This document serves as a comprehensive user manual for Avantco Undercounter Ice Machines, providing essential information for setup, operation, and maintenance. The manual emphasizes safety precautions, installation guidelines, operational instructions, cleaning procedures, troubleshooting tips, and warranty details to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the ice machine.
Function Description
The Avantco Undercounter Ice Machine is a fully automatic appliance designed to produce ice cubes for commercial use. Once properly installed and connected to a potable water source and power supply, the machine initiates the ice-making process automatically. It is equipped with a storage bin that, when filled with ice cubes, triggers the machine to automatically stop production, conserving energy and preventing overflow. This design ensures a continuous supply of ice without constant manual intervention. The machine is specifically engineered for indoor, ambient-controlled environments, making it suitable for various commercial settings such as restaurant kitchens, offices, hotels, and catering operations. It is not intended for residential use or outdoor environments.
Usage Features
The ice machine offers several user-friendly features and operational modes. Upon initial power-on, the machine performs a self-check, indicated by an "ini" code on the LED display, and pumps out any residual water. Following this, it enters a "preparing" phase where the inlet valve opens, allowing water to fill the tank to a preset level, after which it performs a defrost cycle. The core function, "ice making," begins with a 30-second pre-cooling period, followed by the water pump circulating water over the evaporator to form ice cubes. The "ice harvest" or "drop" phase occurs after ice formation, where the water pump turns off, the defrosting valve activates, and hot gas enters the evaporator for 1-2 minutes, causing the ice cubes to slide into the storage bin. A critical safety warning advises users not to place hands into the ice storage bin during this process to prevent injury.
The control panel features an "ON/OFF" button to start or stop the machine. A "bin full stop" mechanism is integrated: if the storage bin is filled to a point where the ice sliding board cannot rebound or reset due to freshly produced ice cubes, the machine will stop in 40 seconds. Once ice is removed from the sliding board, the machine automatically resumes the ice-making process within seconds. The LED display provides real-time status updates, including counts for preparing, ice making, and ice harvest phases. During cleaning, sanitizing, and rinsing, it displays "CLE," "STL," and "RIN" respectively.
A notable feature is the ice cube thickness adjustment. During the ice-making process, users can press the “–” button for 3 seconds, then use the “+” or “–” buttons to fine-tune ice thickness. Each click of these buttons extends or shortens the ice-making time by 1.5 minutes, allowing for customization based on preference or specific needs.
The machine also incorporates special protection features. If it fails to detect ice harvest in three consecutive cycles, it will shut down for safety, requiring a check. Similarly, if the ambient temperature is too high, the machine will stop to prevent damage. Fault codes (E01-E12) are displayed to indicate specific issues, such as sliding board failure, ice making overtime, high temperature, water shortage, high pressure, or sensor malfunctions, guiding users or service personnel in diagnosing problems.
Maintenance Features
Maintaining the Avantco Undercounter Ice Machine is crucial for its performance and longevity, with a strong emphasis on professional and regular care. All installation, repair, and maintenance tasks must be performed by professional and qualified personnel to prevent electric shock, fire, or personal injury. Before any maintenance or manual cleaning, it is imperative to shut off the water source and power supply.
Exterior cleaning involves frequently cleaning the area around the machine and wiping the outer enclosure with a mild detergent. Commercial stainless steel cleaners and polishes can be used for stainless steel surfaces, with a reminder that stainless steel can rust without proper maintenance. Vents must not be blocked to ensure adequate airflow.
The inlet water filter requires regular inspection and replacement every 3 to 6 months to ensure clean water supply. For interior cleaning, the ice storage bin can be washed with water and a cleaner solution, followed by thorough rinsing with potable water, and then a sanitizing solution. It's important to ensure water pressure is below the maximum allowed and to avoid flushing parts above the water pump or evaporator directly for water protection.
For air-cooled models, the condenser should be cleaned every three weeks using a soft brush or vacuum cleaner, brushing along the fin direction to avoid damage and maintain cooling efficiency. The condenser filter should be cleaned every two weeks. A warning is included to be careful when cleaning the condenser due to sharp fin edges. The water line of the ice machine also needs regular cleaning to ensure food safety.
The manual outlines a "Clean Function" for automated cleaning. By holding the "clean" button for 3 seconds, the machine enters a cleaning cycle. Users manually add cleaning and sanitizing solutions to the water trough at specified times. The machine performs an auto-clean for about 15 minutes, followed by an auto-sanitizing cycle of similar duration, and then 5 rinsing cycles. After this, the machine returns to ice making, but the first 5 batches of ice should be discarded to avoid residual cleaner.
Manual cleaning and sanitizing instructions are also provided, detailing steps such as removing all ice, emptying the water tank, removing the water curtain, and disassembling the pump and spray pipe components. These parts are then soaked in cleaning solution for 5-15 minutes, scrubbed, and thoroughly rinsed. The evaporator, water tank, ice plate, and other sanitary areas are sprayed and wiped clean. A similar process is followed for sanitizing, with the option of using a no-rinse sanitizer.
For winterizing, users are instructed to turn off the water and power supply and drain all residual water from the water trough, inlet pipe, and drain pipe. The manual explicitly states that maintenance not covered by the manufacturer's warranty will be charged for service calls, especially if issues arise from user faults like neglecting water filter maintenance, improper water/electricity supply, or environmental factors. The use of Noble Chemical products for cleaning and sanitizing is recommended, and failure to use approved chemicals or maintain the machine regularly will void the warranty.