Hi! We have a Dixie-Narco 368/216-8 that we just bought for our church. It's an older model (probably 1986 if I read the serial number right) that has had some parts replaced. It was working when we purchased it, except for one dispenser (won't operate with button, but can trigger from relay on motor cam).
After moving it yesterday and letting it sit overnight, we plugged it in this morning and set it up. It cooled off and ran well until this afternoon. As I was reinstalling the metal shield over the dispenser motors, the machine suddenly shut down. I checked and discovered we had blown a circuit breaker, and I figured I must have shorted something accidentally while installing the metal cover.
Now, I can reset the breaker and the machine works, but only if the compressor is unplugged from the socket at the lower left inside the door. Plug it in and pff... the circuit breaker blows again. This happens even if I dial the temperature control to "off."
I'm guessing this is a bad sign. :^( But I'm hoping you can give me some troubleshooting tips. I'm fairly handy electrically and mechanically and not afraid to break out the old multi-tester.
Thanks!
Park
MparkH,
First thing to do is check the compressor circuit by sepatately plugging the compressor into the wall outlet with an extension cord. If it blows the circuit then there is almost surely short in that circuit. That could mean a bad compresssor, but first I would check for a shorted wire (compressors are expensive) down in that circuit. The circuit consists (simplifying) of 2 wires. From the machine plug, one power wire goes to the compressor, the other goes to the compressor fan and then it continues on to the compressor completing the circuit. The most common place for short is where the wire goes around the fan, if it falls down a little it can rub against the fan blade and bingo a short. The other places to check are where the wires connect: at the machine plug receptacle, the fan motor connection and the connection to the compressor.
If the short is in the compressor then it is beyond the scope of this forum to repair and it will much easier to replace the compressor anyway. They are on a plate (also called a deck) and are easy to remove and replace (6 screws and 2 bolts). They can be bought all over the web.
For those of you technical types I have included the wiring diagram from Dixie-Narco's factory service manual. The full manual can be downloaded from our site here: http://www.vend-resource.com/book/dixie-narco-siid-series-vendors-operat...
Daryl
Thanks, Daryl. Your troubleshooting tips are clear and straightforward!
Unfortunately for us, it is a dead compressor. We ordered a rebuilt one off the internet and installed it easily ourselves, using your instructions elsewhere on the site. Our $300 machine just turned into a $600 machine, but it works great.
You are a wonderful help. Have a great day!
MparkH
Park Hunter