Taking very long to heat up (30 min) to 'green zone'

Hi, the issue with the unit heating up slowly and it being an inconsistent temperature is most commonly due to a bad/old heating element. The PSI going over the safe zone could be due to a variety of reasons, with the most common being a faulty door seal, or faulty pressure relief valve in my experience. Unless you have someone who is incredibly handy or has experience working on autoclaves or even home appliances (somewhat similar to dishwashers), this may be a tall task. The most difficult step may be finding parts for a unit of this age. I would be more than happy to assist further or my company also sells used and new autoclaves too. 

@Tyler K: could you please write your company and contact information in a message as somehow I cannot click through to your profile information!

Hey PC_DVM,

Are you saying that the vent process takes 10 minutes or that drying everything takes 10 minutes? 

The OCR and OCM have a multi part bellows assembly that may be worn out. RPI has the rebuild kit. The bellows is supposed to let steam out until around 200F then close but it it's work out it may not be closing until much later or just not sealing at all. That lets all the water boil away and the temps can then spike. 

Good Luck!

The Pelton Crane is too old, to invest you money and time.

The Pelton OCM was built between 1966 &1980. Most rugged autoclave ever built!!  But, keeping this model running will be quite challenging. 

Temp fluctuations: The oldest model used a  mechanical thermostat, (evident by a 12" long slender metal tube laying in the center of the chamber). If that's what you have, this unit is pre 1972. Those thermostats can fluctuate greater than 5' as they age.  Solution: replace/upgrade to an electronic thermostat (repair shop). 

If it has an electronic thermostat, (evident by a cooling block (heat sink) sticking out the back side of the unit, there could be corrosion on the PC board. Or, the temp sensor is going bad. Again, only an experienced repair shop can help you.

Slow heating: If the heat eventually goes up to the sterilizing range and can stay there - at least a half hour, the valves are ok.

A bit of warning: if the wiring is covered with a soft cottony insulation - that is asbestos, and you should just retire the unit.

From what information you've given,  it sounds like your bellows is failing or vent valve isn't allowing all of the air to escape. 

Aso check the voltage of the sockets if is to low, sometime happened from power line.

Any update?

Buy a new or 2nd hand unit, sediment and heat issue will cost you more money & time than is reasonable.