Intec Force 1 Instruction Manual

3771 Monarch Street • Frederick, CO 80530 • www.inteccorp.com

Local: [phone] • Fax: [phone] • Toll Free: [phone]

Instruction Manual

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Machine Information ......................................................................2

Contacting Intec ..............................................................................3

Introduction ....................................................................................4

Overview ........................................................................................5

How The System Works Together ..............................................10

Safety First ....................................................................................11

Set-Up & Operation ......................................................................12

Operational Guidelines ................................................................16

Sidewalls & Insulation Material....................................................18

Generators and Extension Cords ................................................20

Maintenance ..................................................................................21

Troubleshooting ............................................................................29

Mechanical Drawings....................................................................33

Electrical Drawings........................................................................39

Claims, Damage or Loss ..............................................................44

Returns ..........................................................................................46

Replacement Parts ........................................................................47

Warranty ........................................................................................48

Insulation Terms And Values ......................................................49

1

MACHINE INFORMATION

2

Rev 05/10

Phone support:

Available Monday - Friday, excluding holidays. In the United States and
Canada, call [phone], 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Mountain Time. Ask for
technical support and one of our technicians will be glad to help you.

On-site/o-site repair support:

Available Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. In the United States and
Canada, call [phone], 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Mountain time. For the
latest repair/service centers across the United States visit our web site,
www.inteccorp.com and go to service centers. All service centers are
independently owned and operated and are not part of Intec. Consult the
nearest service center for the hours of operation and lead time for repair.

Website support:

Visit our web site 24/7 at www.inteccorp.com and go to the specific
model your wanting information on, then go to the technical bulletins
section. The technical section of the web site is constantly being updated
with new information and technical documents. If you cannot find what
you are looking for please contact us Monday - Friday, excluding holidays,
in the United States and Canada, call [phone], 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Mountain Time. Ask for technical support and one of our technicians will
be glad to help you.

Contact Information:

3771 Monarch Street
Frederick, CO 80530
Ph: 1-303-833-6644

1-800-666-1611
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

3

THE FORCE

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Contacting Intec

THE FORCE

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Insulation Blowing Machine

INTRODUCTION

4

Your FORCE/1 insulation blowing machine, the product of years of
laboratory and field testing, offers both the contractor and the
homeowner exceptional performance, total reliability, and ease of use.

It is designed and built to blow-in more than 500 pounds of material
per hour. No other machine in its class can match the performance of
the FORCE/1.

Because no insulation actually goes
through the blower, the FORCE/1 is a
virtual workhorse, requiring only minimal

maintenance and almost no
downtime. The direct drive
feature also means there are no
chains for you to adjust or
replace, ever.

By following the instructions in

this manual, setting up and

operating the FORCE/1 on your
jobsite will be uncomplicated, quick, safe, and easy. Once your work
is finished, end-of-the-day clean up is equally efficient.

Exceptional performance. Total reliability. Ease of use. Those are the
reasons why the FORCE/1 was your best choice.

Rex Deitesfield
President

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Overview

Height 41''

Width 32 -

1

⁄4"

Weight 177 lbs.

Hopper Capacity 25 lbs.

Hose Size 2-

1

⁄2"

Blower 104 CFM, 2.5 PSI (AVG) 8 amps

Agitator Motor

3

⁄4 hp - 9.5 amps, 115 VAC

Gearbox Custom, direct drive

Airlock 6-

1

⁄2" x 7-1⁄4" opening, steel, 6-vane,

cast urethane seals

Electric 115V/20 amp 50/60Hz

220V/10 amp 50/60Hz (optional)

Agitator 3-vane

Wheels 6"

Warranty One year limited;

90 days limited on electric,

blower and airlock system

Specications are subject to change without notice.

OVERVIEW

6

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Overview

Three subsystems make up your FORCE/1:

THE AGITATOR AND AIRLOCK.

Your FORCE/1 runs on a

3

⁄4

horsepower motor driving an enclosed gearbox. The airlock positions
the material for proper distribution by the blower.

THE BLOWER MOTOR.

Your FORCE/1 is equipped with a
104 CFM two-stage blower motor to push the material through the hose
and into the attic with optimum pressure and output. The blower is
connected to the air intake port of the airlock by a metal sleeve.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

Your FORCE/1 requires a
dedicated 20 amp grounded power supply. Less amperage will likely
trip circuit breakers. Always disconnect
the power source before beginning any
maintenance. And as with all electrical
systems, never attempt to operate your
FORCE/1 with either the operator or the
machine standing in water.

THE PARTS

(see next page for drawings)

A. Hopper: upper component of the FORCE/1 where insulation

is loaded.

B. Base: lower component of the FORCE/1 houses power

components, blower and airlock.

C. Slide gate: increases or decreases the amount of material

entering the airlock.

D. Electrical: on/off function of both the blower and agitator

motors.

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Overview

OVERVIEW

7

OVERVIEW

Example only see page 43 for specific electrical systems.

8

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Overview

OVERVIEW

9

Remote Switch

THE FORCE

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Overview

OVERVIEW

Remote Cord

Power Cord

Agitator Switch

Blower Switch

Agitator

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS TOGETHER

10

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How the System Works Together

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS TOGETHER

AGITATOR:

a unique system expands
and conditions the insulation to an optimum
configuration, then sweeps the material into
the airlock for distribution through the hose.

AGITATOR MOTOR:

drives the
gearbox. No maintenance is required.
Produces

3

⁄4 HP, 115 VAC.

AIRLOCK:

moves the conditioned material from the agitator into the
air flow from the blower. The airlock seals must be inspected regularly
and kept in good working order for the FORCE/1 to operate efficiently.

BLOWER:

creates the airflow which propels
the material from the airlock into the hose for
distribution. No insulation material passes
through the blower. The blower moves 104
CFM drawing eight amps, 115 VAC. See the
maintenance section for required service.

GEARBOX:

running both the airlock and agitation system, the
gearbox requires periodic maintenance, including changing the oil at
least once a year. See the maintenance section for more details about
changing the gearbox oil. If you are working in cold weather,
changing to Mobil 1 or 5W-30 high performance synthetic oil
will aid start-ups. In addition, inspect the
gearbox and airlock alignment regularly.
Normal alignment is perpendicular to each
other, preventing excess wear on the
airlock and shaft connection. See the
maintenance section for more details.

SAFETY FIRST

11

SAFETY FIRST

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Safety First

Never put your hands into the hopper while the machine is running.

Keep tools and other foreign objects out of the hopper. Clean all material
out of the hopper and the hose when your job is complete.

Never leave your machine unattended while it is running. Turn “off” and
disconnect power before taking a break.

Never operate your machine if it or the operator is standing in water.
Serious injury may result.

When working with insulation, always wear a long sleeve shirt, gloves, a
hat, goggles or safety glasses for eye protection and a 3M brand #8710
nose/mouth filter (or equivalent) for respiratory protection.

ACCESSORIES YOU NEED TO WEAR...

SAFETY
GLASSES
OR GOGGLES

CAP

GLOVES

LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT

SET-UP & OPERATION

12

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Set-Up and Operation

REMOTE CONTROL:

permanently attached
to the main panel, the remote allows operation
from the attic. Both the agitator and the
blower can be operated by the remote control.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS:

Before
connecting the machine to electrical power, make
sure all switches are in the “off” position.
Connect the supplied extension cord to a
dedicated 115V 20 amp grounded outlet. In the home,

refrigerator or freezer outlets usually fit the

amperage requirements. If necessary,

these appliances can be temporarily
unplugged, enabling the FORCE/1 to use

the outlet. Disconnecting these appliances

for the short time needed to operate the

FORCE/1 will not cause spoilage. Remember
to reconnect any unplugged appliance after the job is
finished. If your job requires additional extension cords,
make sure you use only a 12/3 cord for a 50 foot run or
10/3 cord for a 100 foot extension.

STARTING:

To operate the FORCE/1 from the ground, the rocker switch on the remote
control must be in the “on” position. Operate the blower and agitator from
the main electrical panel toggle switches. To use the remote control feature
for attic operation, the switches on the main panel must be “on”; you will
control the machine with the rocker switch on

SET-UP & OPERATION

SET-UP & OPERATION

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Set-Up and Operation, Cont.

the remote cord. In cold weather, your machine is more difficult to start.
If possible, store your FORCE/1 in a warm area overnight before starting.

DISTRIBUTION HOSE:

For normal attic applications, the two and a
half inch hose produces the best results. Always use at least 100 feet of
hose on your job. Longer hose
length decreases both capacity and
material throw. At 200 feet of hose,
capacity and throw will be
reduced by approximately 30%. If
you must use a hose longer than
150 feet, reduce the hose size to
two inch diameter.

HOPPER SAFETY:

Your safety is the most important consideration whenever you are using
any machine. Following the instructions in this manual, along with good
common sense, should allow you to complete your job in a safe, efficient
manner. First, before loading your FORCE/1, follow all safety consider­ations provided by the manufacturer of the insulation material you are
using, including wearing protective masks or respirators. Never wear
loose clothing or other items while running this machine. Failure to
follow safety precautions may result in permanent injury

Any time you overload the hopper, or anytime you place objects other
than insulation material into the hopper, you are risking personal injury
or equipment breakdown.

SET-UP & OPERATION

SET-UP & OPERATION

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Set-Up and Operation, Cont.

Overloading the hopper or

pushing down on the

material in the hopper

can cause electrical

problems or jamming
which can damage
your machine. When

loading your machine,

empty only one bag at a

time into the hopper. Wait

until half the contents have been

used before adding another bag.
Always clean unused material out of the hopper, airlock, and hose at the
end of each job.

Do not put your hands inside the hopper while the machine is
running. If a tool or other foreign object accidentally falls into the hopper,
turn the machine off immediately. Careless operation of this machine can
result in bodily injury.

ADJUSTING SLIDE GATE:

The pin-set slide gate regulates the
amount of material entering the
airlock. By adjusting the slide gate,
you increase or decrease both the
amount of material and the material
throw distance from the hose. To
increase material flow, pull the slide
gate out; to decrease push the slide
gate in.

SET-UP & OPERATION

Slide Gate Adjustments

15

SET-UP AND OPERATION

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Set-Up and Operation, Cont.

SET-UP AND OPERATION

LOADING THE HOPPER:

Machine may be “on or off” while load­ing. Cellulose, place the bag of insulation material on the hopper. Use a
knife to open the bag so that the material falls into the hopper. Your
FORCE/1 is designed to self-feed. Fiberglass, place the bag on the side of
the hopper. Cut the bag in thirds and dispense one third of the contents
gradually until the agitator breaks up and conditions the material. Load
the remainder of the material according to the distribution rate. Empty
no more than 1⁄3 bag at a time into the hopper, waiting until at least 1⁄4
of the material has been used before adding additional insulation.

Forcing insulation material will cause overloading, electrical fail­ur

e or possible machine damage.

If the agitator stops or the circuit breaker on the electrical panel trips,
unplug the machine from electrical power. Remove the cause of the jam
from the hopper. You may have to empty all the insulation material to
locate and remove the jam. After clearing, reset the circuit breaker,
reconnect power and continue normal operation. See page 22 f

or mor

e

information on unjamming.

Fiberglass Insulation Only: Cut as
shown and break bag into three sections

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

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Operational Guidelines

ATTIC OPERATION:

When blowing cellulose, use a minimum of 100 feet of 21⁄2 inch hose. For
installing fiberglass, use a minimum of 150 feet of 2

1

⁄2 inch hose.

Effective blowing of insulation material into an attic requires a “lofting”
technique, allowing the material to be thrown in a 6-8 foot arc. Lofting
will result in more even coverage and efficient use of material.

BLOWING SIDEWALLS:

When blowing sidewalls, use the following settings and recommen­dations as guidelines. Remember that settings may change from job to
job, material to material, or nozzle to nozzle. Hose length and humidity
may also affect your results.

Two hole method, standard wall construction: 2" x 4" x 16" on center.

Hole size Slide gate opening Air Setting

2" 6

1

⁄2" 100%

1" 2

1

⁄4" 100%

5/8" 1

1

⁄2" 100%

Keeping material levels nearly constant in the hopper will improve
sidewall cavity densities. Maintaining the level at approximately half full
produces the most consistent results.

A gradual transition in hose size will help ensure the material flows
evenly through the nozzle. At the machine, use 50 feet of 21⁄2 inch hose.
Next, connect 50 or 100 feet of 2 inch hose using the 21⁄2 to 2 inch
reducer, secured by the provided hose clamps. Attach the desired wall
nozzle.

The maximum length of hose that should be used with your FORCE/1
is 200 feet.

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES