Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Stein Industries popcorn poppers

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Posted by Andy Bergstrom (Member # 360) on 10-20-2003, 10:57 AM:

Does anyone have any experience with the Stein Industries King Popper popcorn popper? Would appreciate any feedback. We presently have one that is popping very slowly.

Thank,
Andy

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-20-2003, 11:11 AM:

Is it drawing the rated current? Have you measured the line voltage to be sure it is within specifications? Defective thermostat?

Posted by Travis Hubrig (Member # 1745) on 10-20-2003, 11:19 AM:

I am not familiar with that popper,

We have a Cretors Headliner, it has a thermostat in it to prevent the kettle from overheating, when that went bad it would pop slowly. Do you have a manual for the popper? It may have instructions for thermostat adjustment.

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 10-20-2003, 12:35 PM:

I've got a brand new 32oz. Gold Medal popper that was giving us fits when we first opened. Any combination of the 5 switches in the top of the unit would produce different results each time you flipped them. We finally figured out if you turned everything else off except the kettle motor and kettle heat it would pop corn. If we tried to have any of the other switches on.... there wasn't enough power to heat the heat.

After a month of putting up with this, I called for a service tech who traced the problem back to our power panel. When the electrical contractor ran the circuit for the popper, the NEUTRAL wire wasn't stripped to expose the conductor. The set screw holding the wire into the breaker was clamped on the insulation, thus it wasn't getting any contact. As soon as he fixed that... no problems since.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 10-20-2003, 01:10 PM:

Andy,

It sounds like one of the heating elements may have gone bad. I haven't worked with one of those poppers in while though.................

Posted by Andy Bergstrom (Member # 360) on 10-20-2003, 02:32 PM:

I should have provided you with more info. Have installed new elements to correct wrong voltage (208 vs. 240). Voltage at receptacle is 214v. Have heard rumours that this popper had some
problems with circuit boards. It presently takes about 7-8 minutes to pop a batch of popcorn.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-20-2003, 03:10 PM:

You are sure you received the 208 volt elements? The 240 volt elements would certainly be slower to heat with 214 volts line voltage.

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 10-20-2003, 05:10 PM:

Does Stein actually build poppers? I thought they just stuck a Cretors kettle in their (Stein's) cabinet.

Posted by Marc Jones (Member # 29) on 10-20-2003, 06:02 PM:

When you say receptacle are you referring to the wall or Kettle,
maybe if you compare the 2 and if there a considerable difference. I would think it is in the kettle heat circuit either contactor or switch. Also look at condition the main power plug, I have seen the contacts burn up there before too.

BTW if you don't feel comfortable doing this call an electrician or tech.

Good luck

Posted by Andy Bergstrom (Member # 360) on 10-28-2003, 10:45 AM:

Just a quick update,
Replaced the thermostat control and took care of the problem. I would like to give a big thanks to Stein Industries for all their help. Great company to deal with.

Thanks for all the help everyone,
Andy

Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 10-30-2003, 03:51 AM:

Incidentally, Stein has a small write-up (advertisement?) somewhere in the back pages of the latest BoxOffice magazine...regarding their popcorn popper.