40000 Series Big Dipper

Introducing the New and Improved
40000 Series Big Dipper®
now with Digital Controls
Copyright 2014 • Thermaco, Inc.®
An Automatic Grease Removal Device for the Future
Built on a Successful Legacy...
Since its release in late 2007, Thermaco® has shipped more
than 12,000 units of the 14000 Series Big Dipper® Center Lid
Assemblies (CLA’s). This represents only a portion of the more
than 33,000 Big Dipper Units that have been sold since 1985,
many of which remain in operation, serving our customers
by reliably and efficiently removing fats, oils, and grease from
kitchen effluent. The 14000 series Big Dippers represented an
incremental improvement over previous Big Dipper versions,
maintaining the ability to quickly change out the entire CLA
in the case of issues, while increasing safety by making the
housing entirely out of plastic . Over the past seven years,
it saw additional improvements, including the addition of
features such as a jog and heater switches, an improved design of the center module housing that
reduced moisture build-up, and baffling changes that minimized the footprint of the unit without
compromising on separation efficiency.
With Our Customers’ Needs in Mind.
In order to provide our customers with the best Automatic Grease Removal Device on the market today, it
was necessary to design a unit around their needs. After listening to feedback from customers, installers,
inspectors and distributors over the past seven years, Thermaco recognized a major opportunity lay
in the timer mechanism used to manage the skimming operation of the unit, which has remained
unchanged since 2001. While the mechanical timer offered plenty of flexibility in scheduling skimming
times and frequency, its operation was not intuitive, leading many units to run too frequently or not
enough, resulting in sub-optimal operation and poor customer perception.
Armed with this information, Thermaco set out to create a new CLA operation that would increase
longevity, provide customers with flexibility in the skimming operation, and protect the customer
against unforeseen issues in the kitchen environment. Along with this improvement came features
aimed at simplifying the lives of the restaurant staff, service personnel and inspectors. The goal was to
create a Big Dipper that would protect a customer’s plumbing infrastructure and the sewer collection
system, offering the best long-term value and least hassle of any automatic grease removal device in the
industry. This newest version of the Big Dipper offers these enhancements, and creates a new platform
on which Thermaco can continue to push the envelope on what is to be expected from a grease removal
device.
2 • info@thermaco.com • www.big-dipper.com • 1-800-633-4204
Copyright 2014 • Thermaco, Inc
Brand New Features
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REVISIONS
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DESCRIPTION
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New Components
The 40000 Series Big Dipper offers a brand new push
button user interface and digital time controller that
replaces the mechanical timer in previous models.
• Push Button Interface - Three separate silicone
momentary contact buttons for Light (I), Moderate
(II), and Heavy (III) skimming modes and a Start
Button for testing and immediate operation. Builtin LED’s behind buttons indicate mode chosen and blink during operation. Two separate levels of
modes (Default and Extreme) can be accessed through a simple sequence.
Light Setting (I):
Use for small cafes,
coffee and ice cream
shops.
Moderate Setting (II):
Use for Quick and FullService restaurants.
Heavy Setting (III):
Use for Steakhouses,
Buffets, Heavy Grease
producing sites.
Start Button: Press
to begin a cycle early
or to test operation..
• Digital Time Controller - The skim time and frequency for each mode is pre-programmed and
controlled by a printed circuit board, connected to the Push Button Interface with a Ribbon Cable.
This board also controls other features related to the motor and heater.
• Thermistor - The Thermostat in previous Big Dipper models has been replaced with a Thermistor
which allows for additional heater control features in the digital control operation that were not
previously possible.
info@thermaco.com • www.big-dipper.com • 1-800-633-4204
Copyright 2014 • Thermaco, Inc. • 3
646 GREENSBORO STREET
PO BOX 2548, ASHEBORO, NC 27203
New Features (cont.)
Digital Control Operation
Instead of using a mechanical 24/7 timer to determine skim times and frequency, the new digital
control operation has pre-programmed settings that correlate to operational times that will permit some
flexibility based on the type of restaurant and best management practices of the kitchen.
Default Operation
Through the User Interface, three levels of skimming may be selected. By selecting one of the skimming
buttons – I, II, or III - the skimming cycle (see table below) is activated. The LED associated with the
selected button is illuminated continuously as an indicator of the selected skim cycle and as a power
indicator. If the skimming level is changed during an active skimming cycle, the next active skim cycle
will be at the new setting (The LED associated with the newly selected level will change immediately).
If the skimming cycle is changed between active skimming cycles the next skim cycle will be at the new
level.
Default Modes
Button Selected
Light (I)
Moderate (II)
Heavy (III)
Skim Time
15 Minutes
30 Minutes
60 Minutes
Delay Between Skims*
76 Hours
19 Hours
19 Hours
* Delay between Skims is the time from the start of the 1st skim to the start of the next skim.
Motor Exercising
For all default mode skimming levels, the motor will be energized for 30 seconds every 9.5 hours.
Only the motor will be energized (no heater operation) at these exercising times. Exercising the motor
minimizes the likelihood the motor will seize due to prolonged periods of inactivity.
Start Button Operation
Any time the start button is depressed the “time between skims” the digital control goes to its maximum
time and operation begins for the selected skim level. After this skimming cycle the normal time delay
to the next skim cycle is used (skim cycle resets when the start button is depressed).
Default Heater Operation
The heater operates under Thermistor control any time the skimmer motor is energized, maintaining
the fluid temperature at 130±5°F. Additional heater options are available and explained below in New
Heater Functions.
4 • info@thermaco.com • www.big-dipper.com • 1-800-633-4204
Copyright 2014 • Thermaco, Inc
New Features (cont.)
Extreme Operation
For Kitchens that need additional run-time, the 40000 Series Big Dipper has additional modes for extreme
operation. In order to access these modes:
1. Remove power from CLA by unplugging unit or lifting it to disengage the safety switch (found on
underside of the back of assembly.
2. Reapply power while holding down the Heavy Mode (III) Button.
3. The button (III) should blink temporarily, indicating which operation level has been selected.
4. Select desired mode at skim times/frequencies listed below.
Extreme Modes
Button Selected
Light (I)
Moderate (II)
Heavy (III)
Skim Time
90 Minutes
120 Minutes
120 Minutes
Delay Between Skims*
19 Hours
19 Hours
9.5 Hours
* Delay between Skims is the time from the start of the 1st skim to the start of the next skim.
To return to Default Modes, follow the steps above pressing the Light Mode (I) Button instead. This
button will temporarily blink to indicate that this operational level has been selected.
New Heater Functions
The default heater setting is to come on at the beginning of a skim cycle. As with previous models, there
is an option to turn the heater completely off. The new Thermistor and Printed Circuit Board permit
additional features for the heater, explained further below. In order to access these features a jumper
must be moved on the board, requiring the lid of the CLA to be removed.
Fluid Preheat Setting
In this setting, the heater comes on prior to the operation of the skimming motor. The preheat duration
will be 2 hours (maximum) or until the Thermistor indicates that the fluid has reached the operating
temperature of 130±5°F after which the skimming cycle begins. The heater will continue to operate
under Thermistor control to maintain the operating temperature.
Freeze Protection
To prevent the liquid contents of the tank from freezing, the new thermistor constantly monitors fluid
temperature. If the temperature drops to 40º F, the heater is energized to maintain a temperature
between 40º and 45º.
info@thermaco.com • www.big-dipper.com • 1-800-633-4204
Copyright 2014 • Thermaco, Inc. • 5
New Features (cont.)
New Options for Rotisseries
Additional jumpers are available on the board for Rotisserie Operation. When this jumper is selected,
normal, time-based skimming is discontinued and operation is controlled by rises in temperature.
When the temperature increases by 15º F or more, the skim cycle is immediately initiated. The skim
time is determined by the mode selected and operates for the duration designated in the table below.
Toggling between default and extreme modes is achieved by the same method described previously.
If no temperature change occurs during the setting’s maximum delay between skims (see tables
below), the Big Dipper reverts to operating in standby mode and operates at the preset skim frequency.
If a Supplemental Water Supply (SWS) is used in conjunction with this mode, the SWS will operate
whenever the motor is engaged.
Default Modes - Rotisserie Operation
Button Selected
Skim Time
Light (I)
30 Minutes
Moderate (II)
60 Minutes
Heavy (III)
90 Minutes
Delay Between Skims*
6 Hours
6 Hours
6 Hours
Extreme Modes - Rotisserie Operation
Button Selected
Skim Time
Delay Between Skims*
Light (I)
30 Minutes
2 Hours
Moderate (II)
60 Minutes
2 Hours
Heavy (III)
90 Minutes
2 Hours
* Delay between Skims is the time from the start of the 1st skim to the start of the next skim. This is
the maximum amount of time the unit will go between skims in Rotisserie Operation if a temperature
change of 15º F or greater does not occur.
6 • info@thermaco.com • www.big-dipper.com • 1-800-633-4204
Copyright 2014 • Thermaco, Inc