JustIce Vogt Ice Maker Operation and Fault Guide

Just Ice – Vogt Ice Maker Operation & Fault Guide

Just Ice machines use a Vogt Tube-Ice ice maker to produce ice. The Vogt ice maker has its own PLC, refrigeration system, water system, cutter, and fault protection.

This guide explains the basic operation of the Vogt ice maker and what the flashing red Fault Indicator Light means.

Important: Refrigeration, high-voltage, pressure-switch, and compressor repairs should be performed by a qualified service technician.

How the Vogt Ice Maker Works

The Vogt ice maker repeats two main cycles:

Freeze → Harvest → Freeze → Harvest

1. Freeze Cycle

During the freeze cycle:

• The compressor runs
• The water pump runs
• Water is continuously circulated through the vertical tubes inside the freezer
• The A-Valve, or liquid refrigerant valve, is open
• Ice gradually freezes around the inside walls of the tubes

The Vogt does not normally end the freeze cycle using a simple timer.

Instead, the Freezer Pressure Switch monitors freezer pressure. As ice becomes thicker, the refrigeration conditions change. Once the pressure switch reaches its setting, the PLC knows that the ice is ready to harvest.

2. Harvest Cycle

When the freeze cycle is complete:

• The water pump stops
• The A-Valve closes
• After approximately 7 seconds, the D-Valve opens
• The suction stop valve closes
• The cutter motor starts
• Warm refrigerant gas enters the freezer

The warm gas slightly thaws the outside of the ice tubes.

The ice then falls out of the freezer and onto the rotating cutter, which breaks/sizes the ice before it falls into the storage bin.

The harvest timer is built into the Vogt PLC and is normally set for approximately 90 seconds.

3. The Machine Starts Freezing Again

After harvest is complete, the Vogt returns to the freeze cycle and begins making another batch.

If the ice bin is full, the machine finishes its current harvest and performs a Partial Pumpdown before shutting down.

This is normal operation.

Understanding the Red Vogt Fault Light

The red Fault Indicator Light is located near the selector switch on the Vogt control panel.

When a major fault occurs, count how many times the light flashes before the pattern repeats.

The number of flashes is the fault code.

Important: The Vogt can be stopped because of a fault without the red light flashing.

Short-cycle, pump-overload, and cutter-overload faults are initially auto-restart faults. The fault light normally begins displaying the code once the same auto-restart fault has occurred three consecutive times.

Fault 1 – High/Low Pressure During Freeze

1 Flash

The Vogt detected abnormal refrigeration pressure while it was making ice.

Possible causes include:

• Dirty condenser
• Condenser fan problem
• No condenser water on water-cooled machines
• Improper condenser water flow
• Low refrigerant condition
• Suction stop valve problem
• Closed refrigeration valve
• Freezer pressure switch problem
• High/Low Pressure Safety Switch problem

First things to check

1. 1. Is the outdoor condenser running?
2. 2. Is the condenser coil extremely dirty?
3. 3. Is anything blocking condenser airflow?
4. 4. If water cooled, does the condenser have water flow?
5. 5. Did the High Pressure Safety Switch trip?

A high-pressure trip requires manual reset after the pressure has dropped sufficiently.

Repeated pressure faults generally require a refrigeration technician.

Fault 2 – High/Low Pressure During Harvest

2 Flashes

The pressure problem occurred while the machine was trying to release the ice.

One of the more important components to investigate is the D-Valve, also called the Thaw Gas Valve.

Possible causes include:

• D-Valve not opening
• Failed D-Valve coil
• Dirty condenser
• Condenser restriction
• X-Valve problem on air-cooled machines
• High/Low Pressure Safety Switch problem

A Vogt that freezes normally but repeatedly faults when it tries to harvest should have the harvest/refrigeration circuit checked.

Fault 3 – High/Low Pressure During Partial Pumpdown

3 Flashes

Partial pumpdown normally occurs before the ice maker shuts down.

Possible causes include:

• Low refrigerant charge
• A-Valve not opening correctly
• Dirty condenser
• Condenser fan problem
• No condenser water
• Refrigerant restriction
• Pressure safety switch problem

This is normally a technician-level refrigeration diagnosis.

Fault 4 – High/Low Pressure During Total Pumpdown

4 Flashes

Total pumpdown is primarily used when entering the Vogt's Clean Mode or during service.

Possible causes include:

• A-Valve problem
• Dirty condenser
• Condenser airflow/water-flow problem
• Pressure switch problem
• Improper Freezer Pressure Switch adjustment

If this fault appears during normal customer operation, determine whether someone recently placed the selector switch into Clean.

Fault 5 – Short Cycle

5 Flashes

A short cycle means the Vogt believes the freeze cycle ended too quickly.

The minimum freeze times listed by Vogt are:

• HES-20: 10 minutes
• HES-30: 5 minutes
• HES-40: 5 minutes

Three consecutive short cycles cause a Short Cycle Fault.

Common causes include:

• Clogged water distributors
• Water pump not providing enough water
• Poor or missing make-up water flow
• Low refrigerant
• A-Valve problem
• Restricted filter/drier or refrigerant line
• TXV problem
• Freezer Pressure Switch incorrectly adjusted
• Ice remaining inside the freezer after harvest
• D-Valve not opening properly
• Harvest cycle too short

A useful visual check

Watch an entire harvest.

Did all of the ice fall out of the freezer?

If ice remains in the freezer and begins freezing again during the next cycle, the machine can quickly develop short-cycle or cutter problems.

Fault 6 – Long Cycle

6 Flashes

This means the Vogt remained in Freeze Mode too long without reaching the point where it could harvest.

The maximum freeze times are:

• HES-20: 120 minutes
• HES-30: 80 minutes
• HES-40: 60 minutes

Common causes include:

• Water tank drain valve leaking or left open
• Water float valve improperly adjusted
• D-Valve leaking/not fully closing
• Compressor problem
• Compressor not running
• Compressor thermal overload
• Compressor contactor problem
• Control circuit breaker tripped
• Shorted electrical component

Very important troubleshooting clue

Check whether the compressor is actually running.

The Vogt PLC can continue operating the water system even when the compressor has stopped. Eventually the PLC realizes that the machine has been freezing too long and reports Fault 6.

A Fault 6 does not automatically mean the PLC is bad.

Fault 7 – Water Pump Motor Overload

7 Flashes

The circulating water pump has overloaded three consecutive times.

Possible causes include:

• Low voltage
• Loose wiring
• Voltage drop across the motor starter
• Overload setting incorrect
• Pump motor start switch sticking
• Water pump running dry
• Defective water pump motor

First check

During Freeze Mode, verify that water is actually circulating through the freezer.

Do not allow the water pump to run dry.

Fault 8 – Cutter Motor Overload

8 Flashes

The ice cutter motor has overloaded three consecutive times.

Common causes include:

• Ice backed up into the ice chute
• Bin control incorrectly positioned
• Ice bin overfilled
• Ice remaining in the freezer after harvest
• Ice freezing too thick or solid
• D-Valve problem
• Harvest time too short
• Cutter motor problem
• Cutter gear reducer problem
• Low voltage

One of the first things to check

Inspect the ice chute and cutter area.

Make sure ice has not backed up from the storage bin into the cutter.

If the cutter is being hit with unusually thick or partially frozen-together ice, the problem may actually originate with the freeze or harvest cycle, rather than the cutter itself.

Vogt Is Not Running – No Fault Light

A Vogt that is not running does not necessarily have a fault.

Check:

1. 1. Is the selector switch in ICE?
2. 2. Is the ice bin actually calling for ice?
3. 3. Is the machine in its Start-Up Delay?
4. 4. Has a pump or cutter overload recently tripped?
5. 5. Has the High/Low Pressure Safety Switch tripped?
6. 6. Does the PLC have power?

The Vogt normally enters a two-hour Start-Up Mode after:

• A power interruption
• Certain overload faults
• A short-cycle fault

The Harvest/Start button can bypass the normal start-up delay, but the cause of a repeated fault should still be investigated.

Using the PLC Lights for Troubleshooting

For more advanced troubleshooting, look at the input lights on the Vogt PLC.

For the machine to normally operate, the applicable Ice Call input, Input 5, and Input 6 must be ON.

Input 5 OFF

→ Pump or cutter overload circuit is open.

Input 6 OFF

→ High/Low Pressure Safety Switch is open.

The Vogt manual also notes that the PLC itself is a very reliable component, so the input/output lights should be checked before assuming the PLC has failed.

Information to Collect Before Calling Datawrx Support

When reporting a Just Ice Vogt fault, please provide:

• Machine name/location
• Number of flashes on the Vogt red fault light
• Whether the ice maker is currently running
• Whether the compressor is running
• Whether the water pump is circulating water
• Whether the condenser fan is running
• Whether there is ice stuck in the freezer or cutter
• Approximate freeze-cycle time
• Approximate harvest-cycle time
• Photo of the Vogt PLC input/output lights, if possible
• Photo or video of the fault light flashing

Do not simply reset a fault repeatedly. A recurring fault is the Vogt PLC protecting the ice maker from an abnormal operating condition.

Quick Fault Reference

• 1 Flash: Pressure problem during Freeze
• 2 Flashes: Pressure problem during Harvest
• 3 Flashes: Pressure problem during Partial Pumpdown
• 4 Flashes: Pressure problem during Total Pumpdown
• 5 Flashes: Freeze cycle is too short
• 6 Flashes: Freeze cycle is too long
• 7 Flashes: Water pump overload
• 8 Flashes: Cutter motor overload