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GalliumPE
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Registered: 10/11/17
Posts: 330
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Need help with operating my new autoclave
#24916593 - 01/15/18 06:32 PM (7 years, 2 days ago) |
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I just bought a new autoclave steam sterilizer off ebay (generic brand). The item came with a manual but its very basic and doesn't explain how its supposed to normally operate. It has two valves, a safety valve and a deflate valve. When I hooked it up i was expecting steam to start slowly being released to maintain a constant pressure but what instead happened was the pressure built up to about 20 psi and the safety valve popped. The sound it made is comparable to how loud a train whistle would sound.
My problem is that i am not sure if you are supposed to be able to set the pressure or if i'm supposed to do something with the deflate valve so that the safety valve doesn't pop. Is it normal for the safety valve to go off every couple minutes to let out a huge amount of steam or is the other valve supposed to let out the steam more quietly and slowly. If this is how its supposed to operate then can i replace the valve with a weighted one for a more quiet operation or am I stuck with what I got?




-------------------- I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious - Albert Einstein
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Shineonyoucrazy
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Registered: 09/22/16
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Re: Need help with operating my new autoclave [Re: GalliumPE]
#24916654 - 01/15/18 06:52 PM (7 years, 2 days ago) |
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Open the valve and let it vent for 10 mins, then close it. The pressure is controlled by your method of heating, so you'll have to find the sweet spot to keep it at 15psi. The reason it keeps popping is your exceeding the pressure for the safety valve to kick in. Edit- that is one big difference between a sterilizer and a pc. The pc let's steam escape during the run constantly, while the sterilizer only vents stream when you manually open the vent or it exceeds pressure
-------------------- Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds
Edited by Shineonyoucrazy (01/15/18 06:54 PM)
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GalliumPE
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Registered: 10/11/17
Posts: 330
Loc: The Virgo Supercluster
Last seen: 2 years, 17 days
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Quote:
Shineonyoucrazy said: Open the valve and let it vent for 10 mins, then close it. The pressure is controlled by your method of heating, so you'll have to find the sweet spot to keep it at 15psi. The reason it keeps popping is your exceeding the pressure for the safety valve to kick in.
It's electric and there is no switch or control panel. The heating element only has one heat setting. You just plug it up and it runs non stop until you finally unplug it.
Edited by GalliumPE (01/15/18 06:57 PM)
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Mateja


Registered: 07/14/16
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Re: Need help with operating my new autoclave [Re: GalliumPE]
#24916668 - 01/15/18 06:56 PM (7 years, 2 days ago) |
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Quote:
GalliumPE said: The item came with a manual but its very basic and doesn't explain how its supposed to normally operate.
This is retarded. My PC that´s more simple than yours came with a very detailed explanation of all the features, it even came with a ton of recipes and about 100 different programs for different means of canning and what not. You should write to that company and demand that you receive complete detailed information about their product
-------------------- Cakes inside Water Tub
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Shineonyoucrazy
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Re: Need help with operating my new autoclave [Re: Mateja]
#24916741 - 01/15/18 07:23 PM (7 years, 2 days ago) |
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Then if theres no temp control on it your other option would be to babysit it. Either cut power to it when it's getting to close to exceeding pressure then back on when it starts to drop or manually vent it. That's odd that it doesn't have any type of temperature control I also just looked up the conversion of.17mpa to psi and its about 24psi, so it may just be designed to run at a constant 24psi
-------------------- Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds
Edited by Shineonyoucrazy (01/15/18 07:28 PM)
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GalliumPE
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Registered: 10/11/17
Posts: 330
Loc: The Virgo Supercluster
Last seen: 2 years, 17 days
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Quote:
Shineonyoucrazy said: Then if theres no temp control on it your other option would be to babysit it. Either cut power to it when it's getting to close to exceeding pressure then back on when it starts to drop or manually vent it. That's odd that it doesn't have any type of temperature control I also just looked up the conversion of.17mpa to psi and its about 24psi, so it may just be designed to run at a constant 24psi
Guess that means my best bet is to try that timer idea and see if i cant set it so that the heating element is never on long enough to pop the safety valve. Would be even better if i could buy an electronic sensing pressure gauge to maintain a set constant pressure instead of relying on a primitive outlet timer.
-------------------- I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious - Albert Einstein
Edited by GalliumPE (01/15/18 07:33 PM)
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Shineonyoucrazy
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Re: Need help with operating my new autoclave [Re: GalliumPE]
#24916783 - 01/15/18 07:43 PM (7 years, 2 days ago) |
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If you don't mind me asking what was the price on that? I just looked quickly on eBay and it was selling around $240-$260ish. If that's the case I'd look into their return policy. You could get a few 23qt prestos or a 921/925 around that price. if the heating element is the issue get a gas or electric burner and a presto 23qt and you'd still come in under that price. At least then you wouldn't have to mess with conversions between mpa-psi and c°-f°(doesn't really apply outside the us)
-------------------- Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds
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GalliumPE
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Registered: 10/11/17
Posts: 330
Loc: The Virgo Supercluster
Last seen: 2 years, 17 days
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Quote:
Shineonyoucrazy said: If you don't mind me asking what was the price on that? I just looked quickly on eBay and it was selling around $240-$260ish. If that's the case I'd look into their return policy. You could get a few 23qt prestos or a 921/925 around that price. if the heating element is the issue get a gas or electric burner and a presto 23qt and you'd still come in under that price. At least then you wouldn't have to mess with conversions between mpa-psi and c°-f°(doesn't really apply outside the us)
I paid $168 shipped. I got it because i wanted something i could use as a single unit in my room without the need of a stove or hotplate. I'm honestly thinking of buying a $10 pressure transducer and hooking it up to my arduino which would then be connected to the heating elements power supply. I could maybe turn this cheap Chinese autoclave into a pretty nice automated one.
-------------------- I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious - Albert Einstein
Edited by GalliumPE (01/15/18 08:47 PM)
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Shineonyoucrazy
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Re: Need help with operating my new autoclave [Re: GalliumPE]
#24916965 - 01/15/18 08:57 PM (7 years, 2 days ago) |
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At least you have a few options. Personally if it were me and they allow exchanges I'd send it back and go with a presto 23qt and a high wattage or commercial hot plate. A 1500 watt plate works, it just takes it awhile to get the pc up to pressure. Then you could always throw it on a stove if that becomes an option. I do see the convenience factor of having an all in one unit though. Then again it would suck if the element shit out on you and you can't find replacement parts.
-------------------- Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds
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GalliumPE
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Registered: 10/11/17
Posts: 330
Loc: The Virgo Supercluster
Last seen: 2 years, 17 days
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Quote:
Shineonyoucrazy said: At least you have a few options. Personally if it were me and they allow exchanges I'd send it back and go with a presto 23qt and a high wattage or commercial hot plate. A 1500 watt plate works, it just takes it awhile to get the pc up to pressure. Then you could always throw it on a stove if that becomes an option. I do see the convenience factor of having an all in one unit though. Then again it would suck if the element shit out on you and you can't find replacement parts.
That's definitely something to consider. On the package it says it can use both electricity and "coal". Not exactly sure how you'd use coal but if it means what i think it means then i don't see why you couldn't just put the whole unit on the stove like you would a pressure cooker. Online similar heating elements cost around $50 ouch so hopefully i don't have to worry about that.
-------------------- I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious - Albert Einstein
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