Hoshizaki ice machines (KM/L/D/S models) use a series of beep alarms to let owners know that something has occurred whether from an environmental cause or component failure. The beeps go off in 3-second intervals, which give owners and technicians clues as to what might be the cause. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common causes of a Hoshizaki 2-beep alarm.
What Does a Hoshizaki 2-Beep Alarm Signify?
In the case of a Hoshizaki 2 beep alarm, the machine has not been able to terminate its Harvest cycle within the 20-minute time limit for 2 consecutive cycles.
When the automatic ice machine begins the harvest cycle, the ice machine’s control board starts a 20-minute timer. Within that 20 minutes, ice machine’s thermistor (a mechanism that measures the temperature your ice machine’s ice-making plates) must register 48 degrees.
If the thermistor does not reach 48 degrees within 20 minutes, the harvest cycle fails to terminate and the ice machine initiates the freeze cycle, which starts the ice making process over again. If the next harvest cycle also takes longer than 20 minutes, the machine shuts down and starts a 2-beep alarm.
Common Causes of the Hoshizaki KM/L/D/S 2 Beep Alarm Codes
So, what are some of the scenarios that can cause Hoshizaki’s 2 beeps to occur? There are many, but below we’ve listed the most common.
Freeze Ups
An ice machine freeze up is a large build-up of ice on the ice machine’s freezing plates. If these large slabs or blocks of ice don’t release from the plates, it can result in permanent damage to your commercial ice maker.
When a large block of ice forms on your evaporator plate, the thermistor has a much harder time registering 48 degrees, which can result in the harvest cycle surpassing the 20-minute time limit. After two extended harvest cycles, you get a Hoshizaki 2-beep alarm.
There are many things that can cause a Hoshizaki ice maker to freeze up. Knowing that a freeze up can cause a 2-beep alarm will help you in finding the main cause. Here are some common causes:
- Dirty plates
- Warped/Bent/Damaged Plates
- Not enough water flow available to your ice machine
- Cold ambient air temperature
- Cold ambient water temperature
Low Temperatures
Hoshizaki commercial ice makers work best in specific temperature ranges. Ideally, the ambient air temperature around your ice maker should be between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The incoming water temperature should be between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Installing an ice machine well below the manufacturer’s recommended temperatures can make it where the thermistor is unable to reach 48 degrees, resulting in a 2-beep alarm.
This is a real problem in areas with freezing winters where the industrial ice maker is outdoors or in an area that is not temperature-controlled. The same issues can occur if you install the ice machine in a cooler or freezer.
Always make sure your ice machine is installed in a temperature-controlled room where you can maintain the manufacturer’s recommended temperatures.
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No Water Going to The Ice Machine
Hoshizaki ice machines are very dependent on water to harvest a batch of ice. If there is no water going to the machine, it can result in a 2-beep alarm.
A Hoshizaki ice machine’s harvest relies heavily on water. It uses that water to release ice cubes off the evaporator. If water suddenly stops going to the ice machine, it is very likely that ice will not release from the evaporator plate. The longer the ice remains on the freezing plates, the longer it takes for the thermistor to reach 48 degrees, which may lead to the 2-beep alarm.
A colder climate, where the ice maker’s water line freezes over, is a common cause. A broken water line is another.
Experiencing a Hoshizaki 2-Beep Alarm?
If you ever notice a beep alarm sounding off in your Hoshizaki ice machine, the best thing to do is call a qualified ice machine technician. There are many beep alarms in Hoshizaki ice machines. A Hoshizaki single beep or 3-beep alarm are some of the most common. It takes a trained eye to identify the cause of a Hoshizaki beep alarm.
At Easy Ice, we provide routine ice machine service and cleaning to ensure performance in all of our ice machines with our all-inclusive ice machine subscriptions. We also maintain 24-hour phone support if you ever encounter a problem.
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