Popper Mod: Separating heating and fan and dimmer circuit

[NewToEspresso]

Im considering resurrecting the popper but modified to lengthen roast times as well as introducing some sort of heat control. Looking up popper mods in various coffee sites, I like the idea of separating the heating element from the fan and introducing a dimmer circuit for control. However, in a number fo these mods, they have introduced the dimmer circuit on the fan and kept the heating element constant.
I would have thought that youd want to keep the fan constant so the agitation of the beans remains, but youd want to be able to adjust the heating element for temp control. That is how Id like to modify my popper anyway. So, is there a reason a number of the popper mods on these other coffee sites have done it the other way (ie. control fan but left the heat constant)?

[wannabesnob]

Re: Popper Mod: Separating heating and fan and dimmer circuit

Hi NTE,

I also have been giving this some thought. I think Id be looking at increasing the fan speed, which would reduce the temperature due to the increased air flow. I dont know if this is possible to do, presumably the fan is already receiving full power. In that case I agree, cut back the heater element instead. I think others have also increased air flow by adding extra vents to the air intake. I dont know how effective this would be unless the manufacturers design reduced air flow to get the popping temperature up.

One thing I do now to increase the time (without any modding) is Ive thrown away my soup can and got the plastic top back out of the closet. I put this on with the butter warmer removed to give air flow and then face a fan so that it blows up the spout of the top. This cools the bean chamber a bit as well as keeping the chaff well away from the inlets. This has increased my roast times up to 11 minutes on cool mornings. This morning at 19 degrees my roast time was 8 minutes and would have been about 6 minutes without the fan. Only a slight improvement but something.

Note the spoon under the popper. Ive found that a slight angle to my popper increases the mixing in the bean swirl.

I wonder how hard it would be to build your own "popper" using a fan, a heat gun and a metal pot with swirl slots cut in and enclosed in an insulated chamber??? Obviously the heat gun would need to be outside the chamber and fed through via ducting so it would not overheat. The fan would be to increase the air flow, and give some temperature control as it could be on a dimmer. The main advantage of this setup over a Corretto would be not needing an agitator/motor and your thermocouple could be set nice and low in the bean mass. The advantage over a stock popper would hopefully be an increased roasting capacity. Youd need a large open area and a fire extinguisher on hand for testing though! ;D

I sure wish I had a work shop

[Bill]

Re: Popper Mod: Separating heating and fan and dimmer circuit

Im considering resurrecting the popper but modified to lengthen roast times as well as introducing some sort of heat control. Looking up popper mods in various coffee sites, I like the idea of separating the heating element from the fan and introducing a dimmer circuit for control. However, in a number fo these mods, they have introduced the dimmer circuit on the fan and kept the heating element constant.
I would have thought that youd want to keep the fan constant so the agitation of the beans remains, but youd want to be able to adjust the heating element for temp control. That is how Id like to modify my popper anyway. So, is there a reason a number of the popper mods on these other coffee sites have done it the other way (ie. control fan but left the heat constant)?

I cant see the point in only controlling the fan speed. Ive done both. Mine has heating element control as well as fan control. I needed the fan control on my first popper because beans would blow out top of the popper if i didnt turn down the fan speed later in the roast. My latest popper doesnt have the fan power of my previous one so I just have that on maximum speed for the whole roast.

Send me a PM if you need advice on how to do the mods.

regards,
Bill