That thing looks very easy to service and repair. That's a huge plus for such a big and expensive machine. Those wire connectors make it super easy to swap out sensors, power supplies, relay boards, and any other components.
Thats a very well made machine, and the box you showed at 4:08 as other comments probably said is in fact an ac/dc power supply. it looks like it has some pretty decent capacitors and is switchable from 110v to 240v so its a nicer one. :3
StayFresh uses solid state relays. Their computer program is best on the market. Donald, Colt opened his machine and compared it to his broken HR. Thank you for opening yours. Tim, next month is adding a air filter to the fresh air intake.
The silver block with ventilation holes is an AC to DC converter. The one one harvestright is on the relayboard, a 2x2 inch or so sized black square. Much smaller because they always go for the smallest , cheapest part possible ( much like the relays hence why they always fail ). The black insulation is self adhesive. Its difficult to put it back on. Poor adhesion may lead to condensation on the exposed coils. moisture trapped in there may cause mold. The characters are all mandarin. StayFresh is manufactured in China, assembly may or may not be done in USA, but its very clear that every component involved is of China. This is one of the few times you can say, the Chinese got it better.
Thanks for the comment. Still very well put together. I know some is done in California however not sure how much. Either way a well put together machine compared to the HR
@@flyfreezedrying9842 Not as many. They were more careful on removing the labels on components. StayFresh is visibly a remaster of the chinese models that have been on the market for years.
@@flyfreezedrying9842yes, and ours was supplied with a testing check list that was completed at a facility in China. I doubt there's anything "American" about HR machines. Now, time to go try again to get some support from HarvestRight for my broken - brand new - unit
I wouldn’t be surprised if Harvest Right crashes and burns pretty quick. Their quality just isn’t there. You can tell after opening a Harvest Right or talking to their customer support team that they don’t put their pride into their product design. At the end of the day, HRs large looks like a college students science project. It works, sometimes… but it sure isn’t designed well. Thank you for doing in depth videos on the competition! These will be a nice resource for people that are looking to buy, and don’t end up in the Harvest Right nightmare.
I am so very glad that I found your channel. I 'WAS' going to buy an HR, but after this video I'm sold on the Stay Fresh, and I just let my buddy know who is planning to order one tomorrow. I'm still saving my nickels and dime, but will order an SF in a couple of months guaranteed! Please keep producing your videos, once I get my machine I may start my own videos too!
Glad I was able to help. Yes I will be making more. I had surgery a couple weeks ago so getting back into everyday life. Please share with them the coupon code “FixMyFD” to save $50
My new house should be finished in about 2 weeks. I had a 20 amp electrical outlet installed so that I could get a HR large freeze dryer. After seeing this and other reviews on the StayFresh freeze dryers, I think I'll take your advice and wait till StayFresh comes out with a large model. We've got 28, 4'x8', 5, 4'x10', and 5, 4'x12' raised bed gardens that we grow crops in. Our harvest season is quickly coming to an end but I'll be raising winter crops in cold frames on some of the beds. I'm sure I'll put a FD to good use once I get one, and even though I was looking to get a Harvest Right FD, I'm now sold on the quality StayFresh seems to be putting out and would rather use my hard earned cash for something that has a much better chance of working out of the box. You got a new subscriber here as well.
@@freezedryerrepairsupportDonald, Can you do a review of the Blue Alpine when you get it and have a chance to test it out? I’m looking at both right now but a little hesitant about Blue Alpine since they are a startup and probably experiencing growing pains.
Donald, First I wish to apologize to you. I made a comment on another one of your videos (review of the Blue Alpine) and after going to more and more of your videos I found that you want what is best for the consumers. You might be slightly biased but not what I thought in the first one. Anyway, I am truly sorry for speaking without truly knowing the facts. On to this review, I saw the wiring of the SF and it would be what I would want in such a unit. All wiring labeled and secured. Then I saw the video of side by side comparision with the HR and that cinched the deal. I purchased a SF and used your discount code. Thank you for being honest and upfront with your videos.
Donald, Thank you so much for the comment. I try my best to make sure people are getting units up and running or buying the best units on the market. It’s hard making all these videos and seeing all these people with a ton of issues. Just wish I could help them all in person.
They offer a "KF25 + Stainless steel bellows" upgrade. What benefit is this? (I have been unsuccessful at finding anyone mention this in blogs or videos). Thank you for all the time you put into reviewing and educating about FD's!!
Good morning, that upgrade is for the vacuum hose. I wouldn’t spend $150 on that upgrade if it were me. The machine they have set up currently runs amazing.
Would stay away from harvestright! I bought the XL $5000 when I got it the compressor was bad out of the box. Finally got HR to replace when I got the new freeze dryer it is bad bad! WTF the costumer service at HR is very bad the machine is very bad say way from Harvestright
Wow. Looking for something, do they offer a scroll pump, i need a rebuilt kit for HRs and they are refusing to sell to me. Will the oil pump work on a HR machine?
Good morning, I use my industrial pump from them with my HR just requires some adapters. Most companies don’t use the oilless pumps. They are not worth the cost and haven’t been proven to last
I'm curious: What is your relationship with StayFresh? Are you a part owner, developer, etc? I noticed you referenced on several occasions "we" used or "our", implying ownership or at the very least employee of. Also, can you put a link to your video of cleaning the StayFresh?
I am not an employee or owner of this company. I am sorry if you think this. I am an affiliate to the company that is it. I have talked to the owner many times and he has been very open to the things that I have talked to him about and what I think would be good for the future to see in the machines they make.
I just stumbled onto your channel. This is constructive comments, so please take it as such. The way you move the camera around, and have it zoomed in is frustrating. If you repair these, knowing what a power supply is is extremely important. If you dont know what power there is, where it goes or how its used, you probably need to learn up so you dont get hurt, or cause a fire. Your videos on parts and freeze dryers are full of a lot of ill-informed opinions. Try to stay positive and informed on everything you post. I do like seeing someone taking on Freeze dryer repairs and providing improvements. I have fixed my old harvest right so many times, and repaired a few others, HR support is very difficult. This stay fresh machine looks awesome. I do electrical, instrumentation and controls for a living and stay fresh has it the way it should be. Pretty amazing that they have that much of a quality difference for a similar price. I have an idea on how to achive a mtorr of 10 to 0, i just need to build it and test it. Keep up the good work! Again, please take this as constructive!
Hi everyone, I'm wondering if its possible to install a 4 way valve (reverser valve) to the cooling system in any freeze dryer. Thinking in speeding up the defrosting process of the unit. I own two large HR machines. Can anyone tell me if its possible and if it is, why nobody talks about it? I think it would be great to be able to defrost the units quickly. Thanks.
How has this machine turned out to perform for you? I’m caught in a HR nightmare with a new machine twice shipped back and it still doesn’t work. I’ve never ever used it as it’s intended and I feel legal action is coming soon. Done with HR. Done done done.
