Sunday, September 11, 2011

Manitowoc Control Board Testing

Manitowoc control boards are arguably the most reliable ice maker control board in the industry.  In comparison to the number of failures of other components within a Manitowoc ice maker, the control board is one of the least replaced.  Usually an external factor will cause the control board failure, like a power surge, not a failure of components.

To test a Manitowoc control board you must first be familiar with your specific models sequence of operations.  The order of which components are energized by the board or sequence of operations, are published online via the official Manitowoc website.  Be sure to reference your specific model number, because not all Manitowoc ice makers have the same operation sequence.

The next step is simply following the sequence and checking to make sure the components that should be getting power, are receiving the proper voltage.  For example, if the dump valve is supposed to be energized, before the freeze cycle initiates, then check to make sure it is getting voltage.  If the dump valve is receiving the proper power supply, you can rest assured the board is working correctly, at least in this stage of the control board diagnosis.

If a component listed on the Manitowoc sequence of operations receives constant voltage or is energized out of sequence, then that's a good indication that you have a bad control board.  Usually, a sticking relay on the board will be at fault, in this case the entire board would need to be replaced.

Physical examination is another method for determining if you have a faulty control board.  Burn marks can be easy to spot and usually indicate that the board is no longer functioning properly.  Again, separate components are the Manitowoc control board cannot be replaced, you must replace the entire board.

Below are the 2 most common control boards in the field, please verify with the manufacturer which board is used on your machine.

Manitowoc S Series Control Board - $291.41
Manitowoc Q Series Control Board - $483.00

No comments:

Post a Comment