Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

[Javaphile]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

would you need to turn your cooler upside down to get the required forced induction grendel?

Nah, seeing as yall are Down-under its already upside-down! ;D


Java "Wonders how yall stay on!" phile

[niallpedlow]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

would you need to turn your cooler upside down to get the required forced induction grendel?

[grendel]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Hmmmmm - remove base, install fibreglass fly wire, place on Grendel Popper Cooler, place bowl of ice underneath. I can see a popper roasting night coming up!

[marcstolk]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

You could probably get a sheet metal worker to knock up a funnel type thing that had one end fitting inside the bottom of the popper and the other end large enough to sit tightly over a bathroom exhaust extraction fan.

Not a bad idea... but if youre going to go to that length, youre better off heading in the "Corretto" method of roasting...

[niallpedlow]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

You could probably get a sheet metal worker to knock up a funnel type thing that had one end fitting inside the bottom of the popper and the other end large enough to sit tightly over a bathroom exhaust extraction fan.

[marcstolk]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

I guess the only way you can get more air in after you take the bottom off is to go for forced induction - turbo or supercharging. [] Sound of blokey Tim Allen Home Improvement Grunting [/]

Fully Sick :-)

[niallpedlow]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Yeah, Im very keen to see what differences the bigger changes make.  I know my Mistral popper isnt going to last forever, especially when Im using it for 3-5 batches every weekend, so it wont be too long before I need another popper, or need to try the Coretto.

I guess the only way you can get more air in after you take the bottom off is to go for forced induction - turbo or supercharging.  [] Sound of blokey Tim Allen Home Improvement Grunting [/]

[Javaphile]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

If I end up making too many holes they can always be blocked again but I intend to only add a few at a time.

If 16 holes will give me 30 seconds Ill try that many again and see if I get another 30.

I have a feeling that at some point it may possible for it to run too cold but once its breathing freely, Ill find the natural balance point of the current components.

Maybe Ill do the next batch with the bottom off.

It cant get any more air than that.

You can always use the amount of beans in the chamber to limit the air flow rather than limiting the fans intake.


Java "Loves Modding" phile

[marcstolk]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Shuffles to front of seat waiting for the next installment........... :

Im in the seat next to ya Brett...

Go... do it... do it.... pull the bottom off... :-)

Marc

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Shuffles to front of seat waiting for the next installment........... :

Always good to have a guinea pig for these things. I am liking your research and development so far Thundergod.

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

It may be a week before I need to do another roast .

The simplest answer is sometimes the best.

If I end up making too many holes they can always be blocked again but I intend to only add a few at a time.

If 16 holes will give me 30 seconds Ill try that many again and see if I get another 30.

I have a feeling that at some point it may possible for it to run too cold but once its breathing freely, Ill find the natural balance point of the current components.

Maybe Ill do the next batch with the bottom off.

It cant get any more air than that.

If I take it to the extreme Ill know what the worst/best result can be for this course of action.

Stay tuned.

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Starting to get very serious with these mods Thundergod. I will be interested to see if the times go up with even more holes. I am currently planning on just sitting the popper aside and toying with the breadmaker. But if you get a major improvement with the crazy popper I am sure it will be handy to be able to use the popper on occassions as well.

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Went well.
Comapared to my last batch of the same beans:
1st crack +20 seconds
2nd crack +30 seconds

So I managed a 5:30 roast of a 100g batch.
Previous best 5:10
The one before that 5:00

I may have to consider adding a few more holes now to try and extend the times a bit further.

Heres a look at the new underside:

[marcstolk]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Hey TG,

Yes I know exactly what youre saying, which is why I have my Crazy Popper suspended on over the bowl... drilling more holes would increase airflow dramatically and your roasts "SHOULD" run longer... Id be interested in your results.. I wonder if some HOT B&D poppers would benefit from a similar mod?? I would love to get a 15min roast with 150g....

How did it go for you??

Marc

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

I opened it up today to see if it was scary in there.

Theres a small circuit board I can see the back of and beyond is the motor.
I cant see any heating element and didnt take it any further apart (for now).

I did notice something strange though while I was taking the bottom cover plate off.
At first glance at the angle I was holding it, half the air intake slots looked dummy.
There was an indentation but I couldnt see through.

Closer inspection revealed that they are baffled.
The air doesnt flow straight through, it has to make a 90 degree turn to get through.

The other side has direct flow through slots.

Im wondering if this is what makes my popper run hotter than older Crazy Poppers.

I realised that pointing my fan at the base of the popper wasnt going to help much with the grill the way it is, and why when I had it sitting up over a bowl of ice it ran a little cooler.
Not just the ice but a less restricted airflow.
Theres only a few millimeters clearance when its sitting as intended.

So Ive added a dozen or so extra holes into the base cover to improve air intake.
I reason that as I havent modd the electronics the fan speed will remain the same as will the heater output, only the input airflow will be changed; so no change to the mechanics as such, and Im hoping the increased airflow will lower the roast temperature and slow down the roasts.

If I see improvement, there is plenty of room for a lot more holes.

Ill report back when Ive done another roast.