FT1000e-ER

Overview

The Hobart FT1000e-ER is a flight-type dishwasher in the FT1000 e-series. Ware travels through the machine on a conveyor through its washing and rinsing sections, making this format suited to continuous warewashing in high-volume foodservice operations. The FT1000 e-series installation and operation manual describes controls for filling the tanks, starting the machine and selecting conveyor speed, as well as procedures for loading, cleaning and diagnosing operating issues.

The available specification sheets cover FT1000 e-series configurations, including electric and steam energy-recovery models. Features and connection details can vary by configuration. Confirm the exact build and its applicable documentation when planning connections or service; this page does not assume that details shown for a different configuration apply to the FT1000e-ER.

Key Features

• Flight-type conveyor washing: The conveyor carries ware through the machine rather than processing it in a single stationary rack.
• Adjustable conveyor speed: The FT1000 e-series manual gives a conveyor speed range of 4.0–8.5 ft/min and lists low and medium settings.
• Multiple tank sections: Published FT1000 e-series specifications list pre-wash, wash, rinse, dual-rinse and auto-soil-removal tanks.
• Operator display and controls: The manual describes a keypad display that reports conditions such as open doors, open tank drains and tanks filling.
• Cleaning procedures: Manual-cleaning instructions cover draining the tanks, washing strainers and arms, and clearing food debris. An Auto Clean process is also documented for machines equipped with that feature.

Specifications

The following capacity and component figures are published for the FT1000 e-series. They are family specifications, not a substitute for checking the exact FT1000e-ER configuration.

• Dishwashing capacity: 14,316 dishes per hour.
• Conveyor speed: 4.0–8.5 ft/min.
• Auto-soil-removal (ASR) tank: 7.2 U.S. gallons.
• Pre-wash tank: 40 U.S. gallons.
• Wash tank: 40 U.S. gallons.
• Rinse tank: 40 U.S. gallons.
• Dual-rinse tank: 7.2 U.S. gallons.
• Maximum water use: 58 U.S. gallons per hour, or 0.97 U.S. gallons per minute.
• Motor horsepower listed: ASR, 1/4 HP; ASR wash, 1/3 HP; pre-wash tank, 3.5 HP; wash tank, 3.5 HP; rinse tank, 3.5 HP; dual-rinse tank, 1/6 HP; final rinse, 1/2 HP; conveyor, 1/3 HP; blower dryer, 2 HP.
• Recommended water quality: Total water hardness below 3 grains per gallon and total suspended solids (TSS) below 10 microns.

Installation & Requirements

Connection requirements differ between machine configurations. The available FT1000 e-series documentation recommends building flowing hot-water pressure of 40–45 PSI and flowing cold-water pressure of 30–35 PSI. It also gives a recommended water hardness below 3 grains per gallon and TSS below 10 microns. If the incoming cold water is below 55°F, the specification sheet says to contact sales engineering.

The energy-recovery specification sheet calls for a back-draft preventer in the ventilation system at the roof penetration to prevent the energy-recovery unit from freezing; it is supplied and installed by others. It also notes that room ventilation is required to handle the machine’s latent and sensible heat. The vent stack and its enclosure can be temporarily removed from the energy-recovery unit to provide 81-7/8 inches of doorway clearance. Confirm the applicable arrangement for the specific unit before using these details for a site plan.

Electrical and plumbing connections are to be made by qualified personnel observing applicable codes, according to the specification sheet. The available documents show connection schedules for particular electric and steam configurations rather than a confirmed connection schedule specifically identified for this FT1000e-ER. Verify the model’s nameplate and configuration documentation before specifying its electrical, steam or water connections.

Operation

Before filling

The FT1000 e-series manual instructs operators to ensure the water supply valves are open and the electric supply is on. Close the tank drains and doors before starting the fill sequence. For machines equipped with Auto Clean and/or Auto Delime, the manual also specifies the Master Drain position as part of the setup procedure. The manual’s pre-operation checks include confirming that curtains are installed correctly.

Filling and running

Press the Power key on the control-box keypad. The display lights; if a door is open, the display reports “Door(s) Open,” and if a drain is open it reports “Drain(s) Open.” When the doors and drains are in the required positions, “Tank(s) Filling” appears and the tanks begin to fill. Opening a door during filling stops the fill valve; closing the door resumes filling. After water reaches the lower float in each tank, the wash, rinse and dual-rinse tanks begin heating. When the tanks are full, the fill valves shut off automatically and the display shows tank temperatures.

The manual gives a low conveyor speed setting of 4.0 ft/min and a medium setting of 6.3 ft/min within the stated 4.0–8.5 ft/min range. It also directs operators to load ware appropriately and remove dishes at the unload end. Follow the machine’s display prompts and operating instructions for the installed configuration.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Daily manual cleaning

The manual recommends completing manual cleaning once per day, including on machines that have Auto Clean. Before cleaning, turn the machine off, disconnect electrical power and follow lockout/tagout procedures; the manual warns that there may be multiple circuits and that all must be disconnected. Open the front access doors and drain the machine using the tank drain handles.

Remove and clean the curtains. Rinse the interior and tank shelves with a hose and spray nozzle, directing debris toward the strainers. Remove the wash arms, open their sliders and flush food soil from them in a sink. Remove the strainer baskets and pans and the dual-rinse strainer; empty and scrub them in a sink. The manual specifically warns not to strike strainer pans or baskets against a solid object to dislodge debris. Remove the dual-rinse and upper final-rinse arms and clear debris from their nozzles. The manual also cautions against using steel wool.

Auto Clean and scheduled checks

For machines equipped with Auto Clean, the manual describes a cycle that takes approximately 30 minutes. The operator follows the prompts to open or close the drains, clean and replace strainer baskets, open wash-arm sliders and close the doors. During the cycle, wash pumps flush food soil from the wash arms and Auto Clean nozzles wash the chamber sections above the strainer pans. The manual says that pressing STOP cancels the process.

The manual calls for water- or steam-line strainers to be cleaned one week after installation and periodically thereafter. Motors have sealed bearings and require no lubrication maintenance. It instructs operators to check the conveyor gearmotor oil level every six months, and to inspect the conveyor drive chain regularly and lubricate it as required with H2 food-grade lithium grease. The specified gear case oil is Shell Omala S2 G220 or equivalent.

Troubleshooting

The manual lists the following checks for common operating symptoms. Disconnect power and follow lockout/tagout procedures before work that requires access to machine components; the manual warns that multiple circuits may be present.

• Tanks do not fill: Check that doors are closed, tank drains are closed, and the main water-supply valve is open. Confirm that upper and lower fill floats move freely. A dirty line strainer can reduce water flow; the manual instructs the operator to turn off the water supply, remove the strainer cap and clean the screen. Other listed causes include a solenoid-valve problem or low incoming water pressure. Contact Hobart Service for a solenoid-valve problem or if the tanks still do not fill after the manual’s stated 20-minute check.
• No electric blower-dryer heat, when fitted: The manual lists blower motors that are not operating properly, a tripped electric-heater circuit breaker or a tripped over-temperature protector. It says to contact Hobart if the over-temperature indicator is lit.
• No steam blower-dryer heat, when fitted: Listed causes include blower-motor trouble, an improperly operating steam solenoid valve, a steam supply valve that is not fully open or has too little supply pressure, and a malfunctioning bucket trap.
• Poor washing: The manual’s listed checks include incorrect ware loading, inadequate water temperature, incorrect detergent dosage, incorrectly installed wash jets, and—on machines equipped with automatic soil removal—a blocked filter or soil-collector standpipe.
• Spots on ware: Listed causes include loading, final-rinse temperature, detergent or rinse-aid dosage, water hardness, blocked rinse nozzles, misaligned rinse jets and leakage at a rinse-manifold O-ring. The manual gives 180°F (82°C) as the minimum final-rinse temperature in this troubleshooting section.
• Inadequate rinsing: Check for a dirty line strainer, rinse jets that are not seated in their couplers, blocked dual-rinse nozzles or a blocked dual-rinse tank strainer pan.
• Rinse continues running: The manual lists blocked photoelectric sensors and directs the operator to clean the channels where the sensors are mounted.

Applications

The FT1000e-ER’s flight-type conveyor format and published high-volume capacity suit continuous warewashing workflows in commercial kitchens and institutional foodservice settings. It can support operations processing a steady flow of dishes and other ware; check the machine’s opening and the specific installation documentation when planning the layout and ware path.