26 replies to this topic

[sudont]

Hi!
I'm new here, so let me know if I'm posting in the wrong place. It wasn't so clear to me. Anyway...

I recently got a Nesco "Snackmaster Entreé" food dehydrator, and *gasp* it doesn't have a temp control! I've been assured that I shouldn't worry about it affecting potency, but I stuck a thermometer in there and it sent the mercury literally to the top! The thermometer only reads up to 120° F, so the temp must be in excess of 130° F. What's the deal ya'll, good or bad for the shrooms?

If bad, how does one disconnect the heating element? I'm no electrician, but I do have a soldering pen, and some basic sound skills (I know pos from neg anyway).

Thanks for your input!

[pocketmulch]

Here are instructions on disconnecting the heating element:
http://mycotopia.net...read.php?t=3535

You can also set it up as is and then have another fan blowing straight at it. More airflow will lower the temperature. I imagine you could also wire in a dimmer switch.

[sudont]

Here are instructions on disconnecting the heating element:
http://mycotopia.net...read.php?t=3535

You can also set it up as is and then have another fan blowing straight at it. More airflow will lower the temperature. I imagine you could also wire in a dimmer switch.

Thanks for responding!
Yeah, I saw that one, but the Nesco is set up differently. I'm thinking I could just remove the heating coils altogether. My gut tells me it should still work. Any electrical geeks out there wanna weigh in on this?

[arezap]

Just find whatever wires lead to the heating element and clip them leaving enough wire for re-attachment later if necessary. Then cut the copper ends off or just bend them over and wrap with electrical tape. The latter being better.

[pocketmulch]

Looked up your model - it's actually identical to the one I used to run. It does run quite hot. I don't know if you're drying edibles or psilocybes - for edibles, 130F doesn't really matter. Not sure on the psilocybes but I don't think it'll cause that much loss of potency - people regularly make tea at 212F.

Keep in mind that if you disable the heating element entirely, all you have is a set of trays and a fan. If you're going to do that, remove the whole piece with the electrical portions and lay a higher-powered box fan on top (facing away from the mushrooms, so it sucks air past them).

[sudont]

Just find whatever wires lead to the heating element and clip them leaving enough wire for re-attachment later if necessary. Then cut the copper ends off or just bend them over and wrap with electrical tape. The latter being better.

Hi!
I don't think that'll work in this case. It looks like they're using the heating coils as a resistor. They're definately in the circuit. Haven't applied the ol' multi-tester yet, so I'm not sure about the resistor theory, but regardless, can't just cut 'em.

[sudont]

Looked up your model - it's actually identical to the one I used to run. It does run quite hot. I don't know if you're drying edibles or psilocybes - for edibles, 130F doesn't really matter. Not sure on the psilocybes but I don't think it'll cause that much loss of potency - people regularly make tea at 212F.

Keep in mind that if you disable the heating element entirely, all you have is a set of trays and a fan. If you're going to do that, remove the whole piece with the electrical portions and lay a higher-powered box fan on top (facing away from the mushrooms, so it sucks air past them).

Yeah, I'd really like to get more opinions, or rather facts, on this heat thing. I too have often made "tea", and never noticed any loss of potency, although I did not use boiling water. Has anyone out there seen, or done, any experimentation in this regard?
All the same, the thing is damn hot. It's gotta be over 130° F, because it ruined my thermometer!

[Hippie3]

no one boils tea for several hours so the loss is minimal.
however
the same is not true of dehydrators,
my tests clearly showed about a 10-20% potency loss
after using a hot dehydrator for drying.
if you heat cannot be disconnected
i'd recommend finding another alternative for drying.

[Hippie3]

also see http://mycotopia.net...read.php?t=8413
for some nesco-specific info

[max]

I've got one of those, I think I read it goes up to 150. It will work fine for your purpose. Any loss will be minimal and prolly not even noticed. If worried, try setting it up outside where it's colder, it might not get so hot inside.

[red_lenses]

I have the same one, the fan motor is 12 volts dc.
the element acts as a resistor to drop the voltage then it runs through diodes to make it dc.
I junked the element and power cord and hooked it up to a 12v 500 ma. power adapter and it worked great.
Just be sure to get the fan rotation the right direction, it should blow air down into the unit.
If it blows out the top just reverse the wires.

hope this helps.
Peace

Red.

[red_lenses]

sorry about the double post.
But I also cut the caps off and slice the stems in half lengthwise.
Cracker dry in 2 days or so.
:)

[GriffinTree]

ok so i got a dehydrator but i want to take out the heating element, could some one point me in the right direction possibly?

[Hippie3]

see
http://mycotopia.net...es/5/14832.html

hope that helps

[golly]

I wonder if plugging a dehydrator in line with a dimmer switch would bring the temp down to just warm ,while still providing enough power to the fan motor to keep air moving...
That way u could get cracker dry shrooms, no matter how humid the room is...Any one tried ...?
Some motors dont work well with dimmer switches but might b worth experimenting with.....

[GriffinTree]

thanks fer the help!!

[Sky Rayven]

So...I spent a couple of bux on a nice new food dehydrator!

I thought that it would be realy simple to dissconect the heater!

HHHAAA HAAA :teeth: Sure I said to myself I can do this!!!

Well not really! The first thing I did was electricute myself! :laser:

So here is my cute little dehydrator right...

http://mycotopia.net...59&d=1161205385

Aww how nice!

http://mycotopia.net...60&d=1161205385

then...ok letz take the fuker apart! see whatz inside....Oh look itz a bunch of crap I don't know anything about! Crack tear shread Pooy Electric Shok!!!!!!!!

I blew out the electricity in the house....ZAP!!!

http://mycotopia.net...63&d=1161205385

Talk about gettin high...but that is a different subject :)

So I went to radio shak and got this!

http://mycotopia.net...61&d=1161205385

I hooked it up to an electrical cord and here we go :)

http://mycotopia.net...62&d=1161205385

I think that this should work! HEHee

but my hand still hurts.:dance:

Sky

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[llamabox]

Maybe you should have posted a pic BEFORE you went cutting wires.

But good luck on the new model.

[Sky Rayven]

Yepers...I should have

[reverend trips]

Did you learn something from this? Maybe unplugging an appliance before messing with the elecrtical components:gah:
I'm glad you're ok Sky,