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Modified popper as my First roaster
Jwheld
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Posted on 08/20/2020 4:29 PM
Hello all
I modified a thrift store popper with a heater element switch and the fan on a dimmer switch. Last night I roasted my first 2 batches. Definitely a learning curve!

The first batch was 150g and got to second crack in 3.5 min.

Second batch was 100g and stopped just after first crack in 3 minutes.

These times seem really fast! Are other seeing the same?

I?m looking into controlling the heat with a SSVR and Pot so I have a bit more control. Thoughts?

It was definitely fun so I?m looking forward to roasting a lot in the future! And potentially taking it to an automated level before building a larger unit.
Jwheld attached the following image:
d55424e1-f6d9-4a7e-a16a-d2a949306a5b.jpeg
 
renatoa
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Posted on 08/21/2020 2:02 AM
Instead pot, you can get cheap enough a digital control SCR, already recommended in many places. Much more reproducible roasts, you can even try kind of profiling !
Check here what I recommended in a recent thread:

https://forum.hom...post_72050

PS: also, is a good practice first to lecture the most relevant threads in the subforum, you will find there tons of collective wisdom... much less questions after Grin
 
Jwheld
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Posted on 08/23/2020 9:50 PM
I?ll check it out, thanks!

Less questions is a relative statement.. smile The more I read the more I wonder but that?s probably for most things.
 
btreichel
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Posted on 08/23/2020 11:37 PM
Roast speed is dependent on bean load. The more the green, the more that heat is prevented from exiting the roaster, the faster the roast. I use ot boost the fan on my P1 (~ 135 volts) and reduce the heater power (85 volts ?) to get to about an 8 -10 minute roast with 150 to 180 grams.
 
Jwheld
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Posted on 08/24/2020 8:34 AM

Quote

btreichel wrote:

Roast speed is dependent on bean load. The more the green, the more that heat is prevented from exiting the roaster, the faster the roast. I use ot boost the fan on my P1 (~ 135 volts) and reduce the heater power (85 volts ?) to get to about an 8 -10 minute roast with 150 to 180 grams.


I should be able to control my heater for my next roast and plan on adjusting to get within that time frame as well. I?ll report back.

How do you boost the fan to 135v on a 120v circuit? Transformer?
 
btreichel
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Posted on 08/24/2020 10:42 PM
I used 2 variacs. I split the fan and heater power supplies and used a variac to set the voltage to what I needed. like this for the power side. https://www.amazo...&psc=1
Edited by JackH on 08/25/2020 5:51 AM
 
Jwheld
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Posted on 08/25/2020 8:28 AM
Nice, didn?t know those went over 100% power. Good to know, thanks!
 
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