All Spaceman Soft Serve machines are equipped with a power board.  Each flavor has its own power board.  The power board is basically a set of relays that transmits a low-voltage signal from the control board, and turns it into a high-voltage signal that turns on or off components on the machine.  Often, this power board activates the coil on a Contactor or Larger Relay capable of handling the higher current of items like motors and compressors.  Some components such as the hopper agitator motor, air pump clutch/motor are driven directly from this board.  This article will explore replacing this board in the event that it has failed.

 

Required Tools

1. Metric Hex Driver or Allen key set
   
2. Flathead Screwdriver set
   
3. Philips-head screwdriver set
   
4. Metric Wrench set or adjustable wrench
   
5. Metric Socket set
   
6. Wire Strippers
   
7. Wire Nut(s)
   

How to Replace Soft Serve Power Board

1. Power off, and unplug the machine.

2. Using a flathead screwdriver, unlock all panel locks remove the rear and side panels from the machine.  All panel locks are quarter-turn and should turn inward to unlock, they do NOT require significant force to unlock. For floor-standing machines, generally only the top panels need to be removed.  

3. Locate the electrical box, usually located at the side or rear of the machine.  Using a Philips screwdriver or 7mm wrench depending on model, remove the electrical box cover to expose the power board.
   
4. Carefully remove silicone glue from connectors on power board.
   
5. Disconnect both ribbon cables from the power board, being careful not to pull wire pins from connectors or damage the base connector on the power board.
   
6. Using a small flat-head screwdriver, loosen and remove the two power wires from the power board power connector.  Notate proper polarity and orientation.
   
7. Locate the motor power wire running through the amp sensor on the power board.  This wire needs to be removed from the inside of the Amp Sensor.  Often, this wire has a wire-nut near the amp sensor that can be quickly removed to make this easy.  In some cases, you may need to cut and re-splice the motor wire in a future step.
   
8. Using a 7mm socket wrench, remove the outer four locking nuts from board and two inner locking nuts.  Be careful not to damage the board or components during removal.
   

9. Remove Power Board from machine and set aside.
   
10. Install new Power Board and resecure with 7mm locking nuts or onto white quick-lock connectors.

11. Insert one of the motor wires through the amp sensor, and reconnect to the other end of the motor wire that was disconnected in Step 7.  Use an appropriate size wire-nut to splice these two wires back together.  If necessary, cut and strip the wires for good contact.
    
12. Using a small flat-head screw driver, reconnect and tighten the power wires to the power connector.  Ensure proper wire polarity and orientation as marked on the power board.
    
13. Connect the two ribbon cables back to the power board.  These connectors are keyed and can only be installed in one direction. 
    
14. Follow the instructions in the SS: Verify Controls article to ensure the new power board is operating correctly.