If your bean temperature is not able to track your Bellwether profiles, this guide describes relevant items to check.
Here's an example of a roast that has undertracked against the profile. You can see the blue Bean Temperature line is not able to match against the black Profile line. This can be associated with Main Blower Runtime errors that pop up on the roaster.
Check Your Profiles:
- If using custom profiles, check that they are aligned with best practices for Profile Creation. Here's a link to a guide of best practices: (LINK) If the roaster is able to track against your Preloaded profiles, but not your Custom profiles, this is a likely cause of your undertracking.
- If using Bellwether-created profiles, you can rest assured that this is not the cause of the undertracking behavior.
Check Green Bean Dosing:
- If using in Countertop mode, ensure that you are using an accurate scale and that you are weighing out 1.5kg or 3.3lbs of green coffee and loading it into the copper Hopper every roast. Measuring volumetrically or using a set number of scoops is not the best way to ensure consistent dosing.
- If using Continuous mode, we first want to confirm that the Autoloader is dosing accurately and consistently:
- Remove the copper Hopper by removing the silicone lid and lifting it up from the neck of the roaster. Place a bucket with a 2kg capacity beneath the auger where the coffee is dispensed from the Autoloader. Ensure there is at least 3kg of coffee inside of the Autoloader.
- Turn the roaster on and enter the menu using the button in the upper left. Press "Access Tech Panel", enter the PIN 4377, and then go to the "Hopper and Autoloader Settings"
- Find the section for the Autoloader controls and press "Load One Batch". The roaster will begin loading one batch of coffee into the bucket that we've placed beneath the auger. Once it finishes, weigh the output on a scale and confirm it's within 100g of 1.5kg.
- If not, proceed to calibrate the Autoloader by following these instructions: (LINK). Once complete, repeat the dose test instructions above. You may need to open and close via the Bean Load Control toggle on the same Tech Panel screen if the Autoloader does not start dosing the second time.
Check The Chaff Collection For Clogs
- Check the Chaff Collection tube for a clog. If there is a clog, we need to inspect the Catalyst for built up chaff on top (LINK)
Check The Insulation:
- Remove the left and right side panels and look for any spots where you can see exposed metal of the roaster. The entire inside surface of the machine should be covered in the white ceramic insulation.
Check Main Blower Spinning Direction:
- The Main Blower should be pushing air in the correct direction. From beneath the right side panel, find the Main Blower and confirm the spinning shaft is moving the correction direction while the roaster is on. It should be moving clockwise when viewed from the top.
Check The Inlet Screen:
- Open the roasting drum and inspect the Inlet Screen in the lower left of the roasting drum. If you are unsure of how to open the Drum, follow the instructions for cleaning the glass: (LINK). If there are beans caught in the screen, remove, clean, and pinch the edge to keep beans from getting caught there in the future by following this guide: (LINK). Before sealing the Drum back up, make sure to check the Thermocouple as mentioned below.
Check The Bean Thermocouple:
- We went to confirm that the bean probe is correctly positioned and isolated to accurately measure the temperature of the coffee.
- Confirm that the Bean Front Thermocouple is inserted so that 23mm of the tip is exposed inside of the drum.
- From beneath the right side panel, confirm that the sheath of the Thermocouple cable is present and covering the braided wire cable. This is circled below in Green. Also make sure that nut that secures the compression fitting around the Thermocouple is tight and that it is secure inside of the drum. This is circled below in Blue.
- For more pictures or if necessary to replace the Thermocouple please see the following guide: LINK.
- Confirm that the Bean Front Thermocouple is inserted so that 23mm of the tip is exposed inside of the drum.
Check The Bypass Is Opening:
- The Bypass is a gate that allows hot air into the drum. If this is not correctly opening/closing on command, it can result in incorrect tracking.
- Turn the roaster on and enter the menu using the button in the upper left. Press "Access Tech Panel", enter the PIN 4377, and then go to the Bypass Settings.
- Find the slide control for the Bypass. Confirm that when moving the slider to 100% the door in the upper left of the drum opens and when moving the slider to 0% the door closes.
- If the Bypass door is not moving upon command, please follow the instructions to fix the jammed door at the following LINK.
With all of these checks complete, please do another roast with the correct dosing, correct profile, and all insulation intact. Followup with Bellwether Technical Services to confirm that all systems look correct.