Help - Ice Machine Problem

[Leaverrite]

I have a under counter Hoshizaki ice maker that has been acting up. I've narrowed down the issue and looking for some things to try to replace before calling in the big guns for big bucks.

It will make ice as normal, but after big storms pass and power blinks or flickers lights in the house it will stop making ice. It continues to circulate water over metal cube forming tray, but won't freeze. Things run hot after that and ice melts in the bin and no new ice produced. That was a recent discovery on my part. I has also randomly acted up, but I was not around if power surge happened or not.

I first thought it could have been a refrigerant/freezer circuit problem, but after letting machine sit for 5-10hrs, it will fire right back up and make ice as always. If you try to reset or only wait an hour or so, it continues to have problems.

I think the likely culprit is the circuit board, but could also be a thermistor, water valve.

Has anyone had this problem before and have any advice? Thanks!

[CrownKiller14]

Hoshi boards have a reset button on them. If they lose power/flicker it will disrupt the board or get stuck... Also Hoshi's will make audio "beeps" when there is a problem.. Different "beep" patterns mean different things. Google your owners manual it will have a trouble shooting guide.
Thermistors are not a super frequent problem.

Probably water float "sensor" is actual a mechanical float. If the float is sticking it will think you don't have water and shut down after trying 2-3 times. Try cleaning or changing the float.

What model?

[Leaverrite]

That's exactly the info I was looking for, thanks. I have not pulled the circuit board panel cover off, so worth a look under there for a reset button. Could explain why long shut downs reset everything and a quick toggle of the on-off-wash switch does nothing.

AM-50BAJ-DS Serial:J00675G
This model does not have a float. When first troubleshooting I thought I might have a leaky inlet water valve and that was warming the water that sprays the trays, but think that issue is not the problem.

It has never make an audio beep noise, not sure if that is something installed in the panel. Also, my model has no fuse aux code J0 and earlier. The aux code J1 to M-2 have a fuse... I wish I had one to protect my board. It could have been zapped or will get zapped with power surges?

[Leaverrite]

After looking up to control board (4A5520-01), there does not appear to be a reset button. I also need to check and clean the optional drain pump and check the switch. Found the manual, very detailed troubleshooting guide. Thanks again.

[CrownKiller14]

http://www.hoshizaki.com/docs/manuals/AM-50BAJ(-DS)(-AD)(-ADDS)_serv.pdf

I would visual inspect the board for a burnt spot. Sounds like a bad board or hot gas valve is sticking.

After looking at the manual doesn't look like this unit beeps. The beep would come from the board area.

Ice machines are very particular also. If it hasn't been cleaned that can cause issues also.
While you have it open I would remove the water inlet and check the screen on the inlet side(if it has one) it can restrict water flow.

[chwoodall]

http://www.swted.com/brands/hoshizaki

Call them.. they have figured out issues on my Hoshizaki machines over the phone in the past. I think they are largest hoshi distributors in America

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[CrownKiller14]

This particular machine that thermistor places a large role in operation, looks like it gives the parameters that it operates in if you have a multimeter to measure ohms.

thermistors are like $50.00 might be worth trying before the board.

[Leaverrite]

http://www.hoshizaki.com/docs/manual...ADDS)_serv.pdf

I would visual inspect the board for a burnt spot. Sounds like a bad board or hot gas valve is sticking.

After looking at the manual doesn't look like this unit beeps. The beep would come from the board area.

Ice machines are very particular also. If it hasn't been cleaned that can cause issues also.
While you have it open I would remove the water inlet and check the screen on the inlet side(if it has one) it can restrict water flow.

Thanks Crown, gives me plenty of things to check and test. I'm handy/fluent with a multimeter so gives me some things to check. I keep the machine extra clean and scale free.

[Leaverrite]

http://www.swted.com/brands/hoshizaki

Call them.. they have figured out issues on my Hoshizaki machines over the phone in the past. I think they are largest hoshi distributors in America

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the contact, great to have!

[Kevin Smith]

Not sure about your machine, but I know ge, kitchen aid have a wire cutting grid, it could be the wire broke.

[Kevin Smith]

If the grid is broken the ice continues to collect because it’s not being cut.

[Kevin Smith]

I installed appliances for 25 years, but never really broke into a hoshizaki. But if it’s cooling and pumping water and not forming ice that might be the problem.

[bpa556]

Comperssor capacitor, maybe


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[Uncle Saggy]

Does hoshizaki fail to the defrost cycle?
Might try a single phase voltage monitor.
ICM offers a few decent ones


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