parts online at IceMakerPartsShop.com.

0% Financing on Manitowoc

Manitowoc has announced that they are offering buyers 0% financing on all Manitowoc brands.  This obviously includes their ice machines and even products like reach-in's and walk-in's from their other manufacturing lines.  The zero percent financing on ice machines is good for 24 months and can be applied for on any purchases from now through December 14th, 2012.

Manitowoc provides a complete online savings calculator, along with online loan application.

Calculator - http://manitowocice.com/minisite/zero-percent-2012/calculator
Application - http://manitowocice.com/minisite/zero-percent-2012/apply

The 0% is not quite as appealing as it was when interest rates where above 9%.  But even comparing them to 2-3% interest rates the savings can add up for large purchases.  Save your cash flow, replace that much needed ice machine with 0% financing.

Manitowoc Recommended Truck Stock

Routinely Manitowoc will release a list of parts that they recommend all ice machine service companies maintain on their service vehicles.  These are typically the most common ice maker parts to fail, so will assist with fixing the problem on the first trip, as opposed to ordering and having to charge the customer a return fee.  Unfortunately, the truck stock list has a number of Indigo related parts, that  I would not normally recommend to people for stocking purposes or due to costs of keeping inventory.  Below is my recommended stocking list.

Water Inlet Valves
I would strongly recommend keeping 2 different ice machine water inlet valves in inventory.  The 115v, part number 000007965 and 208-230v, part number 000007966.  Both of these Manitowoc part numbers include the valve body and coil for a complete water valve change out.

http://icemakerpartsshop.com/000007965-manitowoc-115v-water-inlet-valve/ - $53.94
http://icemakerpartsshop.com/000007966-208-230v-manitowoc-water-inlet-valve/ - $53.94

Dump Valves
The dump valve on a Manitowoc ice machine can be problematic, as they tend to corrode and leak over time.  Typically this will lead to blown fuses and shut down the ice machine production.  Again, there are only 2 valves that I would recommend stocking, the 115 version, part number 000001767 and the 208-230v, part number 00001768.

http://icemakerpartsshop.com/000001767-manitowoc-115v-dump-valve/ - $53.13
http://icemakerpartsshop.com/000001768-manitowoc-208-230v-dump-valve/ - $53.13

Ice Thickness Probes
More often than not an ice thickness probe doesn't technically go bad.  Unless an ear is broken or the metal snapped, it's probably still good, just needs a thorough cleaning.  However, it's faster and usually cheaper to simply replace the dirty probe.  I'd recommend stocking the last 2 model Manitowoc ice machine thickness controls.  An ice thickness control for the S Series and Q Series and older, bother are single wire.

Please note that the ice thickness controls are not interchangeable, the S Series will not work in place of a Q Series or older and vice versa.  Also, please note that the latest Indigo ice thickness probe operates completely differently, relying on acoustic signals to initiate harvest.  As of now I would not recommend stocking one of these unless you own an Indigo machine.

Q Series Ice Thickness Control - $45.89
S Series Ice Thickness Control - $39.45

Magnetic Bin Switches
Lastly, the magnetic bin switch is a must have part on any refrigeration service man's truck.  Again, I can only recommend stocking two different types of bin switches, one for the Q Series and older and one for the S Series ice machine.  Please note that the part number has recently changed for the S Series, but are the same part.  Initially the S Series bin switch was a 2006819, but is now known as a 000007888.

23-0148-3 Bin Switch - $41.06
20-0681-9 Bin Switch - $21.74 (Also known as a Manitowoc part number 000007888.)

View the entire Manitowoc Recommended Truck Stock List, thanks to IceMakerPartsShop.com!

Manitowoc Commercial Ice Maker NRA Booth

Below are a few pictures that I snapped at the 2012 National Restaurant Association show in Chicago.  Manitowoc had the largest commercial ice machine booth at the show, with Hoshizaki coming in second, then Scotsman, and finally Ice-O-Matic.  However, as far as straight ice machine lineups, Manitowoc had the largest by far, with Hoshizaki only showing off 2 of their makers.

Manitowoc Ice Maker Lineup At NRA

Manitowoc Booth @ 2012 NRA

Manitowoc Banner Lineup at 2012 NRA

Manitowoc At NRA Chicago

NRA 2012 starts tomorrow in Chicago, where all the big restaurant equipment manufacturers will be showing off their equipment.  Starting tomorrow May 5th and stretching into Tuesday May 8th, this show covers the latest in advancements in food service technology.  In attendance of course will be the big 3 in ice machine manufacturing, Manitowoc, Scottsman, and Hoshizaki.

Manitowoc usually has a great turn out, showcasing their latest tech and this year the focus will be on the Indigo Ice Machine.  This new model from Manitowoc features 24 hour monitoring, new efficiency improvements, LCD display, and some awesome accessories that will save the restaurant owner money.

Other announcements from Manitowoc at the 2012 NRA include:

• Undercounter machines now capable of producing regular sized ice cubes.
• New Kitchenconnect tech.
• New flaker and nugget ice machine sizes.
• Mention of R290 refrigerant for ice machines built for European markets.
• Duratech covering technology.
• New RNS prototype ice machine stand.
• Also, stop by their booth for samples of Manitowoc nugget ice.

Check back to this blog soon for pictures from NRA 2012.