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Skywalker, the ALM chinese one pound roaster
Lostx403
Top  #151 Print Post
Posted on 02/26/2024 12:19 PM
They were just wedged in various grates in the drum, same thing happened time to time with my sandbox as well, just got push them through or a few taps to break them. Kinda sucks the drum isn't accessible unless you take the entire front off but not the end of the world, will get me to clean it more often Grin
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #152 Print Post
Posted on 02/26/2024 4:22 PM
I average about 3-4 every roast. At least they are easy to pick out. Various levels of burnt.
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
renatoa
Top  #153 Print Post
Posted on 02/27/2024 2:31 AM
This machine started to be a base for "improvements"... for unscrupulous "businessmen"

https://www.aliex...10212.html

They make the offer appealing by selling Artisan/smartphone extensions ($172-178), for a separate price than the base price, which is more than double... $1100 !!!

Also, be aware that the graphics attached are false, this machine can't do RoR 25C. nor TP under 90C/under 1 minute, nor FC at 206C.
 
tkdrumr
Top  #154 Print Post
Posted on 03/02/2024 9:20 AM
I ordered myself a Skywalker from itopgroup a couple of weeks ago. This morning they sent me a shipping notification but also some information on roaster updates. My intention is to get an arduino for Artisan logging and control but I will likely run a few roasts solely on the machine itself. But today we'll be roasting a pound on the SR800.

Hello.
Thank you for your order and your patience.
Due to the Chinese New Year holiday, we have delayed shipping. We have sent your machine out yesterday.

Our workshop has optimized some temperature control accessories, including circuit board temperature control SCR accessories, sudden thermal cutoff and fusegear. The machines now are all upgraded versions.

We recommend that you carefully read the instruction manual before use.
If you have any questions about machine, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
itopgroup
 
renatoa
Top  #155 Print Post
Posted on 03/02/2024 10:19 AM
Let's see when arrived... what are the changes.
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #156 Print Post
Posted on 03/02/2024 7:18 PM
As of yesterday, I had roasted about 7 lbs on my Skywalker roaster. I decided to remove a ton of screws and do an inspection, just to see how it looked under the hood after some use. One thing that caught my attention was the condition of the heating element. i.imgur.com/FHvXH70.jpg This is what the top side of the element looked like. Obvious deterioration of the "glass" tube the carbon fiber coil sits in. Here is a pic of the other side. i.imgur.com/lluluoY.jpg The top picture doesn't look right to me so I contacted the iTOP store rep on eBay and after submitting the picture, they told me they would check with their engineer.

I did roast a 350g batch today with it and it appeared to do fine. Just strange that the shell of the element would do this. Maybe someone who knows more about these IR heating lamp/bulbs could shed some light on this. No pun intended.smoking
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
renatoa
Top  #157 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 5:46 AM
The round shaped halogen lamps from turbo ovens are crystal clear... pun intended... after years of service.
They are heavily vented by the central turbine though...

However, temperature shouldn't be an issue, because carbon heaters operates at about 1000-1200C, compared to halogen heaters, in the 2000C ballpark... figures are about filament temperature, so glass is expected to be proportionally lower too.
 
renatoa
Top  #158 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 5:53 AM
Any wattage writing on the lamp base/socket ?
Could be the lamp 2000W by hazard ? ... used at half power because the control switch is a triac/SCR, instead of a thyristor/SSR, as expected ?
Edited by renatoa on 03/03/2024 9:14 AM
 
HarryDog
Top  #159 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 9:03 AM
Hey Mike, has anyone else reported this? Going to take mine apart soon to do some kind of mod on the triac/SCR will inspect it then. I probably roasted that much on Auto just testing. Blending some coffee and making pods for people at work so 10 more pounds on the bench to bag yet.

Time will tell if others have this issue or if it's a bad lamp?
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #160 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 1:27 PM

Quote

renatoa wrote:

Any wattage writing on the lamp base/socket ?
Could be the lamp 2000W by hazard ? ... used at half power because the control switch is a triac/SCR, instead of a thyristor/SSR, as expected ?


The writing on the lamp base states 1000W / 110V, so that all looks kosher. Here is the reply.

i.imgur.com/wzBOa1e.png
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
HarryDog
Top  #161 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 2:53 PM
If it was just on the surface like my kitchen oven element I would not be concerned but that lamp top right looks to be degraded allot? How long will that last? It looks like the glass is bubbled and pitted is it not?

If that is the oils we all need to get better lamps from a different manufacturer if possible.
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #162 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 4:36 PM

Quote

HarryDog wrote:

If it was just on the surface like my kitchen oven element I would not be concerned but that lamp top right looks to be degraded allot? How long will that last? It looks like the glass is bubbled and pitted is it not?

If that is the oils we all need to get better lamps from a different manufacturer if possible.


The surface felt like it had been scratched with 50-grit sandpaper. My roasts are light to med/light. There is never any oils on my beans. I will keep all informed if there is an issue as I will be ever mindful of this situation. There is talk about alternative lamps from another source.
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
HarryDog
Top  #163 Print Post
Posted on 03/03/2024 6:58 PM
All parts of the bean will probably have some oil and plant fiber that looks to be causing some type of reaction. I don't remember any SC dark roasts on my Turbo oven setup but still had oil buildup on the lamp with no reaction like this. This oil and plant material is a by product of roasting.
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #164 Print Post
Posted on 03/14/2024 7:13 PM
I've done a few roasts on the SW since finding the "lack of clarity" on the glass of the heating element. When I roast, I look in through the peephole and everything looks normal. I'll keep roasting and see how it goes. It is all manual roasts now, and the results are good. I've been blending lately. It has opened up a new world of coffee flavor. As we all know, the possibilities are endless. Basically, an Ethiopian mixed with a Central or South American works very well.
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
HarryDog
Top  #165 Print Post
Posted on 03/15/2024 5:31 AM
What is normal?
We are finding out more of other cooking effects on our Bodies systems as time goes on like Teflon or microwaves pushing plastics into our foods?

Where are those glass molecules going? Now if that glass was not degrading so much it's probably still pushing glass molecules into our food but probably at a much lower rate.

This is all speculation but I would rest easier if the bulb did not degrade at this accelerated rate. Is this just caused by the trapped heat or the heat and plant material together?

Maybe the lamps with the gold top reflecting coating can help? I hope to see some people report some results but have not seen the lamp get replaced by an alternate product yet. If anyone has other products I can test let me know???

I might try to get one from the manufacturer Renatoa posted awhile back, they have a different AD on that site for lamps with the coating?
 
renatoa
Top  #166 Print Post
Posted on 03/15/2024 7:59 AM
Want a good hack theme to think this night ? Grin
A mount for this https://kaleidoro...-element-1 Shock
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #167 Print Post
Posted on 03/15/2024 8:40 AM

Quote

HarryDog wrote:

What is normal?


What I am referring to in my post as normal is an orange glow that seems to be consistent from end to end.

Considering what may be the cause of the surface anomalies of the glass, I believe it is chaff dust settling on the top and reacting in some way I can't figure out. Call me OCD, but before I load beans into the hopper for charging, I pour them in my cooling tray and agitate with the fan running to rid them of excess chaff dust. Maybe it helps, maybe not. It is still getting on top of the heater guard and settling on the glass to be incinerated with the ash adhering to it.

It will be interesting to see how long the element lasts before failure. As far as the negative health risks, I just don't know.
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
HarryDog
Top  #168 Print Post
Posted on 03/15/2024 10:12 AM
Sorry, I don't know the appropriate level of caution to use with this product!
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #169 Print Post
Posted on 03/16/2024 12:20 AM
All I know for sure is I am drinking some delicious coffee from this roaster. I got my Nano soldered into the USB cable for the hybrid control setup. I am eager to try it. I did a factory reset of Artisan and hope I have it configured correctly. I like the idea of using the pad for control and recording with Artisan. It will be Wednesday before I can test it. I'm also going to do a roast using Artisan-only control. I hope I have it configured correctly for the Cool Down setup also. Lots to test.
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
renatoa
Top  #170 Print Post
Posted on 03/19/2024 3:48 AM
News from the world! after a short investigation, starting from a blurry image on someone's phone in a forum, who no longer knew where he got it from, the primary source that is... I arrived at the new "improved" skywalker board !

Surprised? disappointed? none of them... as expected, "the fix" is just a lame patch... instead cure the root, they added a safety thermal switch, and that's all folks.
So they will simply cut the lamp as soon as the heatsink is too hot, great fix ! Obviously this will happen every minute for US models, even in the middle of the roast...

The only good news in this story is that the image source is a new page at ITOP, listing all the roaster parts available as spare atm.

Image is here: https://ae01.alic....jpg_.webp
... and spare parts page is here: https://vi.aliexp...37970.html
 
renatoa
Top  #171 Print Post
Posted on 03/19/2024 4:17 AM
Another interesting detail... a new big orange background warning was added for ITOP sold roasters at Aliexpress:

Quote

To avoid burning the coffee beans and causing a fire, please ensure that the amount of coffee beans used during roasting is no less than 300g.


... not investigated yet if the warning is displayed also by other sellers.

Interesting and intriguing... should I switch to 333 grams batch ? Shock
 
Mike_Mathis
Top  #172 Print Post
Posted on 03/19/2024 7:04 PM

Quote

renatoa wrote:

News from the world! after a short investigation, starting from a blurry image on someone's phone in a forum, who no longer knew where he got it from, the primary source that is... I arrived at the new "improved" skywalker board !

Surprised? disappointed? none of them... as expected, "the fix" is just a lame patch... instead cure the root, they added a safety thermal switch, and that's all folks.
So they will simply cut the lamp as soon as the heatsink is too hot, great fix ! Obviously this will happen every minute for US models, even in the middle of the roast...

The only good news in this story is that the image source is a new page at ITOP, listing all the roaster parts available as spare atm.

Image is here: https://ae01.alic....jpg_.webp
... and spare parts page is here: https://vi.aliexp...37970.html


I also had low expectations they would provide a comprehensive fix. For whatever they decided, they plan to recover the costs with the price increases of spare parts. The spare element I paid US$28.00 for a few weeks ago is now US$36.50. Other parts have gone up in price also. They are counting more than coffee beans over there.

With all that being said, I feel my roaster is in pretty good shape safety-wise, thanks to renatoa, Harry Dog, and others who have figured out solutions for the manufacturers' shortcomings.

I did my first two roasts with Skywalker Spy today, but that is for another thread. Suffice it to say the hybrid setup was a resounding success as far as I'm concerned. Thank you renatoa and @darellman!
Edited by Mike_Mathis on 03/19/2024 7:09 PM
*Kaffelogic Nano 7
*Skywalker V1
*2023 BC-2
 
renatoa
Top  #173 Print Post
Posted on 03/25/2024 8:57 AM
In a PM chat with a friend member here, he revealed his thoughts that the reason of 3-4 fully burnt beans appearing each roast could be beans trapped on top of the bulb cage.

What a shock it was to open the charge door, and find that the bulb is indeed in the way of charging beans, almost one third to right half of the entrance area... Shock

However... the two upper facets of the diamond shaped bulb cage you can see in the picture seems symmetrical, and angled sharp enough to not be able to retain a bean... so we have a dilemma... is this the culprit or not ?

If we want to fix this possible reason of the burnt beans, it seems relative simple... a piece of tin (red) mounted with the two screws (green) that are already there to mount the bulb cage.

Thoughts?
~~~
renatoa attached the following images:
image_2024-03-25_155439733.png image_2024-03-25_154609872.png
Edited by renatoa on 03/25/2024 9:46 AM
 
HarryDog
Top  #174 Print Post
Posted on 03/25/2024 12:36 PM
I bet this would be very hard to trap a bean on the cage? Due to common 1-3 burnt beans Suspect the beans are sitting against the front face plate for the most part and the odd bean getting caught inside as people have reported stuck beans. You can see beans riding the front plate in Josh's test video.

When people find these stuck beans is it under the fins or in the perforation or both?
 
renatoa
Top  #175 Print Post
Posted on 03/25/2024 12:42 PM
I find mine in the cooling tray, in roasted beans mass, in the grooming process.
Never got one stuck in the drum, inspecting carefully during cooling.
 
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