Thank you for your awesome video and thorough explanation of how the system works and why it fails. The biggest issue from my perspective is that Harvest Right had LOTS of issues with their pumps when they first came out and left a very bad impression on a lot of people who ended up with a multi-thousand dollar paper weight. These are not cheap items and the pumps are expensive to replace. People naturally want the best most durable pump. When there is an oil-less option for ~$1500 more most people would naturally think it's better. Thanks to your video I feel comfortable going with the Premier pump. Now we just need the repair parts available before I actually need them. P.s. I also agree that changing your oil after every batch is a SUPER EASY way to prolong your pumps life even longer, and FREE since your re-using your old "filtered" oil even tho it's only recommended ever 20-25 batches.
I agree completely with your findings and conclusions. . I started out in 2014 with my medium sized freeze dryer (the only size they sold at that time) and their original standard vacuum pump. I used that pump for several years and it worked OK. However, I suffered all the normal problems of dirty oil, water in the oil, and messy inconvenient oil changes. I never had to tear down the entire pump, but I did remove the cover around the pump several times for a much needed cleaning. On the top of the pump body (inside the cover) there is a flat sheet of steel that is a shield intended to control oil spray. With all the water that collected in the oil, that shield was very rusted. That was a contamination catastrophe waiting to happen, but it was generously solved by my machinist nephew who made a stainless steel replacement part for me. That dirty, messy first pump finally prompted me to spend the money for the Harvest Right oil-less scroll pump, the black one with the vertical shaft. It worked well and not having to change oil was great, but it was very noisy. I had to wear ear protection if I was in the same room while it was running. After about a year with the scroll pump, the noise was such a problem that I decided to buy their new Premium vacuum pump and have been completely happy with the Premier. It's physically much easier to change the oil compared to the original pump, the control of oil spray and water in the oil is much better than the original pump, and the Premier is much quieter. Using a smart phone audio level app, my dryer running with the scroll pump was about 93 dB compared with about 72 dB with the Premier. The phone app isn't calibrated, but it gives a reasonable comparison. No more ear muffs! If you ever have information on the Premier's manufacturer or source for replacement parts, please post them in these comments. I'd like to continue using mine for many more years.
Why can't something be added between the freeze dryer and the pump? A vacuum chamber or a chamber that pulls through oil to capture the acidic moisture.
There is. It's called a $1300-$5000 freeze trap. Harvest right incorporated the freeze trap inside the chamber wall. It's the only way to do it on the cheap.
@@Philat4800feet Thanks Phil, Harvest Right will NOT send the gasket which fails due to wear as is warps over time. I talked with a repair tech in UT. Zero help and is aware of the gasket issue. I have made my own with KLINGER Thermoseal, just a temp fix. The gasket needs the red trails for proper seal. Thanks again for the videos😎
Thank you. Invaluable info. Two questions .. 1. Do you filter the oil you’ve removed for the next exchange? 2. That hole where water flows back to the pump, what is it for? It can’t be covered / closed?
I have an oil less pump that is brand new maybe 3-4 runs in total. Pump completely stopped working will not spin or turn at all when plugged in. I need it for my work and warranty will take months What would you recommend I check or take apart first
Two questions: Are you good with your hands and with an Ohm meter? When you say it stopped working, does it do anything? Does it Hum, vibrate, or make any noise? Do you have an Ohm meter? You need to check for any opens and shorts in the motor by using an Ohm meter across the plug ends and then ends to pump case. Is the pump seized? can it be tuned by hand? Have you seen this video? th-cam.com/video/j0JEr9gaFiQ/w-d-xo.html
From the touch screen press the Harvest Right logo, then press where it lists the "Pump;", from here it will list all three pumps and gives an option to reset the hours.
If someone has the oil free pump, maybe a condenser of some sort and/or filter dryer is in order? I've been using the 5 minute dry cycle for a few years with medium use, so far no problems with the pump. Also keep a fan on it as it always gets hot to the touch without it.
I have played around with in-line desiccant filters. The problem is as long as there is a vacuum the moisture remains a gas and passes through without absorption.
After 25 batches (27) the oil is still clear. At 25 batches you filter and top up. Cost of oil vs oilless it is a no brainer due to rebuild schedule and cost.
Most important thing is to let the pump eat some air afterwards while it’s warm. Allowing the pump to pull through warm dry air gets the moisture out of the oil. With proper vacuum pump oil changing it every time would be ludicrously expensive and it’s unnecessary if you ballast the system properly from time to time. Vacuum pumps are simple and tolerate a lot of abuse. What kills them more often than not is true negligence running for a year with nobody checking in or just sitting around without getting the moisture out first.
I agree, changing the oil, with new oil, every time, would be ludicrously expensive. I change my oil after ever batch with newly filtered "used" oil. However, in the HVAC world, Navac recommend to change the oil with new oil, after every pull down evacuation. There's a bunch more garage in those systems.
Thank you for your awesome video and thorough explanation of how the system works and why it fails.
The biggest issue from my perspective is that Harvest Right had LOTS of issues with their pumps when they first came out and left a very bad impression on a lot of people who ended up with a multi-thousand dollar paper weight. These are not cheap items and the pumps are expensive to replace. People naturally want the best most durable pump. When there is an oil-less option for ~$1500 more most people would naturally think it's better.
Thanks to your video I feel comfortable going with the Premier pump. Now we just need the repair parts available before I actually need them.
P.s. I also agree that changing your oil after every batch is a SUPER EASY way to prolong your pumps life even longer, and FREE since your re-using your old "filtered" oil even tho it's only recommended ever 20-25 batches.
I agree completely with your findings and conclusions. .
I started out in 2014 with my medium sized freeze dryer (the only size they sold at that time) and their original standard vacuum pump. I used that pump for several years and it worked OK. However, I suffered all the normal problems of dirty oil, water in the oil, and messy inconvenient oil changes. I never had to tear down the entire pump, but I did remove the cover around the pump several times for a much needed cleaning. On the top of the pump body (inside the cover) there is a flat sheet of steel that is a shield intended to control oil spray. With all the water that collected in the oil, that shield was very rusted. That was a contamination catastrophe waiting to happen, but it was generously solved by my machinist nephew who made a stainless steel replacement part for me.
That dirty, messy first pump finally prompted me to spend the money for the Harvest Right oil-less scroll pump, the black one with the vertical shaft. It worked well and not having to change oil was great, but it was very noisy. I had to wear ear protection if I was in the same room while it was running.
After about a year with the scroll pump, the noise was such a problem that I decided to buy their new Premium vacuum pump and have been completely happy with the Premier. It's physically much easier to change the oil compared to the original pump, the control of oil spray and water in the oil is much better than the original pump, and the Premier is much quieter. Using a smart phone audio level app, my dryer running with the scroll pump was about 93 dB compared with about 72 dB with the Premier. The phone app isn't calibrated, but it gives a reasonable comparison. No more ear muffs!
If you ever have information on the Premier's manufacturer or source for replacement parts, please post them in these comments. I'd like to continue using mine for many more years.
Oh the memories of the old standard pump. I'm working on a replacement part list.
Appreciate this! Unfortunately, I purchased the oiless! Sure wish I had seen this before purchase! Again,thanks!🙏🏽
Thank you for the video.
Why can't something be added between the freeze dryer and the pump? A vacuum chamber or a chamber that pulls through oil to capture the acidic moisture.
There is. It's called a $1300-$5000 freeze trap. Harvest right incorporated the freeze trap inside the chamber wall. It's the only way to do it on the cheap.
That’s what the cold trap is
2:08 parts for the Premium Pump? Where can those be purchased? Harvest Right refuses to send those parts to me.
Thanks
Working on a list of where to buy
@@Philat4800feet
Thanks Phil, Harvest Right will NOT send the gasket which fails due to wear as is warps over time. I talked with a repair tech in UT. Zero help and is aware of the gasket issue. I have made my own with KLINGER Thermoseal, just a temp fix. The gasket needs the red trails for proper seal. Thanks again for the videos😎
Change the oil after every batch? That seems pretty excessive. What’s the thought behind that?
Thank you. Invaluable info. Two questions .. 1. Do you filter the oil you’ve removed for the next exchange? 2. That hole where water flows back to the pump, what is it for? It can’t be covered / closed?
I change and filter the oil after each batch. The hole is where the vacuum pump connects to the chamber. It can't be plugged.
@@Philat4800feet Each batch? and that's with the premiere pump> I thought you only had to change oil every 20 batches>
Thanks for this useful information!
I have an oil less pump that is brand new maybe 3-4 runs in total. Pump completely stopped working will not spin or turn at all when plugged in.
I need it for my work and warranty will take months What would you recommend I check or take apart first
Two questions: Are you good with your hands and with an Ohm meter?
When you say it stopped working, does it do anything? Does it Hum, vibrate, or make any noise? Do you have an Ohm meter?
You need to check for any opens and shorts in the motor by using an Ohm meter across the plug ends and then ends to pump case.
Is the pump seized? can it be tuned by hand?
Have you seen this video?
th-cam.com/video/j0JEr9gaFiQ/w-d-xo.html
I have the low profile oil free pump. Is that still an option?
The white plastic case?
th-cam.com/video/DemBJ2IBLPM/w-d-xo.html
If so, that's a terrible pump. I'd move over to the Premier pump.
Thank you very much!!
How can you cold trap already cold water vapor?
Hello Phil. I just changed my oil free pump to the premium oil pump. But how do I reset my freeze dryer to know the pump type is different? Thanks
From the touch screen press the Harvest Right logo, then press where it lists the "Pump;", from here it will list all three pumps and gives an option to reset the hours.
th-cam.com/video/FJTjZcbZQLg/w-d-xo.html
Time index 4:34
@@Philat4800feet Thanks Phil! Perfect
If someone has the oil free pump, maybe a condenser of some sort and/or filter dryer is in order? I've been using the 5 minute dry cycle for a few years with medium use, so far no problems with the pump. Also keep a fan on it as it always gets hot to the touch without it.
or maybe just a desiccant?
I have played around with in-line desiccant filters. The problem is as long as there is a vacuum the moisture remains a gas and passes through without absorption.
After 25 batches (27) the oil is still clear. At 25 batches you filter and top up. Cost of oil vs oilless it is a no brainer due to rebuild schedule and cost.
Agreed, I'm just in the habit of changing/filtering after each batch. It also comes down to the oil you use.
th-cam.com/video/qPJ1sdce0NM/w-d-xo.html
Stinks because we got the oil less pump. Just got it yesterday.
Keep an eye on it. You might want to do a PM schedule.
Most important thing is to let the pump eat some air afterwards while it’s warm. Allowing the pump to pull through warm dry air gets the moisture out of the oil.
With proper vacuum pump oil changing it every time would be ludicrously expensive and it’s unnecessary if you ballast the system properly from time to time. Vacuum pumps are simple and tolerate a lot of abuse. What kills them more often than not is true negligence running for a year with nobody checking in or just sitting around without getting the moisture out first.
I agree, changing the oil, with new oil, every time, would be ludicrously expensive. I change my oil after ever batch with newly filtered "used" oil. However, in the HVAC world, Navac recommend to change the oil with new oil, after every pull down evacuation. There's a bunch more garage in those systems.
It's called a Premier pump, not a Premium pump.
It's called the "Premier" pump, not "Premium".
opps, you're right.