Grainfather element not working - bypassing the thermal switch?

[GCR]

Grainfather stopped working, and we figured out that it was a problem with the thermal switch (which is there to prevent you from running it without any liquid).

So we took out the switch and connected the wires with electrical tape, which solved the problem for a few brews - but then it stopped working again... so I opened er up and saw that this connection had melted. Tried stripping the wires and connecting with a marette (see photo), but no dice. Tried stripping it a little more and using a different marette just in case - still no heat coming on whatsoever (neither mash nor boil switch works). Also tried connecting the plug for the heating element directly into an outlet to confirm it hasn't got anything to do with the control box - still nothing.

Any ideas? What else can I do?

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[GAM]

Contact your supplier.

Mine was replaced. No questions asked.

S

[GCR]

Thanks - already did that actually, and they sent a replacement - this is the old one I am trying to fix!

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[GCR]

I hate to see an otherwise perfectly operational machine go to waste

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[GAM]

Check the out put of the controller. Then check the heating coil.

I can check it if you want, but you seam to have a handle on it.

Sandy

[GCR]

I ended up bringing this to a friend and fellow brewer who is an electrician, and he figured out that there was a fuse in the wire that was preventing the current from being passed through (see first photo below).

We had thought just removing the switch would do it (and it *did* work for about a half dozen brews), so when it stopped working when the electrical tape melted, I didnt think to look in the sheathing of the wire to see if there was a fuse.

Once we cut it off, it worked fine - he ended up welding another little copper connector to the wire and screwing it in directly.

And now the ole girl is up and running again, making delicious wort like it's going out of style.

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[danlatimer]

Thanks for updating us on how it went. good to know if I ever need to fix some of the electrical on mine

[Everwoodave]

Remember to that Grainfather has amazing customer service for any of their products.
Best way to contact them.

info@grainfather.com