Installation: Manitowoc AuCS A Automatic Cleaning System Accessory Q Model User Manual

Overview

The AuCS A Automatic Cleaning System Accessory Q Model is an add-on system for compatible Manitowoc ice machines. It automatically introduces an approved ice machine cleaner or sanitizer during scheduled maintenance cycles, helping reduce the need for manual solution dosing.

This accessory is intended for qualified installation and operation with compatible Manitowoc Q, J, B, QuietQube, ice beverage, and related models. It monitors ice harvest cycles, starts a cleaning or sanitizing sequence at the selected interval, and returns the ice machine to normal operation after the cycle is complete.

Specifications

• Product: Q Model AuCS A Automatic Cleaning System Accessory
• Manual part number: 80-1218-3
• 115/60/1 electrical version: 0.3 running amps with an 8-foot power cord and 15-amp plug
• 220/240/50/1 electrical version: 0.1 running amps; no plug is supplied
• Communication wire length: 9 feet
• Vinyl solution tubing length: 9 feet
• Maximum mounting distance from the ice machine: 9 feet
• Approximate accessory weight: 10 pounds
• Installation temperature range: 35°F to 110°F
• Standard solution volume: 2.4 ounces (70 ml)
• Q1300, Q1600, Q1800, and QDUAL solution volume: 4.8 ounces (140 ml)
• Cleaning intervals: off, approximately 2 weeks, approximately 4 weeks, or approximately 12 weeks
• Installation conduit: 1/2-inch PVC conduit

Detailed Description

The AuCS A accessory contains a control board, dispensing pump, cleaning-frequency selector switch, solution tube, vinyl tubing, communication connection, and electrical leads. The pump draws solution from the installed bottle and sends it through the tubing into the ice machine water system.

The low-voltage communication wire links the AuCS A control board to the ice machine control board. The ice machine communicates its harvest activity to the accessory, allowing the system to count completed harvest cycles rather than relying only on elapsed time.

The accessory dispenses either cleaner or sanitizer. It cannot dispense both products at the same time. Cleaner is intended to help remove mineral deposits and scale, while sanitizer is intended to control algae, slime, and bacterial growth.

Compatible models listed in the manual include Q, J, and B machines with air, water, or remote condensers; QuietQube models Q600C, Q800C, Q1000C, Q1400C, and QDUALC; and ice beverage models IB600C, IB800C, IB1000C, and SU1000C. Q130, Q210, Q270, QM20, QM30, QM45, QF800, QC700, and QF400 are not compatible with this accessory.

Safety

• Installation must be performed by a qualified installer, and all wiring must comply with applicable local, state, and national electrical codes.
• Disconnect electrical power to the ice machine at the disconnect before connecting the accessory.
• Use only the approved Manitowoc Ice Machine Cleaner, part number 94-0546-3, or Ice Machine Sanitizer, part number 94-0565-3.
• Read and follow every instruction printed on the cleaner or sanitizer container.
• Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles or a face shield when handling cleaning or sanitizing chemicals.
• Never mix cleaner and sanitizer together.
• Do not use a one-gallon solution bottle with the AuCS A accessory.
• Never use an extension cord with the 115-volt version. Have a suitable outlet installed if the supplied cord cannot reach one.
• Protect the accessory from freezing temperatures. Solution left in the pump or tubing can cause severe damage.
• Never force ice from the evaporator with an object. Allow the ice to release naturally or melt.
• Do not blow into or suck on the solution hose to prime it.

Setup and Installation

Choose the mounting location

Mount the AuCS A on a wall whenever possible. The accessory may be mounted to a bin or dispenser only when local electrical codes permit it, and that position may make the ice machine more difficult to service.

• Keep either the top or base of the accessory within 2 inches of the ice machine base.
• Install the accessory within 9 feet of the ice machine so the supplied communication wire and tubing can reach.
• Do not extend the supplied communication wire or tubing.
• Use mounting fasteners capable of supporting the approximately 10-pound accessory.
• Keep the unit level and avoid locations below 35°F or above 110°F.

Connect power and conduit

For the 115-volt model, plug the 8-foot power cord into a dedicated 15-amp electrical outlet. For the 220/240-volt model, wiring may be connected to the ice machine terminal block, a separate plug, or a separate disconnect as permitted by the installation requirements. Disconnect all poles when a separate disconnect is used.

Install 1/2-inch PVC conduit between the AuCS A and the ice machine. The conduit protects the communication wire and solution tubing from damage or unauthorized access. A pulling elbow can make routing easier.

Route the solution tubing

1. Feed the vinyl tubing through the conduit toward the ice machine.
2. Slide a 3/8-inch hose clamp onto the tubing.
3. Connect the tubing to the barbed outlet on the AuCS A dispensing pump.
4. Route the tubing through the ice machine bulkhead fitting and into the water compartment.
5. Cut off excess tubing so the run is neat and does not kink.
6. Secure the tubing to the ice machine water inlet barbed fitting with another 3/8-inch hose clamp.

The Q1400C uses a dedicated tubing connection with a 1/4-inch tube, ferrule nut, threaded elbow, and 90-degree barbed elbow. The elbow outlet must point downward toward the water trough.

Connect the communication wire

Route the low-voltage communication wire through the PVC conduit. Plug one end into the AuCS A control board and the other end into the communication jack on the ice machine control board. Route the wire through the designated access openings so it remains protected.

On QDUAL machines, use the communication wire attached to the rear of the ice machine control box. The separate communication wire supplied with the AuCS A is not used for this connection.

Install the solution bottle

1. Place the approved cleaner or sanitizer bottle in the AuCS A housing.
2. Slide the pickup tube close to the bottom of the bottle.
3. Hand-tighten the cap to secure the tube.
4. Confirm that the tube remains near the bottle bottom so the pump can draw the solution consistently.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Select cleaner or sanitizer

Use cleaner when mineral scale or lime deposits are the primary concern. Use sanitizer when controlling slime, algae, or bacterial growth is the primary concern. The ice machine should still receive regular cleaning and sanitizing according to applicable recommendations and local requirements; the AuCS A cycle supplements, rather than replaces, routine maintenance.

Change solution type

Flush the system before changing from cleaner to sanitizer or from sanitizer to cleaner. This prevents the two products from mixing inside the bottle, pump, or tubing.

1. Remove the existing solution bottle.
2. Install a 16-ounce bottle of water.
3. Move the ice machine switch to CLEAN.
4. Allow the water pump and dump valve to operate. The dump valve shuts off after approximately 45 seconds.
5. Allow the AuCS A pump to run. It dispenses for approximately 10 seconds, or approximately 20 seconds on Q1300, Q1600, Q1800, and QDUAL models.
6. Move the switch to OFF after the dispensing sequence finishes.
7. Repeat the cycle until the water bottle is empty, approximately eight times.
8. Install the new bottle of cleaner or sanitizer.

Prime the hose

Priming is required during initial installation or whenever the tubing has been pumped dry. Complete the following sequence three times after installation is finished:

1. Move the ice machine switch to CLEAN.
2. Allow the water pump and dump valve to operate. The dump valve shuts off after approximately 45 seconds.
3. Wait until the water pump has run for approximately 60 seconds.
4. Allow the AuCS A pump to energize for approximately 10 seconds, or approximately 20 seconds on Q1300, Q1600, Q1800, and QDUAL models.
5. Allow the ice machine to complete the cleaning or sanitizing cycle.

After priming, moving the switch to ICE starts the ice machine through six rinse cycles before normal ice production resumes.

Set the cleaning frequency

Use the selector switch on the AuCS A control assembly to choose the interval. Positions 4 through 9 are inoperative and must not be used.

• Position 0: no automatic cleaning
• Position 1: approximately every 2 weeks, or 1,120 harvests
• Position 2: approximately every 4 weeks, or 2,240 harvests
• Position 3: approximately every 12 weeks, or 6,720 harvests

Prepare the accessory for storage or freezing conditions

1. Remove the cleaner or sanitizer bottle.
2. Run the hose-priming procedure until all solution has been pumped from the dispensing pump and tubing.

Do not leave chemical solution in the accessory when it will be exposed to temperatures of 32°F or below.

Operation

Automatic operation

With the ice machine switch in ICE, the control board counts harvest cycles. When the count reaches the selected frequency, the AuCS A interrupts ice production and begins the cleaning or sanitizing sequence.

A standard cycle takes approximately 25 minutes. The QDUAL cycle takes approximately 40 minutes. After the cycle finishes, the harvest count resets and ice production resumes automatically.

Opening the curtain switch interrupts the cleaning sequence. The cycle continues from the interruption point after the curtain closes.

Manual cleaning or sanitizing

1. Wait until ice has fallen from the evaporator at the end of a harvest cycle, or move the switch to OFF and allow the ice to melt away.
2. Move the switch to CLEAN. Water flows through the dump valve to the drain, and the Clean light indicates Clean mode.
3. Allow the ice machine to complete the timed cleaning or sanitizing period and six rinse cycles.
4. When the cycle stops, move the switch to ICE.

On standard Q models, the cleaning portion lasts approximately 10 minutes and the complete sequence lasts approximately 25 minutes. QDUAL models first purge water for approximately two minutes, then fill until the water-level probe is reached; the complete sequence lasts approximately 40 minutes.

For most compatible models, moving the switch from CLEAN to ICE about one minute after water begins flowing can allow the machine to complete the cycle and return to ice production automatically. QDUAL requires waiting approximately two minutes. The Q1400C cannot use this automatic transition method; move its switch to ICE after the AuCS A cycle is complete.

Troubleshooting

• No automatic cleaning occurs: Confirm that the selector switch is set to position 1, 2, or 3. Position 0 disables automatic cleaning, and positions 4 through 9 are not functional.
• Solution is not reaching the ice machine: Check that the bottle contains solution, the pickup tube reaches near the bottle bottom, the tubing is connected at both barbed fittings, and the tubing is not kinked.
• Incorrect solution amount is dispensed: Verify that the accessory is no farther than 9 feet from the ice machine and that the communication wire and tubing have not been extended.
• Cleaner or sanitizer was changed: Flush the system with a 16-ounce water bottle and repeat the dispensing sequence approximately eight times before installing the new solution.
• The pump has lost prime: Complete the three-cycle hose-priming procedure. Do not prime by blowing into or sucking on the tubing.
• The cleaning cycle stops unexpectedly: Check whether the curtain switch opened. Closing the curtain allows an interrupted cycle to resume.
• Ice production does not resume: Allow all six rinse cycles to finish. On the Q1400C, changing the switch position or interrupting power does not bypass the required rinse cycles.
• The accessory has been exposed to freezing temperatures: Remove the solution bottle and pump the remaining solution from the pump and tubing before placing the unit back into service.

Warranty

The AuCS A accessory is covered against defects in materials and workmanship for three years from the date of original installation. Labor required to repair or replace defective components is also covered for three years from the original installation date.

Coverage excludes normal maintenance, adjustments, and cleaning; unauthorized modifications or non-standard parts; improper installation; unsuitable electrical, water, or drainage connections; damage from floods, storms, or similar events; misuse, neglect, abuse, or accidents; premium labor and travel-related charges; and damage caused by procedures that conflict with the technical instructions.

Warranty repairs must be performed by a qualified service organization authorized through the applicable Manitowoc distribution network.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Automates scheduled cleaner or sanitizer dosing, counts harvest cycles for consistent timing, supports several cleaning intervals, and resumes ice production after the programmed sequence.
• Pros: Includes safeguards such as rinse cycles, curtain-switch interruption, and a selectable cleaner-or-sanitizer setup.
• Cons: Requires compatible Manitowoc equipment, approved chemical products, protected tubing and communication wiring, and qualified installation.
• Cons: The system cannot dispense cleaner and sanitizer together, and freezing conditions can damage the pump if the solution is not removed.

The AuCS A Automatic Cleaning System Accessory Q Model is best used as part of a complete ice machine maintenance program. Correct mounting, approved chemicals, proper hose priming, and completion of every rinse cycle are essential for reliable operation.