You have just gotten home after a long day at work and you are ready to prepare your dinner.
You make all your favorite recipes in the Vitamix, but this time it is not working as well as usual.
Your blender shuts off before you even reach full speed!
Due to the high torque of this motor, there may be situations where it stalls or shuts off completely while blending.
This article will explain some potential causes for your Vitamix blender shutting off and steps you can take to resolve the issue if it should occur again in future use.
Why Did My Vitamix Blender Shut Off?
1. Vitamix has a thermal overload protection system that will shut off the motor if it is overloaded for an extended period of time.
2. If you are blending something too thick, such as peanut butter or hummus without adding water.
3. If your machine shuts off while blending and won’t turn back on after unplugging and re-plugging in the power cord, check the lid switch located near the bottom of the container.
4. The lid may not be properly engaged with the container’s blade assembly; try pressing down on top of the lid until you hear a click sound.
How Does The Vitamix Motor Work?
The more the motor works (e.g., at a higher speed), the hotter it gets.
This is because it draws more electricity when working hard, which in turn causes heat.
A thicker blend just means that the motor has to work harder and so, therefore, will start to get hotter.
Thicker blends slow down Vitamix’s motors – this is why you see less of a blended texture when using them!
The thickness slows down how quickly the blades can cut through and mix ingredients together and also increases friction between them as they rub on their own edges (i.e., like dragging your feet in the sand).
Factors That Lead To Overheating Of The Motor
1. The Vitamix motor is designed to run at a certain RPM, and if it’s running too hot or for too long, the motor may overheat
2. If your Vitamix has been operating at high speed for an extended period of time without any cool-down periods in between, there’s a chance that the motor will overheat
3. A common cause of this is when you’re blending something very thick like ice cream or frozen yogurt; try using the variable speeds to avoid overheating the motor.
4. Another reason why your Vitamix might be overheating: You’ve been using it with low water levels which can cause heat buildup inside the container and lead to burning out the heating element in some models.
How To Prevent Overheating Of The Motor
If you’re blending hummus, nut butter, or ice cream, it’s important not to blend more than four cups at a time.
When doing this, always run the blender at maximum speed.
To ensure the Vitamix doesn’t overheat, use a fan or hair dryer to blow air into the vents.
You can also cool it down faster by putting the base in the fridge for 20 minutes.
If you leave it in too long, there may be condensation when removing it from refrigeration which could cause water spots on your machine’s surface.
My Vitamix Shut Off – What To Do Now?
1. Check to see if the Vitamix is plugged in.
2. Make sure the lid is on correctly and that it’s not jammed.
3. Turn off the power and unplug for a few seconds, then plug back in.
4. If you’re using frozen ingredients, make sure they are thawed before blending them with liquid.
5. Try pressing start again.
Related Post: How To Remove Vitamix Blade Without Special Tool
Conclusion
If your Vitamix blender stalls or shuts off while blending, it may be due to the high torque of this motor.
This is normal and does not indicate a problem with your machine.
The stall can happen when you add ingredients that are too thick, such as frozen fruit or ice cubes.
It can also occur if you try to blend at too low a speed for the amount of material in the container (for example, trying to make hot soup in a narrow container).
To prevent stalling or shutting off completely during use, we recommend adding liquids first before adding thicker ingredients like frozen fruit and ice cubes.
Also, experiment with different speeds until you find one that works best for each recipe.
