Groen GG3-E Installation Manual

OPERATOR MANUAL

Model: GG3-E
Pressureless Steamer

Table top
Self-contained
Electric Three (2 1/2 in. deep)

pan capacity

OM-GG3-E

THIS MANUAL MUST BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

FOR YOUR SAFETY

DO NOT STORE OR USE GASOLINE OR OTHER FLAMMABLE VAPORS
AND LIQUIDS IN THE VICINITY OF THIS OR ANY OTHER APPLIANCE.

IMPORTANT —— READ FIRST —— IMPORTANT

The Groen Generation 3 pressureless steamer you have purchased has been handcrafted from
the finest materials, meticulously inspected, and pretested at our factory to ensure that you
receive the best possible product. With reasonable care and periodic maintenance, it will provide
years of faithful service.

PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING OR OPERATING THE
GENERATION 3 STEAMER! It contains all the information you will need to properly install,
operate, and maintain your steamer.

It is recommended that you establish a timetable for periodic maintenance as outlined in this
manual. Space has been provided in the Maintenance & Service Log. Keep it up-to-date and on
file with the warranty information.

Please pay special attention to the section on WATER CONDITIONING. Water quality problems
are the most common cause of steamer failure and are not covered by provisions of the product
warranty.

CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF LIMITED WARRANTY

The warranty on this unit does not extend to:

1. Installation and start-up.

2. Simple adjustments, such as tightening fittings and electrical connections.

3. Malfunction as a result of improper maintenance.

4. Repairs made by anyone other than qualified service personnel as recommended by Groen.

5. Damage caused in shipment or damage as a result of improper use.

6. Normal maintenance as outlined in the operator manual.

7. Damage as a result of excessive moisture in components. DO NOT SPRAY THIS EQUIP-
MENT WITH WATER OR STEAM.

8. Damage caused by tampering with, removal of, or change of any pre-set control or safety
device.

9. Malfunction as a result of sediment and/or lime in the valves or scale build-up in the steam
generator.

NOTE: MINIMUM water quality STANDARDS MUST BE MET to insure proper operation.

WATER SOFTENING IS RECOMMENDED if the quality of your water does not meet
the following standards.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) content should not exceed 30 parts per million, and
water pH should be 7.0 or higher.

10. Labor involved in moving other equipment to gain access to the unit. The user must
maintain the accessibility of the steamer for service under the warranty.

CAUTION: Use of any replacement parts other than those supplied by Groen or their

authorized distrubutor VOIDS ALL WARRANTIES. Service performed by
other than factory authorized personnel WILL VOID ALL WARRANTIES.

If you have any questions about warranty coverage, operating procedure, or maintenance, contact
your area Groen representative or an authorized Groen service agency.

Table of Contents

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION 2
WATER CONDITIONING 3
INSTALLATION 4, 5
DIAGRAMS & SCHEMATICS 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
INITIAL START-UP 11
OPERATION 12
SEQUENCE OF OPERATION 13
MAINTENANCE & CLEANING 13,14
TROUBLESHOOTING 15
PARTS LIST 16, 17, 18, 19
REFERENCES 19
MAINTENANCE LOG 20
WARRANTY 21

1

Equipment Description

The Groen GG3-E Self-Contained Atmospheric Steamer consists of a cooking chamber, a steam generator
with heating element, and a control compartment housing the electrical components and plumbing, all
encased in a stainless steel cabinet.

Two outstanding features on the GG3 are the automatic drain and stand-by power. As long as the main
power switch is on and the boiler is warmed up, stand-by power (about 2% of full power) is fed to the heating
element to keep the boiler water at incipient boil and ready for immediate full-steam generation. The
automatic drain feature operates after the main power switch has been turned off. The unit will drain
completely to flush sediment out of the steam generator.

The drain is located in the lower rear center of the chamber and is connected to the drain pipe. The pipe
includes a spray condenser, which suppresses any steam escaping the chamber. A small tray below the door
is provided to catch any condensate drip.

Model GG3-E will accept the following combinations of full-size perforated or solid cafeteria pans:

Two pans, 4" deep
Three pans, 2 1/2" deep
Six pans, 1"deep

The steam generator compartment is located behind the cooking chamber and is accessible through the right
side panel. The control assembly can be accessed from the front panel and can be lifted out. Power should
always be turned off before removing any panel.

The steam generator functions in a simple manner. A normally-closed solenoid valve opens and allows water
to enter until the proper level is sensed. The solenoid valve then closes, and the water is quickly converted to
steam by the heating element. This function is repeated when necessary, as long as the timer is in the timing
position.

The GG3-E Steamer is designed to be virtually maintenanace-free; however, normal wear of certain parts
may require that they be replaced after prolonged use. This steamer has been adjusted at the factory, so no

field adjustment should be necessary. If need for adjustment does arise, only Groen personnel or Groen's
authorized representatives should handle the work.

2

Water Conditioning

It is absolutely essential to supply the Groen steamer with water that will not form scale at an unacceptable
rate. The steam generator was engineered to minimize scale formation, but scale formation depends on the
hardness of the water and the hours of operation. In a few areas of the United States, the water supply is
sufficiently free of minerals to avoid scale formation. However, most water supplies carry heavy loads of
minerals, which will form scale on the generator, reduce its steam output, and possibly cause premature
failure of components.

Your local water utility can provide a statement on the scale forming qualities of the water supply. Water
supplied to the generator should contain not more than 30 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS) and

should have a ph of 7.0 or higher. Please follow these simple precautions:

1. Do not rely on "water treaters" commonly sold as scale preventers and scale removers. They do not
work. The only proven way to prevent scale build-up is to feed in water practically free of scale-forming

minerals.

2. If your water supply carries scale forming minerals, as most water supplies do, run the water through a
properly maintained softener. Exchangeable softener cartridges or a regeneratable softener can be used.

In either case, establish a regular program of exchanging the cartridges or regenerating the softener.
Installing a water meter on the inlet line between the softener and the generator will give an accurate
check of water consumption and a way of determining when to change the cartridge or regenerate the
softener.

By using a softener and operating within the softener's capacity to exchange minerals, the user will obtain
a longer generator life, high steam capacity, and minimum maintenance requirements.

3. If you notice a slowing of steam production, pull the heating element out of the steam generator and
check it for scale.

WARNING: DISCONNECT ELECTRIC POWER BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE CASING FROM THE
STEAMER.

Heavy scale will reduce the element's ability to boil water and can elevate element temperature to the point
where the element will fail prematurely.

Some scale is soft enough to be scraped off, but scraping must be done carefully to avoid damaging the
element bars or safety thermostat. Cleaning with sulfamic acid, inhibited muriatic acid, or another
commercially available deliming agent can be dangerous and should be done only by an expert familiar
with the hazards. Vinegar will dissolve most scales, but the treatment requires a long time and frequent

changes of the vinegar solution.

TO AVOID ALL SCALE PROBLEMS, USE AND PROPERLY MAINTAIN A SOFTENER.

3

Installation

Mounting

After the inspection, keep the unit crated until it is installed.
When installation is to begin, remove the crate or box from the skid. Remove the four mounting bolts that

fasten the skid to weld nuts in the base of the steamer. Keep the bolts, as they are required for installation.
Hoist the unit to its mounting location with a cloth-wrapped sling (to protect the polished surfaces).

Level the table top or counter on which the GG3 Steamer will be mounted. Unless the optional legs will be
used, drill four holes (of 1/2 inch diameter) that will align with the anchor nuts welded into the steamer base. If
service connections will be made through the mounting surface, also drill holes for those supplies at this time.
Once the steamer has been removed from its shipping container and placed on the leveled mounting surface,
secure the unit with the skid mounting bolts saved during unpacking. After the steamer has been bolted in
place, seal the joint between steamer base and mounting surface with a suitable caulking compound like RTV
sealant.

If the steamer was purchased with optional legs, screw the legs into the anchor nuts on the base.

WARNING: THE STEAMER MUST BE INSTALLED BY PERSONNEL QUALIFIED TO WORK WITH

ELECTRICITY AND PLUMBING. IMPROPER INSTALLATION CAN CAUSE INJURY TO
PERSONNEL AND/OR DAMAGE TO THE EQUIPMENT. INSTALL THE UNIT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE CODES.

CAUTION: To avoid damage to the steamer and possible voiding of warranties, follow the directions in

the "Water Conditioning"section before you connect the water supply.

Water Connections

Connect the cold water line (1/4 inch NPT) to the factory-supplied flexible hose, then connect the hose to the
steamer. A check valve must be installed, and some codes require a second check valve. (See the piping

diagrams.) To maintain the required pressure and flow rate accurately, install a strainer and a pressure
reducing valve. The required flow rate at 30 PSIG is 0.28 to 0.33 GPM tor the 5 KW steamer or 0.31 to 0.36
GPM for the 7.5 KW steamer.

Drain Connections

The steamer is equipped with a 1 1/4" ID x 48" long drain hose. Direct this hose over an open floor drain, or
connect it to a 1" (or larger) IPS pipe header and extend the header to a nearby floor drain. GROEN
recommends that the header have no more than 2 elbows and be no longer than 6 ft. If the header will have
more than 2 elbows or be longer than 6 ft, use 1 1/2" IPS pipe.

Remember: This is a gravity drain that must be able to vent

freely to the atmosphere.

At the floor drain there must be an "air gap" of at least 2",
unless local codes specify a different gap. The drain must be
set lower than the steamer base.

CAUTION: The steamer drain discharges steam and hot condensate. To direct the flow of

the condensate to the floor drain, comply with these instructions and recom­mendations.

Electrical Connections

Any mechanical or electrical change must be approved by the Groen Division Food Service Engineering
Department. The required electrical supply is protected by fuses in the steamer and is specified on an
information plate at the rear of the unit. Power must be connected to a terminal block inside the junction box
in the rear of the steamer. Stacked units require separate electrical connections for each unit. Local codes
and/or The National Electrical Code should be observed in accordance with ANSI/NFPA-70 latest edition.

GG3-E Steamers are shipped with 3 phase wiring. For field conversion to single phase operation, consult the
label on the rear of the unit or the diagram included in this manual.

4

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

208V, 1PH 24
208V, 3 PH 14

240V, 1PH 21
240V, 3 PH 12
480V, 1PH 10.4
480V, 3 PH 6

AMP WIRE SIZE

5KW 7.5 KW

NOTE: Use copper wire rated at least 75°C.

#8AWG (3.5mm)

#8AWG (3.5mm)
#10AWG (3.0mm)
#10AWG (3.0mm)
#12AWG (2.5mm)

#12AWG (2.5mm)

WIRE SIZE

36
21

31
18
16

9

#6AWG (4.5mm)
#6AWG (4.5mm)

#6AWG (4.5mm)

#6AWG (4.5mm)
#12AWG (2.5mm)
#12AWG (2.5mm)

New Dump Solenoid Valve

1) Starting with solenoid valve (2) screw 1/4 NPT pipe plug (1) into solenoid valve 1/4 FPT inlet.

2) Screw 1/2 x 3/8 reducing bushing (3) into 1/2 FPT inlet of solenoid valve (2).

3) Screw solenoid valve with reducing bushing into boiler outlet % NPT (7).

4) Screw 1/2 x 3/8 reducing bushing (3) and 45° elbow (4) respectively into solenoid valve (2) 1/2 NPT outlet.

5) Attach 1/2 O.D. copper tubing (5) short run to elbow (4) and long run to drain (6).

6) Rotate solenoid valve (2) on horizontal axis to assemble 1/2 O.D. copper tubing.

5