However, I’m still interested. I really want one for the RV. Impossible to make a decent amount of ice in that little freezer, and always so darn inconvenient to run to the store for another bag of ice.

This would be perfect. (assuming it didn’t break down!)

tnx,
WestTexas

I used filtered h2o because i didnt want chemicals/elements to clog the inner plumbing. I liked the soft ice that it made but noticed how quickly it melted. I thought it also had a freezer compartment that kept the ice frozen after being made. I later realized that the ice would only be stored in a holding area like an ice chest with no freezer area. The only freezing area is actually on the metal rods. If we opened the ice maker door often, it would warm that area of the ice keeper and the ice melted quicker.

The ice maker only worked well for a few months. Now, when it fills up the metal rods area, it does NOT stop running. The h2o keeps flowing and running over for a several minutes. Then, it sounds like a compressor or some lil motor keeps surging up & down continually and never completely stops. I notice the rods dont freeze up immediately like they used to. The ice is very thin, hardly frozen, and only about 1/3 the size they normally were. The ice breaks easily and can barely withstand being scooped into a glass. :confused:

I believe part of the problem is that the freezing rods are faulty since the rods barely freeze anymore. Also, the back of the windchaser is very warm and I am afraid it may start a fire.

I thoroughly read the Windchaser website troubleshooting tips. I decided to try mixing filtered & tap h2o but no difference was realized.

I like the entire principle of the ice maker & chest but too expensive if it doesnt withstand a few years.

Although, I have been unsuccessful in getting customer phone assistance, i will be persistant to get through.

The price is probably dropping because these are not reliable. If you have read the previous comments, then you’ll know that performance is iffy and there is a better than 50% chance that after 3 months the unit will no longer work properly.

Been looking at these things for months. How often do you have to fill the resevoir? It looks like the price is dropping like a rock? Does that mean they will disappear. Thanks for your input.

I believe that the low water sensor is electronic, and the way it “tells” water is in the reservoir is to measure the conductivity. My old Pasquini Livia espresso machine had such a sensor and, unless I added three or four grains of salt to the RO water, the LED would flash for days.

I also have one of the Master/SunPenTown/MagicChef/Sno brand portable ice makers–I bought mine locally from Master, who claims to make it in the PRC and OEM it to other companies–and asked the onsite engineer Steve about the issue. His line of ice makers does indeed use a conductivity sensor and if you are using very clean water, in my case RO, it may help to have just a smidge of salt added to the reservoir whenever you fill up.

Just my $.02. Hope it is somewhat helpful.
-Jesse

I’m not an icemaker tech, but have had my share of troubleshooting appliances like these and others.

I would guess (having not seen or touched one ) that on the machine that constantly indicates low water has a sensor problem; i.e. corrosion, defective part, loose wire, etc. Other possibility might be a defective thermistor (basically a temp sensing device inside the unit itself which tells the machine what to do & when…basically). Really hard to say for certain, but wouldn’t expect to see these problems on a relatively new machine. Have seen similar problems on standard refrigerator ice makers, but usually units w/some age.

Have seen humidifiers that have little wire water level sensors that w/in two fills have coated the sensor wire and the sensor then tells the machine there is no water and therfore it won’t run. Tap water has lots of minerals and “stuff” in it that if heavy enough, might be coating the sensor– but just a guess on my part. However, that would explain why the original test with R/O water didn’t have those problems. I know on the humidifiers that have such a sensor, they warn you to check it if you have a “no-go” scenario and how to clean it…

Just out of curiosity, if you look down in the tank, do you see a little wire sticking out at about 2/3 way down in the tank?

Either way, it’s definitely not something the end-user should have to fuss with.
Let me know.
Drew

If not, then you may have to take issue with the company you ordered from, Windchaser directly, or with your credit card company.

We finally broke down and bought a refrigerator with an in-door icemaker, so I am not even using mine any more. :blink:

According to the manufacturer I visited (one of the largest) this product is starting to catch on in Europe and the USA and several appliance companies here are taking interest in them — they are starting to make private label versions for a number of companies. Perhaps this will cause prices to reduce. These sell for considerably less in China than the $350 – $390 prices here in the USA.

I had a chance to see these products on the assembly line and in test, so to clear up the way that these machines make ice:

water is pumped into a shallow tray that sits under 12 stainless steel rods or fingers that stick down into the tray. These rods are hollow and circulate refrigerant, making the rods cold, and ice forms onto the rods. The size of the cube is controlled by changing the cycle time that the rods are in the water.

At the end of the cycle, the water tray swivels out of the way (the water in the tray falls back into the water reservoir when this happens). The control then activates a valve that reverses the refrigeration cycle, causing the stainless finger rods to warm up instead of getting cold. This releases the cube from the rod. (the rod is also the cause of the “hole in the ice cube)

Then another scooper mechanism slides forward which pushes the cubes forward until they dump into the holding basket. The scooper retracts, the ice tray rotates back under the rods, refills with water, and the cycle starts again. A very slick little machine.

Regarding clear ice, the posts concerning air and impurities in the water are correct. Speed has nothing to do with it, as commercial ice machines make a new sheet of ice every 8-10 minutes – very fast. The temperature that you store ice is also important, and commercial ice machines do not have a frozen compartment for this reason, relying on the bulk of the ice in the bin to hold the product, until it eventually melts.

If you keep ice below about 22 degrees F, it develops microfractures which also clouds it up. This is why ice merchandisers in front of the gas station only cool to about 24F, and if you buy a bag of ice and then put it in your deep freeze a day later it will no longer be as clear. If you are able to get the Windchaser to make clear ice in the first place by boiling it and removing the impurities and air (don’t know if this will work) the bin has no refrigeration, so it should stay clear… it melts and the water reservoir is below the holding basket, so the water recycles.

You might check the terms of your credit card, if you used one to purchase your icemakers.

I used an American Express Gold, which provides the following:

https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/benefits/buyersassurance.jsp

https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/benefits/returnprotection.jsp

So far, I still love the ice-maker and am having no trouble whatsoever with it.

Judie :0)

I have repeatedly tried to contact winchaserproduct on their “customer service” number and they do not answer but take a message with a promice to call back, they must have very long noses. I would recommend this produce to no one and would suggest that companies not carry this product as the ill feeling toward windchaser will come back on them. Also if you can contact them (good luck) their warrenty says you have to ship the unit back at your (as in 50 pounds) expense.

Feel free to email me for details.

Gil

boiling water and placing boiling hot water in freezer, will result in longer freeze time, allowing air to escape.

As for the funky food smells… buy a couple of boxes of baking soda… they even make a specially designed box with air-filters on both sides, so there’s no chance of spilling baking soda into your fridge.

Mind you, an ice maker would be pretty darn cool for a rec room, bar, or maybe in the garage with your “drinks” fridge

Then of course, there’s always the lure of setting up your own soda fountain!