Ammonia smell ditting grinder?? help...

[Monito]

Today I was grinding some espresso on my old ditting grinder for a friend. All of the sudden a smell of ammonia comming out of the grinder with a faded smoke.

But the ammonia smell was there for sure.

Came back later and ground some coarse coffee. Stop the grinder in the middle, but it wouldn't start after that. I took the blades apart cleaned them up, and started working again...any ideas?

Bruches, bearings ??  Old grinder 199?

Thanks,

-pat

[Tex]

Only thing I can come up with is bacteria interacting with urea & uric acid. Keep the chickens out of the coffee processing shed!

[rasqual]

Only thing I can come up with is bacteria interacting with urea & uric acid. Keep the chickens out of the coffee processing shed!

Yeah, but we'll drink stuff that's been crapped out of a civet . . .

 

[mp]

Only thing I can come up with is bacteria interacting with urea & uric acid. Keep the chickens out of the coffee processing shed!

Yeah, but we'll drink stuff that's been crapped out of a civet . . .

 

 :laughing4:

[rasqual]

Compared with that, ammonia ain't much to fret about.

LOL

edit: BTW, look at that critter's eyes. They're the color of ripe coffee cherries. I wonder if the stuff has an effect on 'im like the geriatric spice melange had on Fremen on Arrakis, with the blue-in-blue eyes and all.    

edit again: DUDE!

I've seen it all.    

[Ascholten]

Ammonia smell might be coming from overheating on the windings of the motor,  loose brushes or connections...   Dirt could be causing excessive arcing as well and burning the crap in there giving the smell, and on / off again .

If you seen smoke though, that's not a good thing,  .... it might just be a switch getting ready to give up the ghost, and not the motor.
or could be years of gunk / grease too... it's hard to really say w/o opening it up and taking a peek.

Aaron

[Tex]

Ammonia smell might be coming from overheating on the windings of the motor,  loose brushes or connections...   Dirt could be causing excessive arcing as well and burning the crap in there giving the smell, and on / off again .

If you seen smoke though, that's not a good thing,  .... it might just be a switch getting ready to give up the ghost, and not the motor.
or could be years of gunk / grease too... it's hard to really say w/o opening it up and taking a peek.

Aaron

The ozone smell of overheated wiring isn't close to an ammonia smell. I do agree that it should be checked if the problem is recurring. Find a qualified technician and be prepared to pay his kids college tuition.  

[Monito]

Ammonia smell might be coming from overheating on the windings of the motor,  loose brushes or connections...   Dirt could be causing excessive arcing as well and burning the crap in there giving the smell, and on / off again .

If you seen smoke though, that's not a good thing,  .... it might just be a switch getting ready to give up the ghost, and not the motor.
or could be years of gunk / grease too... it's hard to really say w/o opening it up and taking a peek.

Aaron

You were 100% correct, the smell came from grounds going inside the walls of the capacitor. I would have to assume that the plastic burning together with the coffee grounds caused the smell. Lots og blck tar, I cleaned it as much as I could. The capacitor smells like and old (very old tv)...

Should I replace the capacitor with the factory one ($54) or get one locally?

Thanks,

-pat

[rasqual]

$54 FOR A CAPACITOR?!

[Tex]

$54 FOR A CAPACITOR?!

Just bought a new one at my electronics supply store for $7.95, and thought that was a bit rich. If you do buy the $54 one, make sure to get kissed!

[ButtWhiskers]

When I need a large capacitor, I go here: https://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?numrec=20&sort=2&keyword=EMRC&catname=electric&UID=2009100610380448

I don't think any of them are more than $15, and most are under $5.

[Tex]

When I need a large capacitor, I go here: https://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?numrec=20&sort=2&keyword=EMRC&catname=electric&UID=2009100610380448

I don't think any of them are more than $15, and most are under $5.

OK, BW! Now how about a quick primer on how to select the correct capacitor for one's application?

[MMW]

Same capacitance, same or higher voltage rating shouldn't give you any trouble in a motor start application.

[maxmojo]

Put the smoke back in and your good ta go!

   Smoked a very large isolation transformer on an extruder last night at work (power interface board/field control problem-500amp!) Fired it back up after removing panels and cooling it down - don't know if it kept on cooking after that

[maxmojo]

Stay within the replaced capacitors tolerance ratings. 10%

http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/techasmt/ecep/hvac/d/d.htm


Not to big not to small!