I was asked to work on a Model #49 popcorn maker made by star mfg. it's an 8oz kettle. .it will heat up.. but not pop the popcorn! i don't know exactly what is wrong with it.. but i think it might be a thermal over load inside the kettle?? is there a place to get a new element and thermal?
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A kettle not heating is either a switch, kettle wires, thermostat, or kettle heater.
Check that the kettle is plugged in tight, notice if the switch lights up when switched, then contact your local gold medal dealer for repairs. It is always cheaper to repair a gold medal kettle than replace.
http://www.gmpopcorn.com/domestic-dealers.cfm
The thermostat built into the kettle stops the kettle from heating at a prescribed temperature. usually around 425 F. This is hot enough to smoke and cause instant burns, but is the required temp for popping popcorn.
I do not know of a "thermal fuse" built into popcorn machines. Mechanical thermo stats are not flawless. they can and do malfunction, either too cold or too hot. the model popper you have is not adjustable, or repairable.
If you are tripping a electrical circuit breaker that is a different problem not related to kettle heat. It is a symptom of an overloading problem of your outlet, or a ground fault in the popcorn popper.
That model has a thermostat (also called a high limit) that is set at 450F. it should produce a popping cycle of 3 mins, and yes will burn popcorn if you don't dump it fairly quickly. The speed it heats cannot be too fast, there is only so many watts in the heat element. it may go to hot, but never to fast. The best way to test temp is time the 2nd popping cycle with a stop watch. the second batch should be 3 mins +/- 30 seconds. if it is 4 mins it is too cold. a 2 min popping cycle is to hot. A popper that is too cold is also popping poor quality popcorn, higher amount of unpopped kernels, and small chewy popcorn. Measure carfully when doing time test popping. That model is 2oz oil, 6oz popcorn, and 1 tsp salt. Start timing when you put ingredients in, and stop when you dump it. The kettle must be hot, that is why you time the 2nd batch.
Make sure your agitator arms are properly functioning. If the corn is not being properly stirred, it will not pop. Also, make sure you are using the correct type of popcorn oil.
Straight from the company:
All Paragon poppers utilize tempered glass panels, stainless steel cleanout trays, aluminum corner posts and either plated or anodized kettles. These surfaces can be cleaned using standard window cleaner. You will want to note that you should never submerge a kettle in any type of liquid because it has electrical components inside of it that can short out. Paragon kettles are designed to be wiped out with a clean cloth after each use. Should you have a kettle that gets burned on oil stains you can order Paragon's kettle cleaning kit (part# 1075) which will allow you to clean it to near new conditions. We also feature Carbon Off kettle cleaner. Winner of many gold medals for being the best product on the market. http://www.paragonpopcornmachines.com/
Hello. If you want a new kettle you can contact here: http://www.star-mfg.com/Scripts/ContactTechServ.aspx
If it just needs cleaning, there are a few products that will dissolve the build up, remember, don't submerge the kettle in liquids. It will have to be done slowly, and take a little time, oh yeah, and effort :) If you contact the manufacture, they can recommend a cleaner to use. Hope that helps, and thank you.
there is insulation between the element and the outer kettle. This insulation can get brittle and crumble with age. I was lookiing for some parts as I have this kettle also and was told the kettle and parts are no longer available. If anyone has access to these parts please email me at [email protected]. Thank you. Gary
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