Anvil Foundry 10.5 Heating Issues

[capt_yo55arian]

Right to the point- 10.5 Foundry from 2020, dozens of brews (latest one last month) with no issues. Hooked up to 240v. This week tried brewing, took couple hours to get to 100ish temp and I was like NOPE. It turns on, but heats incredibly slow (element issue?).

Tested the outlet no problem, looked at cable wiring for Anvil, seemed fine. I sent Blichmann an email and haven't heard back yet (weekend so no issue) but was wondering if anyone has experienced this.

Its got 8 gallons of water sitting in it and Im reluctant to drain until hear back from customer support, but, man... I've dialed this in just how I like it with BIAB and quick disconnects, I really don't want to give up on it.

 

[Indian_villager]

Have you tried clicking in the breaker button?

 

[whoaru99]

"Tested outlet".

Does that mean you have a multimeter and could check the element resistance?

 

[jdauria]

Anvil switch on unit is set to 240? If you opened it up and the wiring is fine, what about the circuit board? See any burnt spots on the board? I have seen pics of switches on the board burning out. They do sell replacement boards.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

"Tested outlet".

Does that mean you have a multimeter and could check the element resistance?

I do have a multimeter and tested outlet.. i think i need to test element resistance next... I just got a reply back from Blichmann stating to "flip over the unit, remove black plastic bottom, and make sure wiring is tight in the connections and free of discoloration or debris"

Will do that tonight, will have to sacrifice the 8 gallons of distilled water.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

Anvil switch on unit is set to 240? If you opened it up and the wiring is fine, what about the circuit board? See any burnt spots on the board? I have seen pics of switches on the board burning out. They do sell replacement boards.

Switch is set at 240.. Will be opening up tonight , hopefully its just a lose wire. Im looking at Anvils' site, and the replacement board is 50 bucks.

 

[jdauria]

Switch is set at 240.. Will be opening up tonight , hopefully its just a lose wire. Im looking at Anvils' site, and the replacement board is 50 bucks.

Ah! I thought you had already looked at the wiring inside it. Odds are it's a loose wire or a burned out one then.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

Ah! I thought you had already looked at the wiring inside it. Odds are it's a loose wire or a burned out one then.

Yes, sorry, i re-read my post and realized that wasn't very clear.. I checked the 240v plug , white / black / green and it was secured. Haven't opened the bottom yet.

 

[Broken Crow]

Yes, sorry, i re-read my post and realized that wasn't very clear.. I checked the 240v plug , white / black / green and it was secured. Haven't opened the bottom yet.

When you open it up, please post pics.... It really does sound like resistance in an oxidized bad connection.

 

[mac_1103]

Will do that tonight, will have to sacrifice the 8 gallons of distilled water.

You don't have anything you can store the water in temporarily? A spare fermenter? A couple of empty kegs?

 

[capt_yo55arian]

You don't have anything you can store the water in temporarily? A spare fermenter? A couple of empty kegs?

good thinking! ill throw in a couple fermenters. cant believe i didnt even think of that. thanks!!

 

[capt_yo55arian]

Unscrewed the bottom this evening... I sent these 3 pics to Blichmann, but my untrained eye isn't catching anything? (aside from the June bug that made the anvil its home).

 

[doug293cz]

Unscrewed the bottom this evening... I sent these 3 pics to Blichmann, but my untrained eye isn't catching anything? (aside from the June bug that made the anvil its home).

I agree, I don't see any evidence of the kind of heat damage that is characteristic of loose or high resistance connections.

It looks like there are three distinct heating elements in the unit. With the unit unplugged, it might be enlightening to measure the resistance of each element (and report here.)

They really spared no effort to cut costs on this unit. I can't believe they didn't even provide a strain relief on the power cord.

Brew on

 

[jdauria]

In your first picture, the black plugs in upper center of pic, are they in all the way? The left one shows more metal sticking out then the right one. Same with black plug in that pic on bottom, to the right of the fan?

 

[capt_yo55arian]

In your first picture, the black plugs in upper center of pic, are they in all the way? The left one shows more metal sticking out then the right one. Same with black plug in that pic on bottom, to the right of the fan?

Double checked those plugs and theyre good.. Plastic was a little shorter on those.

Sent in ohms reading to Blichmann for them to check-- largest outside coil was 9.4, middle was 8.8 and inside / smallest was 4.2.

They also had me check triac resistance (mounted to fan with 3 legs going to board). They mentioned I should get 56 ohms from outside to outside legs..and zero from center to either outside leg.

Those checked in correctly at 54 ohms and zero respectively.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

I agree, I don't see any evidence of the kind of heat damage that is characteristic of loose or high resistance connections.

It looks like there are three distinct heating elements in the unit. With the unit unplugged, it might be enlightening to measure the resistance of each element (and report here.)

They really spared no effort to cut costs on this unit. I can't believe they didn't even provide a strain relief on the power cord.

Brew on

"I can't believe they didn't even provide a strain relief on the power cord."

Yeah that was a little questionable. Might as well make one myself since I have this thing opened up.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

Ok, just to follow up, Blichmann (who have been really good about their customer service response time) said that the ohms for everything look good and it's most likely a failed circuit board that they provide on their site ($50). Will clean this up a bit, fill up with water one more time and see if it still persists, and if so, will order the part. I'll follow up on the board if the problem is resolved or not, just in case anyone goes through this on their anvil.

 

[Snuffy]

Thanks, Cap! This kind of shared experience is the stuff.

 

[Broken Crow]

Ok, just to follow up, Blichmann (who have been really good about their customer service response time) said that the ohms for everything look good and it's most likely a failed circuit board that they provide on their site ($50). Will clean this up a bit, fill up with water one more time and see if it still persists, and if so, will order the part. I'll follow up on the board if the problem is resolved or not, just in case anyone goes through this on their anvil.

That's another thing that really gets on my nut: "modular component replacement'...If it's the board, there's a 50/50 chance it's just got a blown capacitor worth maybe 10-cents or some other off-the-shelf bit... do you feel like soldering? (I would...just sayin')

 

[capt_yo55arian]

That's another thing that really gets on my nut: "modular component replacement'...If it's the board, there's a 50/50 chance it's just got a blown capacitor worth maybe 10-cents or some other off-the-shelf bit... do you feel like soldering? (I would...just sayin')

I totally get it. I think its a cost vs time deal with me, and I'm not the greatest with electronics. I'd be willing to learn but man i need to brew this pilsner for spring and time is ticking. I'll keep the old board to see if i can fix it (if the swap works).

 

[mattberg1028]

Take the circuit board loose and look for bad solder joints on the bottom side.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

Update-- received the board today, swapped it out and it's giving me the same issue. Filled with 6.5 gallons of water at 67 degrees, and it's been over an hour and it hit 107.

Sent Blichmann an email, not sure where to go with this now.

 

[capt_yo55arian]

Update 2

I'm embarrassed to report that this was most likely user error.

I was using a NEMA 14-50P to 14-50R and even though its been working fine for multiple brews, I think either the plug failed or something happened with the wiring (when I checked, it looked fine, but who knows).

I decided to get a 14-50P to 6-20R adapter....and then wire a 6-20P to the Anvil.

Tested it, and 30 minutes later 67 degree water was at 150. Attached a couple pics of the current set up. Feel like a knucklehead Appreciate all the advice on the board.