Blendtec BD8 User manual

MANUAL
BD8

Table of Contents
Section Page
1 Important Safeguards ..................................................................5
2 Introduction ........................................................................................7
3 Installation ...........................................................................................8
3.1 Counter Placement
3.2 Electrical Connections
3.3 Water Connection
3.4 Product Line and Connection
4 Basic Operations ...........................................................................9
4.1 Making Drinks
4.2 Dispense Products Only
4.3 Dispense Water Only
4.4 Run Blender Only
5 Cleaning and Sanitizing .............................................................9
5.1 After Each Use
5.2 Jar Care
5.3 Short Term
5.4 Long Term
6 Basic Programming .......................................................................12
6.1 Program Mode
6.2 Adjusting Product
6.3 Adjusting Water
6.4 Adjusting Ice
6.5 Adjusting Blend Times
6.6 Adjusting Blend Cycles
6.7 Adjusting Pause
6.8 Changing the Drink Size Ratio
7 Advanced Programming .............................................................16
7.1 Calibration
7.2 Water Flow Rate
7.3 Ice Temperature Range
7.4 Small Drink Default
7.5 Ice Buster
7.6 Restore Defaults
7.7 Locking the Machine
7.8 Drink Counts
7.9 Advanced Blend Cycle Control
8 Troubleshooting ...............................................................................20
8.1 Machine won’t run
8.2 Blender stopped working
8.3 Drinks too soft

8.4 Drinks too thick or cavitation in blender
8.5 Little or no flavor in drinks
8.6 Too much flavor in drinks
8.7 Ice chunks in drinks
8.8 Water won’t dispense
8.9 Product bag is leaking
9 Warranty Information including Service ......................21
10 Blank Drink Template ................................................................22
11 Pre-Installation Check List ....................................................23

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Section 1: Important Safeguards
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING YOUR BD8
1.1 Safety Certification
Model BD8-502 is certified by ETL to comply with UL/ANSI standard 763-2000,
3rd Edition, November 30, 2000 and to comply with CSA standard C22.2 No.
195-M1987. Model BD8-503 is a 240VAC version that is certified to
CE standards.
1.2 Health Certification
All BD8 models are certified by NSF International to comply with
Standard 8.
1.3 Precautions:
• Avoid contact with moving parts.
• Keep fingers, hair, hands, and clothing away from all moving parts.
• Keep utensils away from drive socket and blender blades during operation.
Metal utensils will damage blades.
• NEVER place a jar into the drive socket if the blender motor is operating.
• DO NOT rock the blender jar while it is operating. Keep the blender jar
straight up until the operation is complete.
These precautions will prevent personal injury and/or damage to the blender
dispenser.
1.4 Power Cord Precautions
• DO NOT operate with a damaged power cord or outlet.
• If the power cord or outlet is damaged it must be replaced by the manufac-
turer or its authorized service agent in order to prevent any hazard.
• DO NOT let the power cord hang over the edge of the work surface.
• NEVER use an extension cord with the unit.
• Unplug the unit when changing location, servicing, or cleaning.
1.5 DO NOT attempt to perform repairs. NEVER remove the covers or panels
on the unit. The unit does not contain adjustable or customer serviceable parts.
The manufacturer or their authorized agent must perform all interior service
and adjustments. Removing covers or panels, or attempting to effect repairs,
will void the warranty. Please call Blendtec Technical Support at 800 748-5400
ext. 494 or 248 for guidance on warranty and service options.
1.6 Turn the unit off when not in use for a prolonged period of time.
1.7 NEVER operate the unit if it appears to be damaged. If the unit malfunc-
tions, call the manufacturer first. If it is dropped or damaged in any way, call
Blendtec Technical Support for service to evaluate the extent of damage and
the possibility of either repair or replacement.
1.8 NEVER operate in liquid. DO NOT allow the unit to sit in a pool of liquid or
R

6
use the unit outdoors where it will be subject to precipitation. This will void the
warranty.
1.9 NEVER put items such as metal, rocks, or other hard materials into the
blender jar. Metal utensils and other hard objects can damage the blender jar
and will void the warranty.
1.10 NEVER operate the unit with attachments not sold or authorized by
Blendtec. The use of unauthorized attachments may cause fire, electric shock,
unit malfunction, or injury. Damage incurred by the use of such attachments
will not be covered by warranty.
1.11 ALWAYS operate the blender with the clear door closed.
1.12 ALWAYS secure the blender jar lid before starting the machine.
Even within the blending chamber it is important to put a lid on the blender jar
before initiating a blend cycle.
1.13 The blender jar blades are sharp – handle carefully.
1.14 Power Requirements
Model BD8-502 POWER CORD
120V, 1800W, 15A, 50-60 Hz. It is recom-
mended that a dedicated 20A receptical be
used.
NEMA 5-15P
Model BD8-503 POWER CORD
120V, 1800W, 7.5A, 50-60 Hz. It is recom-
mended that a dedicated 10A receptical be
used.
Varies by Country
1.15 DO NOT use any other electrical equipment on the same circuit as the
unit or you risk overloading the circuit and either burning the fuse or possibly
the electronics inside the unit. This will void the warranty. ALWAYS use a surge
protector device.
1.16 NEVER use a water jet to clean the unit. Use of a water jet to clean the
unit can result in malfunction or damage to the unit. This type of damage/mal-
function will not be covered under warranty.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
IMPORTANT
We took care to ensure your machine was clean when it was shipped from
the factory, but since we do not have any control over shipping conditions we
strongly recommend that you sanitize the machine before you prepare any
drinks. (See Section 5.4)

7
Section 2: Introduction to the Blender Dispenser with 8 Pumps
WELCOME TO AN EXCITING NEW WAY OF BLENDING
Blendtec
®
Blender Dispenser with 8 Pumps!
(BD8)
The (BD8) combines some of the best ideas in blending into one easy-to-oper-
ate machine. The result is a machine that provides:
• Fast delivery to large crowds.
• Controlled labor and finished product costs.
• Portability and easy set-up.
• Maximum revenue generated per square foot.
• Multiple drink combinations from one machine.
The BD8 is a microprocessor-controlled machine designed to quickly make pre-
cise blended drinks from concentrates or other liquids (including alcohol), ice,
and water. It has two main sections, the blend station and the control board
section. The following pages will introduce you to the most advanced blending
system available today.
2.1 Blend Station:
Contains a powerful blender motor that is controlled by the microprocessor in
the control board. You can select the speed and duration of each blend cycle
for each drink size.
2.2 Control Board:
Contains the microprocessor that controls all of the functions of the unit. The
control board is utilized to make and program drinks.
2.3 Water Input Line:
Allows cold water to be added to drinks to help reconstitute concentrated
purees or to help increase volume.
2.4 BD8 models
Voltage:
Model BD8-502
120 VAC
Model BD8-503
240 VAC

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Size:
Models BD8-502, BD8-503
Height: 21” Width: 18.5” Length (depth): 14.5”
Limitations:
Volume Limited - Models BD8-502, BD8-503
Products other than those dispensed by the unit (ice cream, yogurt, etc.) can
be added to the blending jar before dispensing. This limits the finished drink
size to 32 ounces.
Section 3: Installation
Read all instructions, cautions, notes, and warnings before attempting to
operate this machine. Warranties may be voided if this machine is improperly
installed.
3.1 Counter Placement:
Ensure there are at least 4 inches of space on each side and at least 6 inches
in back (room for plumbing). Counter location should be near water, ice, and
storage area for product bags.
3.2 Electrical Connections:
See power requirements in section 1.14.
3.3 Water Connection:
A 3/8” compression fitting is located behind the (optional) vanity panel in
the upper right-hand corner (from the rear of the machine). You must use a
reinforced water line with this unit. Incoming water must have a pressure rating
of at least 30 PSI (207 KPA) and no greater than 120 PSI (827 KPA) to operate
correctly. You must add a water filter with a flow rate of at least 1 gallon per
minute (3.78 Liters per minute). Unit must be installed with adequate back-flow
protection to comply with Federal, state, or local codes having jurisdiction.
3.4 Product Lines and Connections:
The inlets for the product lines are located on the back of the unit. There are
labels next to each inlet with numbers that correspond to the pump numbers
in programming. These fittings are ⅜” outer diameter and are barbed to help
retain the hose. Use a hose clamp to retain the hose on the inlet fitting.
Section 4: Basic Operations
4.1 Making Drinks:
Place a blender jar containing sufficient ice in the blend station with the blend-
er lid in place. After programming drinks into the microprocessor (see Section
6), you simply press the drink number (1-64) of the drink, select the size (S,
M, or L), and then press GO. The unit will automatically dispense liquids and

9
water, and then blend. All parameters for drink production can be manipulated
to suit your needs (see Section 6).
4.2 Dispense Product Only:
You can dispense product only by pressing the number of the pump (1-8) and
then pressing and holding the JUICE button. The unit will dispense the product
selected until you release the JUICE button. The maximum time that the JUICE
button will dispense is 25 seconds. This feature allows you to prime your prod-
uct lines easily with little waste.
4.3 Dispense Water Only:
By pressing and holding the WATER button you can dispense cold water as
desired. The maximum amount of time the feature will run is 25 seconds.
4.5 Run Blender Motor Only:
This feature can be used in two ways: as a ramp pulse (gradually increasing
speed) or to run at a constant speed. To use as a ramp pulse, press and hold
the BLEND button until the drink is completed. The motor will stop when the
BLEND button is released. To run at a constant speed, select the speed (1-9)
and then press and hold the BLEND button. The unit will run until the BLEND
button is released or for 25 seconds.
Section 5: Cleaning and Sanitizing
5.1 After Each Use:
After every use of the unit, the operator should ensure that the blender jar has
been rinsed, the blend station has been wiped out if there is spillage, and that
the blender door is wiped down if there is spillage. ALWAYS keep an empty jar
on the blender motor base when the unit is not in use. This helps catch any
potential drips and keeps liquid from leaking into the blender motor.
5.2 Jar Care:
SHORT TERM – as needed, wash the jars with a mild detergent solution. Do
not immerse the jars for longer than necessary in any type of liquid. Wash
quickly with a smooth cloth or sponge, rinse, and sanitize with appropriate solu-
tion. (Some sanitizer manufacturers require their sanitizer to remain in contact
with the sanitized object for a specific amount of time before rinsing or remov-
ing. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions before rinsing.) Hold the jar by
the handle and give three or more sharp downward shakes to remove any water
from around the shaft area. Then place the jar upside down on a rack to dry.
LONG TERM – As needed, fill the jar with hot sanitizer solution. Stir and let set
for 5 minutes. Empty and rinse with clear hot water. Hold the jar by the handle
and give three or more sharp downward shakes to remove any water from
around the shaft area. Then place the jar upside down on a rack to dry.
5.3 Short Term (Unit):
As time permits (daily or weekly), wipe down the exterior of the unit and the
interior of the blend station with a damp rag. Carefully tilt the machine either
backward or forward (two person operation) and wipe underneath the unit with
a damp rag.

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5.4 Long Term (Unit):
As time permits (monthly), sanitize the blend station utilizing the steps below.
The best time to perform this cleaning is either before or after work hours when
you have plenty of time. Mix up 2-5 gallons of sanitizer solution per the manu-
facturer’s directions.
BLEND STATION:
• Remove the blender jar from the blender station (empty if needed).
• Using a mild soapy solution, wipe down all surfaces of the blend station.
• Use a damp cloth to remove the soap from the surfaces of the blend station.
Avoid getting excess water on the motor.
• To sanitize the surfaces of the blend station either spray or wipe the surfaces
of the blend station with the sanitizing solution.
• Remove the blend station door by opening the door and gently lifting it off
the hinges (do not lose the small plastic washers). Wash the door in the sink
and allow to air dry.
• Dry any water off the blender motor area and replace the blender door.
Avoid getting liquids directly on the motor (the area where the jar shaft con-
nects to the motor).
PRODUCT TUBES:
There are two options to sanitize product lines. The first is to use the sanitizing
cycle built into the machine; the second is a simpler method using the JUICE
button. You may use either one depending on preference; the beginning steps
are the same.
• Disconnect all product bags from the product lines.
• Place an empty blender jar in the blend station.
• Empty each product line by pressing the number of the pump (1-8) and then
holding the juice button down. This will remove the bulk of the remaining
product from the machine. Be sure that the blender jar does not overflow.
• Disconnect all product bag connectors from the product lines. You
will want to have a bucket or empty blender jar to capture any
product that leaks back out of the tubes.
• Place the product bag connectors in the sink to soak in a sanitizing solution.
• Mix up a solution of hot soapy water.
• Place the ends of the product tubes into the soapy solution.
Method 1 Sanitizing Cycle:
• To clean the tubes, run the soapy solution by pressing 9-8-0-GO. This
cycle will clean two product tubes at a time. The beginning screen will read
“CLEAN 1 2 READY”. Press GO to activate the cycle. Pumps 1 and 2 will
run approximately 12 seconds, each dispensing the soapy water into the
empty blender jar. Ensure that the jar does not overfill!
• Once the wash cycle is done, the screen will read “CLEAN 3 4 READY”. Make
sure the blender jar is empty and press GO. Pumps 3 and 4 will run. Repeat
for all 8 product tubes.
• Retrieve a container (bucket) of clear rinse water.
• Place all eight ends of the product tubes into the bucket of water.
• To run the cycle to rinse, press 9-8-0-GO. This cycle will rinse two product

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tubes at a time. The beginning screen will read “CLEAN 1 2 READY”. Press
GO to activate the cycle. Pumps 1 and 2 will run approximately 12 seconds,
each dispensing the rinse water into the empty blender jar. Ensure that the
jar does not overfill!
• Once the rinse cycle is done, the screen will read “CLEAN 3 4 READY”. Make
sure the blender jar is empty and press GO. Pumps 3 and 4 will run.
• Repeat to rinse the remaining product tubes.
• Mix up a solution of sanitizer per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Place all eight tubes, with connectors attached, into the sanitizer solution.
• To run the sanitizing cycle – press 9-8-0-GO. This cycle will sanitize two
product tubes at a time. The beginning screen will read “CLEAN 1 2
READY”. Press GO to activate the cycle. Pumps 1 and 2 will run approxi-
mately 12 seconds, each dispensing the sanitizer into the empty blender jar.
Ensure that the jar does not overfill!
• Once the sanitizing cycle is done, the screen will read “CLEAN 3 4 READY”.
Make sure the blender jar is empty and press GO. Pumps 3 and 4 will run.
• Repeat to sanitize the remaining lines.
• Remove the hose and connectors from the container of sanitizer.
• Run each pump individually to clear the remaining sanitizing solution from
the product tubes.
• Reconnect the product tubes to the product bags, prime each line.
Method 2 Sanitizing Cycle:
• Using the JUICE button, follow the steps above EXCEPT do not use 9-8-0-
GO; instead, press the button of the product pump (1-8) and then press and
hold the JUICE button.
• Once the product has stopped dispensing from the unit, release the JUICE
button.
• Repeat for all eight pumps.
• Follow the instructions for wash, rinse, and sanitize above.
• Regardless of the method used, refill the product lines by pressing the pump
number (1-8) and the JUICE button until the product dispenses, then release
the JUICE button.
Section 6: Blending 101 & Basic Programming
Blending 101: Making the ideal smoothie with the BD8 is just a matter of
simple physics. The input variables include the temperature and thickness
of the ingredients, the output variable is the desired texture achieved at 29
degrees Fahrenheit. A smoothie much warmer than this (above 32 degrees) will
be runny, a smoothie much colder (below 25 degrees) will cavitate (develop an
air pocket around the blade) and not blend. So let’s make a perfect smoothie,
simply.

12
1. Determine the concentration ratio of your flavor ingredients to ice and
water. In other words, what’s your ideal recipe? What does your product sup-
plier recommend will be the proper amount of juice concentrate or puree,
and how much will be ice and water for a given drink size? For example, in
a 12 ounce drink, some recipes call for 5, others 4, 3, or even just 2 ounces
of flavored product. These concentration values would be 1.4, 2, 3, and 5
to 1, respectively, where the 1 is the product, and the 5, 3, 2 and 1.4 values
represent the relative amounts of ice/water needed to make the desired
12 ounce drink. So if the recipe called for 2 ounces of product, you need to
put in 10 ounces of ice/water (5 to 1 ratio). If the recipe called for 3 ounces
of product, you would need to put in 9 ounces of ice/water (3 to 1 ratio) to
make a 12 ounce drink.
2. Determine the water to ice ratio necessary to bring the final drink to 29
degrees Fahrenheit. If I had a 3 to 1 flavor concentrate, then I will need to put
in 9 ounces of some combination of ice and water into my 12 ounce drink.
If I put in all ice I run the risk of freezing the drink and failing to blend (aka
cavitation). If I put in all water, I am guaranteed to lose a customer. So the
ice/water ratio is like a teeter-totter. I have to put in 9 ounces total; the only
question is how much of this will be ice, and how much will be water? It is
recommended that you begin with approximately a 4 to 1 ratio of ice to water
to start with. In the present case, try 7 ounces of ice to 2 ounces of water. If
the drink is a little too runny, go to 8 ounces ice and 1 ounce water. If it is ini-
tially too thick, go to 6 ounces ice and 3 ounces water. You get the idea. The
two values have to add up to 9 ounces, so adjust according to preference.
And with the BD8, you do not need to experiment with only whole numbers of
ounces as the computer allows dispensing in tenths of seconds!
3. Determine the desired texture of the finished drink. The same ingredients
(syrup, water, and ice) can be blended slowly to achieve a nice, crunchy
Italian ice, while a more aggressive blend will turn them into a velvet smooth
granita. It’s your choice.
4. Now for a little fine print. First, different ingredients have inherent thickness
differences within and between flavors. For instance, think of the difference in
thickness there is between strawberry juice, strawberry syrup, and a straw-
berry puree with lots of pulp and seeds. The first two will be on the thinner
side, the puree on the thicker side. Now play the same game with fruits hav-
ing more fiber such as pineapple or mango. You can see that different types
of products (juice, syrup, puree) and different flavors (e.g., apple, mango)
have different levels of thickness and fiber. The thicker the ingredients, the
tougher the blend. Second, be aware of the brix factor. Sweeter liquids have
higher dissolved sugar ratios (solids in water). A 100 gram liquid with a brix
level of 10 degrees has 10 grams of sugar combined with 90 grams of water.
A 100 gram liquid with a brix level of 25 degrees has 25 grams of sugar
combined with 75 grams of water. The higher the solids to water ratio, the
more difficult to blend. Third, what is the temperature of your ingredients, all
of them? The warmer the flavor product, water, or ice, the thinner the result-

13
ing drink. Conversely, the colder the ingredients, any of them, the thicker
the drink. Fourth, what is an alternative spelling for alcohol? Antifreeze. If
you are adding alcohol to a drink, its effect on drink consistency is greater
than water, so plan accordingly. In terms of the ice/water in #2 above, more
ice is needed relative to the amount of alcohol added to maintain the same
consistency between virgin (non-alcoholic) and alcoholic beverages. Finally,
all ice values above are in ounces by weight. If you do not have a scale and
are instead measuring ice by volume, the melt ratio of ice to water is 2 to 1.
That is, two cups of ice by volume melt to one cup of water by weight and
16 ounces of ice by volume melt to 8 ounces of water by weight. If your drink
calls for 10 ounces of ice by weight, be sure that you are putting 20 ounces
of ice by volume into your blending jar!
The rest of this section will help you with the basics of programming and allows
for the programming of drinks to your requirements. This feature will give you
the opportunity to view, and if necessary, change your data set parameters
(see Figure 1 for the data set sequence).
Pmp1 Pmp2 Pmp3 Pmp4 Pmp5 Pmp6 Pmp7 Pmp8 Watr Stime Scycl Mtime Mcycl Ltime Lcycl Pause
Drink 1
Drink 2
Drink 64
Figure 1
6.1 Program Mode:
This is the mode that you will utilize to change settings for pumps, water, blend
cycles, blend times, and pause. To enter the mode press 7-8-9-GO in se-
quence. The display will change from “Enter Drink #” to “Drink 1 Pmp 1 00”.
• Navigating in the program is done with the S, M, L and GO buttons on the
control panel.
• The S and M buttons move you up and down in drinks: 1-64 on M and 64-1
on S.
• The L and GO button will move you up and down in the data sets; GO moves
forward (pump 1-8) and L moves backward (pump 8-1).
• You must enter the programming mode before any changes can be made.
• To exit the programming mode at any time, press the STOP button twice.
• It is possible to access a specific drink number in the Drink Settings Menu
(7-8-9-GO) by pressing a 1, then the drink number (1 to 64), and then GO.
6.2 Adjusting Product:
• Product values can be added, removed, or adjusted as you see fit; however,
when you find a drink setting that works for you it is recommended that you
do not change it unless absolutely necessary.
• To adjust product settings, scroll to the drink number (S or M buttons) you
wish to change.
• Now use the GO button to move to the pump number that needs to be
changed.

14
• Pump values are recorded in tenths of a second. In other words, 22 on the
display represents 2.2 seconds of dispense time.
• The dispense rate will vary slightly depending on the type of product you are
using. A 4 to 1 concentrate will be thicker and will therefore need more time
to dispense than a 2 to 1 concentrate. (See Section 7.1 for calibration help.)
• Enter the value you want by pressing the correct numbers on the control
panel and then the GO button.
• The value will store and then move on to the next pump or data set.
• To zero out a value, scroll to the appropriate pump, enter 0 on the keypad
and press GO.
6.3 Adjusting Water:
• Scroll to the Water data set by pressing either the L or GO buttons.
• Water is also entered in tenths of a second. Water dispense rate should not
vary unless your water pressure coming into the unit is less than 30psi.
• Enter the value required by pressing the numbers on the control pad and
then pressing the GO button.
• To zero out the water value, enter 0 on the keypad and press GO.
6.4 Adjusting Blend Times:
• Scroll to the first Blend Time data set (Small) by pressing either the L or GO
buttons.
• Blend times are in whole seconds. 21 in the blend cycle set represents 21
seconds of blend time. The blender motor will run for the programmed time
and then stop.
• The blender motor will run in the pattern as described by the Cycle in the
next data set.
• To zero out the blend time value, enter 0 on the keypad and press GO.
• To move to the next blend time for Medium or Large press the GO button to
reach them (cycle settings are between each).
6.5 Adjusting Blend Cycles:
• Scroll to the first Blend Cycle data set (Small) by pressing either the L or GO
buttons.
• There are 6 pre-programmed cycles already stored in the unit. See Figure 2
• Select the cycle you want by pressing the appropriate number (1-6) and
press GO.
SpeedA TimeA SpeedB TimeB SpeedC TimeC SpeedD TimeD SpeedE TimeE SpeedF TimeF SpeedG TimeG SpeedH TimeH
Cycle 1 5 15
Cycle 2 6 15
Cycle 3 7 15
Cycle 4 3 1 4 1 1 2 3 1 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 3
Cycle 5 3 1 5 1 1 2 3 2 5 2 3 3 6 6 8 6
Cycle 6 3 2 1 3 3 3 5 3 6 4 7 15 8 6
Figure 2 Standard Blend Cycle Profiles
• Regardless of the time listed above (Figure 2), the blender motor will run for
the amount of time that you have programmed into the Cycle Time data set.
If greater than the default time, the cycle will start over at the beginning of
its programmed time. In other words, looking at Cycle 5 above, you can see
that it is set for a total time of 24 seconds. If your cycle time is greater than

15
24 seconds, the cycle will start over at the lower speed and repeat until the
time is up.
• You must have a cycle programmed into the data set even if you have no
cycle time.
• Press the GO button to move to the Mcycl and Lcycl data sets and change
or set as needed.
6.6 Adjusting Pause:
• Scroll to the Pause data set (Small) by pressing either the L or GO buttons.
• Pause is the amount of time the blender motor will wait until it begins to
blend.
• The use of Pause is to allow your ingredients to dispense into the blender jar
before the motor starts.
• Pause is again, in whole seconds. Enter the value with the number keys on
the control panel and press GO.
6.7 Changing the Drink Size Ratio:
• You can set the drink sizes for the S, M, and L buttons on the keypad.
• To access the menu, press 7-8-8-GO on the control pad (from the Enter
Drink # screen).
• The display will now read “Size Small XX”. Enter the size, in ounces, of the
small drink you want to make and press GO.
• The data set will automatically move to the Size Medium data set; enter the
ounces size of your medium drink and press GO.
• The data set will automatically move to the Size Large data set; enter the
ounces size of your large drink and press GO.
• It is not necessary to have all three sizes, but you must have a “small” drink.
The “small” drink size correlates directly with the data set programmed
into the 7-8-9-GO menu. This is very important! If you set your 7-8-9-GO
menu and water values to make a 12 ounce drink and your small size to 14,
you will only make 12 ounce drinks and the M and L drinks will not turn out
correctly. The microprocessor uses the small drink size and the settings in
the 7-8-9-GO menu to automatically generate your M and L drinks. Ensure
that the size of drink and the programmed data sets match directly.
• Press the STOP button twice to exit the drink size menu.
Section 7: Advanced Programming
This section is intended for the owner/manager of the location who will take
the time to fully understand the system and the information contained herein.
Greater detail is spent on controls and reports the unit can supply. All func-
tions are accessed by pressing 7-8-9-GO on the control panel unless otherwise
noted.

16
7.1 Calibration:
There are two ways to optimize the drinks made in the BD8. You can use the trial
and error method, which involves making small changes to a drink and testing
each change as you go until you get it the way you want it. Or, you can calibrate
the BD8 and make drinks according to a formula. Because fittings, tubing, tem-
perature, and product can all cause the pumps to dispense at different rates, each
drink you wish to make from a formula will require a calibrated pump. This section
will tell you how to isolate and calibrate each dispensing function.
• 7.1.1 Press 7-8-9-GO to access the program mode. (If you have not read Sec-
tions 6, do so now.)
• 7.1.2 Press 0 then GO. This will zero out the pump run time for Pmp 1 in Drink
1. The display will now read “Drink 1 Pmp 0.”
• 7.1.3 Press 0 and GO until all eight pumps are at 0. Continue to zero out water
and the blend times (you cannot zero out the cycles).
• 7.1.4 Select the concentration ratio for the product you use in pump port 1 from
Figure 3 below. The pumps deliver about 1 oz. per second. Divide your recipe’s
product amount (the ounces required for a small drink) by 1.0 to get the sug-
gested pump time. For example, if you use 2 to 1 product, divide 4 oz. by 1.0
oz per second 4/1 = 4.0 seconds. With the display showing “Drink 1 Pmp 1 0”
enter the suggested run time, remembering that what you enter is in tenths of a
second. In this example enter “40” to get 4.0 seconds, then press GO.
Suggested Drink Formulae – Figure 3
Concentration
Ratio
Small
12 oz. Drink
Medium
18 oz. Drink1
Large
24 oz. Drink2
1.4 to 1
Pmp 5 oz.
Water 0 oz.
Ice* 14 oz.
Pmp 7.5 oz.
Water 0 oz.
Ice* 21 oz.
Pmp 10 oz.
Water 0 oz.
Ice* 28 oz.
2 to 1
Pmp 4 oz.
Water 2 oz.
Ice* 12 oz.
Pmp 6 oz.
Water 3 oz.
Ice* 18 oz.
Pmp 8 oz.
Water 4 oz.
Ice* 24 oz.
3 to 1
Pmp 3 oz.
Water 3 oz.
Ice* 12 oz.
Pmp 4.5 oz.
Water 4.5 oz.
Ice* 18 oz.
Pmp 6 oz.
Water 6 oz.
Ice* 24 oz.
4 to 1
Pmp 2 oz.
Water 4 oz.
Ice* 12 oz.
Pmp 3 oz.
Water 6 oz.
Ice* 18 oz.
Pmp 4 oz.
Water 8 oz.
Ice* 24 oz.
* For Figure 3, ice is measured by volume. Divide in half if by weight.
• 1) The product coming from the pump/port and the water for these drinks are automatically pro-
portioned to 1.5 times the “S” drinks unless the proportions have been changed as in Section 6.7.
• 2) The product coming from the pump/port and the water for these drinks are automatically pro-
portioned to 2 times the “S” drinks unless the proportions have been changed as in Section 6.7.

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• 7.1.5 Place a jar in the blend station, press STOP twice to exit the program
mode, then press S to select a small drink. Press1 to activate Drink (pump)
1 then press GO.
• 7.1.6 When the pump has stopped delivering product to the blender jar, you
may measure the product and get an actual dispense rate of the product
from pump number 1. For example, if the volume of product in the jar is 4.4
ounces, 4.4 oz. / 4 seconds = 1.1 oz per second. Calculate the actual pump
time by dividing the required ounces by the actual pump rate. For example
4.0/1.1 = 3.6 seconds. Record this number, it will be entered later. Re-enter
the programming mode (7-8-9-GO) and zero out Drink 1 Pmp 1.
• 7.1.7 Repeat Steps 7.1.1 to 7.1.6 for each pump port. You may use a differ-
ent concentration ratio in each pump and your formula may call for differ-
ent quantities of product than the suggested formula. Keep a record of the
measured pump flow rates in the chart below or one similar.
Pump Number Flow Rate
Pump Port 1 Flavor oz /sec
Pump Port 2 Flavor oz/sec
Pump Port 3 Flavor oz/sec
Pump Port 4 Flavor oz/sec
Pump Port 5 Flavor oz/sec
Pump Port 6 Flavor oz/sec
Pump Port 7 Flavor oz/sec
Pump Port 8 Flavor oz/sec
7.2 Water Flow Rate:
• Calibrate water flow rate in much the same way as you calibrated the pumps.
• Press the GO or L pad until the display reads: “Drink 1 Watr 0”.
• Press 5-0-GO and then STOP twice.
• Press S-1-GO.
• Measure the water in the jar and divide by 5 to get the water flow rate. For
example, with 2.5 oz. of water in the jar, 2.5/5 = 0.5 oz per second. Record
this number. Because the water comes from the same valve for all drinks,
the water flow rate will be the same for every drink.
7.3 Small Drink Default:
• Use this feature to select the mode for the default drink size. There are
three options. The first is for the SMALL to be the default drink size (this
means that SMALL will be automatically selected after a drink has been
made). The second is that the drink size will remain the same after a drink
has been made. The third option is that no drink size will be selected after
a drink is made. This requires that the user select a drink size each time a
drink is made.
• To make a selection for the mode of operation press 3-5-6-GO.
• The screen will show one of the 3 following options: “Revert To Small”, “Re-

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vert To Same”, and “Revert To None”.
• Press the S or M button to scroll through the three options.
• Once you have the option you want selected press STOP. The setting
you have selected will be stored.
7.4 Restore Defaults:
• There are three types of restore defaults: Drink Settings, Blend Cycles,
and Misc. Settings. These three will revert key settings back to the factory
default. If you do not have a profile that is installed at the factory then the
default settings will revert to “0”.
• Restore Drink Settings: This feature will restore the Drink Settings to their
factory defaults. Press 4-4-4-GO and the screen reads “Reset Drinks?”.
• Press GO again to confirm that the drink settings should be reset to the
defaults. The screen will say “Storing Drinks” and a count will show the
progress.
• Restore Blend Cycles: This feature will restore the Blend Cycles to their
factory defaults. Press 4-4-5-GO and the screen reads “Reset Cycles?”.
Press GO again to confirm that the Blend Cycles should be reset to the
defaults. The screen will say “Storing Cycles” and a count will show the
progress.
• Restore Misc Settings: This feature will restore various settings to their
factory defaults. Press 4-4-6-GO and the screen reads “Reset Settings?”.
Press GO again to confirm that the settings should be reset to the defaults.
The settings that will be reset to factory defaults are: Clutch Heater will
revert to off, Size Default will revert to Small, Drink Size options will revert to
12oz, 18oz, and 24oz, the Pump Cube Sensor reverts to off, and the Sanitize
Lockout reverts to off.
7.5 Locking the Machine:
• This feature allows the manager/owner to lock the machine out of use by
other employees without the use of a code. The manager/owner can decide
and change the lockout code at will.
• Change or set machine lockout code: Enter 7-7-8-GO on the keypad.
The screen will then read “Enter Code:”. Enter the current code (the factory
default is 0) and press GO. The screen now reads “New Code:”. Enter new
code (up to four digits) and press GO. The screen then reads “Re-Enter:”
Re-enter the desired code and press GO.
• Lock Machine: To lock the machine press 7-7-7-GO. This will disable all
functions. The screen will say “Enter Code:”. The machine will not work until
the correct security code is entered and the GO button is pressed.
• Write your code down and hide it in case you forget. If you do forget your
code and cannot find where you have it written down call Blendtec Technical
Support for assistance at 800 748-5400, ext. 494 or 248.
• Alcohol Pumps: If your machine was set up to include alcohol pumps you
can lock them specifically. This feature allows pumps 6, 7, and 8 to be
locked so that product cannot be dispensed by using the JUICE button. The
factory default is such that Pump 6, 7, and 8 are all unlocked. You can also
change the code that locks/unlocks the pumps.
• They can be locked or unlocked individually by entering 3-5-3-GO on the

19
keypad.
• Enter the Alcohol Pump lockout code; the factory default is 0, and press GO.
The screen will read “Pump 6 Unlocked” or “Pump 6 Locked”. It can then be
changed to the other by either pressing the S or the M, then press GO.
• The screen will now read “Pump 7 Unlocked” or “Pump 7 Locked”. Make a
selection by using the S or M button and then press GO again to make a
selection.
• The screen will now read “Pump 8 Unlocked” or “Pump 8 Locked”. Make a
selection by using the S or M button and then press GO again to make a
selection.
• Once the pumps have been configured, the menu can be exited by pressing
the STOP button.
• To change the alcohol pump lockout code enter 3-5-2-GO on the keypad.
• The screen will then read “Enter Acode:”. Enter the current code (the factory
default is 0) and press GO.
• The screen now reads “New Acode:”. Enter new code (up to four digits) and
press GO.
• The screen then reads “Re-Enter:”. Re-enter the desired code and press GO.
• Press the STOP button twice to exit the menu.
7.6 Drink Counts:
• The following options allow the user to maintain counts of the individual
drinks made by day and total for lifespan.
• Total Machine Count: To access the machine count, press 8-0-0-GO. The
machine count will be displayed. (If the number of cycles has exceeded
65,535 cycles then there will be a multiplying counter that is displayed also.
The multiplying counter will increment each time the machine count reaches
65,535 and resets to 0.) To exit the machine count screen press STOP twice.
This count cannot be reset.
• Individual Drink Counts: Each time a Drink Cycle is run a respective count
will be incremented. This count can be viewed by pressing 8-0-1-GO. The
screen will read “Drink # 1 ____”. Use the M button to increment the Drink
number and use the S button to decrement the Drink number. Using the
8-0-3-GO feature can clear these counts.
• Total Drink Count: A total of all of the individual drinks can be viewed by
pressing 8-0-2-GO. This total count is reset to zero when the 8-0-3-GO
feature is executed.
• Clear Drink Count: By pressing 8-0-3-GO, all of the individual drink counts
are cleared as well as the Total Drink Count. After pressing 8-0-3-GO, the
screen reads “Clear Counts?” Press GO to confirm that the Counts should
be cleared.
7.7 Advanced Blend Cycle Control
This feature allows the user to customize up to 6 blend cycles.
• Press 7-9-0-GO to access the Blend Cycle Menu.
• The first thing that appears on the screen is “Cycle 1 Speed A: 0”.
• From this point use the S, M, L, and Go buttons to navigate to any of the
parameters in the Blend Cycle. S will decrement the Blend Cycle number,

20
M will increment the Blend Cycle number, L will advance through the speed/
time parameters in the reverse direction, and Go will advance through the
speed/time parameters in the forward direction.
• Enter the speed for Speed A. (Speeds start at 1 and continue through 9 with
9 being the most aggressive.) Press GO to store the value.
• The data set will change to Time A. Enter the time in whole seconds that
you want the blender to run the speed and press GO.
• Repeat the steps to input the blend speeds and times for each sub speed
and time (A through H) to create a cycle to set up to your own parameters.
All six of the cycles can be manipulated.
• Note – you can reduce the amount of noise coming from the blender motor
by keeping the blender speed under 7.
• Press STOP twice to exit the menu.
Section 8: Troubleshooting
We hope you will never have to use this section but if you do, please don’t take
offense at some of the simplistic answers. We have had most of these prob-
lems occur during our development and with other customers.
8.1 Machine won’t run. Check the power cord to be sure it is plugged into a
functioning, properly grounded electrical circuit. Check that the switch on the
back of the machine is turned on. Check in the rear of the machine to see if
the circuit breaker button has tripped (little white button). If it has, press the
breaker button back in to reset it (the BD8 uses a 13 Amp circuit breaker).
8.2 Blender Stopped Working: If the unit does not blend, check in the rear of
the machine to see if the circuit breaker button has tripped. If it has, press the
breaker button back in to reset it (the BD8 uses a 13 Amp circuit breaker).
8.3 Drinks too runny. You may need to add more ice, and less water to the
drink. See Section 6 to reprogram your ingredients if necessary.
8.4 Drinks too thick or cavitation in blender:
Ensure that product bags are not empty; the water supply is on and unblocked;
the water and product amounts are programmed correctly. See Section 6
above to reprogram your ingredients. Cavitation is caused when the liquid and
ice mixture in the blender jar is too thick and an air pocket (or bubble) is creat-
ed around the spinning blender blade. This leaves your drink stuck to the sides
of the jar and full of large ice particles. Be sure to put in enough products to
produce a good flavor then adjust the water to ice ratio until the blender does
not cavitate when you make the drink. If your drink is too watery, you can add
more ice or less water until you get a drink that will form a smooth peak when
you pour it into a cup.
8.5 Little or no flavor in drinks: Ensure that product bags are not empty.
Check that the product hoses are not kinked. Check that the pump time is not