loach33 Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 I just cant figure this one out. I have two issues....I assume they are not related but they happened at the same time. I went to the location Monday morning after the Thanksgiving weekend. The error on the display said Dispenser Arm error (or something close to that....I cant find that error on the manual). So, that arm seemed to be stuck. I more or less forced it and it moved back in to the "home spot". The error code went away But, the machine didn't work. After that error cleared then the error "Heater Inhibited" appeared. I shut the machine off and restarted it. The disenser arm moved out about a half inch and then back in place (Pretty sure its supposed to move further than that so I think it's still stuck a bit......but no error code on that) After restarting the display said Filling Boiler. then I get the Heater Inhibited error again. I have talked with Vendnet service and I just don't know how to fix it. I checked the water line. The water is on. I went behind the machine and unscrewed the fittings and water does come out of that hose. So, water is getting to the machine but it's not getting into the machine. I thought I could just replace the filter. I put in the replacement filter. Still the same problem. (There is a flush button on the filter. When I press that, nothing happens. If water was getting into the filter shouldn't it at least come out of there?) Vendnet said to check the Dual Inlet valve which is way up inside the machine. Well, I just can't figure out where that is. They thought maybe that is clogged. But, I did buy this machine just back in August. It was a used one, but it came from a professional reman place. Supposedly it was completely cleaned up. So, how could it be clogged already? Anyway - I tried to give all the info I can here. Any help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 The new water filter should have filled as soon as you installed it or at least as soon as you turned the lever to lock it in - it's an obvious sound. If you have an Everpure head then there should be a lever that locks the lock collar in place and doubles as the water valve for the filter. Lever up - no water to the filter. Lever down - water can flow to the filter. If it's a Cuno head then it should have filled as soon as you turned the filter to the lock position. After the filter the inlet water valve is what fills the tank. If the inlet valve won't fill the tank then it's either bad or not enabled by the machine logic or driver board. Because you get those errors the machine is expecting the tank to fill and there should be 110v to the solenoids on the valve. Find it and see if it feels like it's vibrating. If it does then it has power but the valve is bad. If it doesnt seem to be working then it's probably not powered by the machine. Let me know if you need parts for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loach33 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 Whew. Ok I'll see if I can figure that out. I replaced the filter with the same brand that was in there. Its a Mavea brand. It has a simple locking collar. So, no it did not fill right away. No sound at all. I guess I'll try to put that in again just to make sure it's in there good. But it did lock easily so I assume it's set in there right. I also assume the power should be off when I install it. So, you're saying when I flip the power on it should fill. Vendnet said the yellow light next to the power switch should come on at that moment. The yellow light does not come on at all. I have noticed it on in the past. Could that dispenser arm being stuck for maybe the entire weekend have caused something on the board to go out that affects this tank being filled? If that valve is not vibrating, and so isn't getting power, then does that mean the board is bad? PS - I love coffee machines. So glad I had to get one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 The filter should not be controlled by anything at all other than the water supply line. If the tan was full you could do this with the machine off or on. If the tank is not filled then do it with the machine off so that the heater doesn't come on if there isn't enough water to cover it. If the filter never fills (you can see if any water dumps out if you remove it) then your problem is actually with your water supply to the machine. In that case turn off the water and pull the line off the back of the machine. Then HOLD the line into a bucket while you turn the supply valve back on. You should get a very strong stream of water. If you don't then there's your problem and the machine has no water supply. Once you have a working water supply then powering up the machine should fill the tank if it's low or the heater should turn on after a delay if the tank is full (probably not). I'm not sure what the yellow light indicates, whether it's power to the machine or maybe a heater indicator. The coin mech will not have caused this so if it works after the water issue is resolved then it's okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loach33 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 ok i'll be going back there monday morning. The tank is now empty. In trying to figure it out I emptied it when i used the sprayer inside. So, I already did unscrew the fitting going to the machine. Water did come out of there. Now, was it a strong stream?? I don't know. It was a stream. Its a very small diameter hose. I wouldn't say it was shooting out of there but it wasnt a trickle. It was like if you turned your faucet on about halfway I'd say. So, if that's not a strong enough stream then somehow the water pressure is not high enough all of a sudden? I guess that's a question for the location's maintenance guy then. I would like to think this is more reasonable than the parts failing already. Sigh.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 You might have a long run to the water source and since it sounds like you have a 1/4" line the pressure could drop quite a bit. If you are actually close to the source then find it and see if it's a saddle valve tap under a sink. You can try to open that valve more to get better flow. Low flow isn't the end of the world but will result in slow refills of the tank. It wouldn't cause the filter to not fill up or prevent the inlet valve from filling the tank, it might only cause a long tank fill with possible time-outs during the first fill. Once the tank is full then depending on how much volume you do in a single period, like a short work break, you might encounter out of service errors due to slow tank refills or if the water gets too cool. But if you have that much volume you shouldn't be using a USI coffee machine anyway. It's not uncommon for your inlet valve to fail, especially in a location where the tank refills take a while. The Geneva is a few years old so I would expect you'll need to replace the inlet valve assembly too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loach33 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 OK yeah, its not filling at all. They buy about 100 cups a week so just 20 a day. It has been on location for 3 months.....this is the first problem. Never an out of service It's not a saddle valve. Just a standard valve. I have it turned all the way on. So, the issue is that its not filling at all. Not even a drop. Again, there is a flush button on the filter. I would think if there was water even getting to the filter that I could at least do that. The inlet valve is past the filter right? How can I be sure the water is even getting into the filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 You could remove the filter and put a bucket under the head then turn on the supply valve to see if water exits the head. If it does then the filter should fill unless you don't have it installed properly. Post a photo of the filter so I can see what style you have. The inlet vavle will be the next device in the water line that exits the filter. It should have 4 wires on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loach33 Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Its the Purity C50 from mavea. Im off to take it all out and try again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 That's a filter I've never seen before. I wonder if USI sourced it from Italy along with many of the parts used in that machine? You might want to change it to a standard filter available here in the US like an Everpure or Cuno. In looking at it there appears to be a lift lever to lock and unlock the head and/or maybe a blue lever on the side that actually turns the water on to the filter. You may just have a bad head if this is the cause and that would be a good time to change to another filter brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenVend Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 AZ........Hey did u happen to get my text about a week ago.....? It was about the polyvend and the older API. We r in bad need of some help with snack machines. Is there anyway u might could help us out. All I have is my word ...... But if u could walk us thru fixing these machines we would buy the parts from u and be willing to pay some for your time...... Just let me know. We r in bad shape. Thanks. Tate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 I think you need a new mode box for your AP4000 and I'm digging out a Polyvend machine to send you the display from. You might actually need a logic board if the display is out or perhaps a display harness. I can send all 3 for you to use in testing it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenVend Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Thanks AZ.......Let me know when you get that together..........And we will work something out......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loach33 Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 The lesson is always eliminate all the simple explanations first. If service guys tell you to start calling electricians, replace parts,etc first make sure you check all the simple things first. (I'm referring to my phone calls to service....not AZ) I made sure the water was turned on. I made sure the water was flowing out of the water line. It was determined that the water was not getting past the valve. I told them this all happened at the same time as the vending arm getting stuck over a long weekend. They said that's two separate problems. So, I replaced the water filter and the valve. Still nothing. They said to check the voltage on the wiring going to the valve. No power. They said to call the electrician or send the board in. I don't deal with this stuff enough to think about the simplest things. I'm disappointed the service guys don't eliminate every simple thing first. What was the problem? the fuse was blown on the board. $1.07 and water was flowing again. This is the kind of thing that can get you kicked out of a location because it drags on. Waiting for parts, messing with everything took a week and a half. Could have been done in a day. A Christmas light fuse solves the problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Just make sure you are using the exact same size and style of fuse or you'll risk blowing it again. If it is correct and blows again then you'll need to figure out what is causing it. That, of course, depends on what circuit the fuse is protecting. Thanks AZ.......Let me know when you get that together..........And we will work something out......... I have the parts ready to send, but do I have your shipping information? I can't remember if I do. I'm sending the display and logic board just in case. If the display is all that's bad then just send the logic board back to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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