I honestly think putting a thermometer inside the unit is an excellent idea. I sent the following note off to Harvest Right Support in an effort to gain a little better understanding of the process.
Reattached hose and ran another full system test (results, 750 mTorr lowest steady reading - looking through the oil level window, some bubbling seen in oil even after an hour of pumpdown - some "air" noises from pump)
Our electricity was very high when we had it in AK because our electric company charged a lot, but in Texas, it’s very cheap to run. I don’t mind that I can’t freeze dry some things, as most of the things that you can’t freeze dry, you can purchase commercially or they shelf stable as is. For instance, I don’t freeze dry butter, but I do buy powdered butter. Oh, here’s one more potential con:
I would prefer those fittings to have internal Este rings and knurled thread on ports (similar to R134a vacuum gauge sets) that do not require high torque compression fittings. Finger tight and you are good to go. You spot a leak, change the O ring and you're back in business.
Nor is it affordable for all of our extended family to eat gluten-free for the holiday meals. more info This challenge has been easily remedied with my freeze dryer.
Freeze drying lets you say goodbye to food waste by extending the shelf life of your food. Every dollar you save on groceries goes back into your pocket.
Door seal appears good against the plexiglass side, even stripe of contact, nice and wide. Inside gasket groove has been checked for debris and cracks. Looks OK, but the design seems odd to me!
Isolated pump by capping the stack (no meter to measure pressure, but pelo bubbling after a very short pumpdown - pump sounded normal for a high vacuum situation)
Use a professional shipping service that specializes in handling industrial machinery. Ensure the dryer is properly secured and protected to prevent any damage during transit.
I personally have a medium Harvest Right Freeze Dryer and love it. I actually wish I had gotten the large! But for our family of 4 (almost 5), it’s a perfect fit, we have it running constantly and fill bins full of homemade freeze dried food.
Their production needs can be met by investing in expertly freeze-drying machinery offered by trusted pharma machinery manufacturers. Such companies benefit the most from the continuous improvement of freeze-drying technology, allowing them to gain enduring success.
Odds are the problem is the vacuum hose or its end connections, the drain valve, or the door gasket. Based upon my experience I'd double check the fittings while installed on the FDer.
Why? Because many of the meals we cook are intended to be eaten now AND freeze-dried Know More to store away for the long haul. We don’t do it for chicken finger night but by golly we do it whenever she makes her freeze-dryer-appropriate meals like beef stroganoff.
You can choose to season meat either before or after the freeze drying process. I prefer to season cooked meats before processing and leave raw meat unseasoned. Then the meat can be seasoned later before it’s cooked.