Product review (5 stars): This Ivation ice maker churns out ice and is super easy to operate ...
<div id="video-block-RP7E857I8FMVA" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1GQpVhFS5S.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11129K3UrhS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Ivation ice maker is very lightweight and is a little workhorse. I do have another ice maker with equal capability, but is larger, more difficult to move, and more expensive. One thing you'll need to keep in mind when purchasing this ice machine is what it is and what it isn't intended to be. For example, if you expect this machine to be an ice hog and churn out enough ice for a hundred people, you might want to take a pass. This is a great ice maker for home and personal use. I have three ice machines and this one is my favorite for a couple of reasons. First of all it's the smallest and secondly, is very fast and efficient.

I had no problem getting the Ivation out of the box and set up. It was very well packaged and quite secure, but I didn't have to battle with the box. Instead of flipping it around, I simply cut down the sides and removed the original box. Now, instead of rushing to set it up and start making ice, it's a wise idea to let it set for twenty-four hours or more to let the refrigerant settle. While this process is going on, you may wish to wash out the basket, scoop, and inside of the unit with warm, soapy water. You can get this ice maker up and running within 30 minutes, but I preferred to err on the safe side.

The directions are quite clear, unlike the ones for my other ice machine, directions that were rather cryptic at best. Operation is almost intuitive, but not quite, so decent directions help. There really isn't a thing to do with this machine setup wise. There are five icons on the digital display that alert you to what is going on. For example, one lets you know that your water level is low and another one another tells you when the ice box is full. In essence the whole ice making process is quite simple: remove the Ivation from the box, let the ice maker settle, clean, pour in water, plug in, turn on, and wait for your ice. Can't get much easier than that.

FEATURES:

 Convenient, compact design is ideal for use in small kitchens & other compact spaces like RVs, boats & more
 Produces 26.5 pounds of ice a day - never run to the store for a bag of ice again
 Offers an easy-to-use LED control panel that allows you to choose from 2 ice size settings
 Portable ice maker requires no installation - just plug in unit, add water & wait up to 15 minutes to enjoy fresh ice
 Flawless design boasts a excellent reputation, offering consistent & dependable ice production that has been continually perfected

SPECS:

~ Ice Making Capacity: 26.5 Pounds / 24 Hours
~ 2 ice cube sizes: small, large
~ Ice Storage Capacity: 1.5 Pounds
~ Water Storage Capacity: 2.0 Liters
~ Time required: 7 - 13 minutes
~ Dimensions: 9.5" x 14.1" x 12.9"
~ Rated power input: 100 W
~ Rated frequency: 60 Hz
~ Voltage: 110-120V
~ Refrigerant: R134a

To make the "perfect" cube, least ways a pure one, I used filtered water from my Brita. Distilled or spring water also works well, thus preventing any flaky buildup from the water. The cubes, which have a hollowed out section in the middle, were sans any off taste. That sort of thing is a real turn off. When I left the machine running for a long time, the cubes clumped a bit (all of these machines do this). I was easily able to break them apart with the scoop. They don't clump at all when I'm using it continually, rather unlike getting a bag of ice that's rather distasteful looking (I hate that).

Once again, I can't remind anyone enough that this machine isn't capable of producing scads of ice all at once. However, this machine (as is the other Ivation) is infinitely faster than my other one. After filling with water, I just walked away and had a basket full of ice within the hour. This is a great little personal / party ice maker, not an industrial one. Also keep in mind that by using filtered water, you'll avoid bad tasting ice and chemical buildup in the machine. Yes, I do love this machine and think it's perfect to use during hot summer months and for anyone who is having a small party for personal use.

CLEANING:

One thing that is important is making sure you clean the machine every once in a while. What I did with my other one was clean it with a solution of water and vinegar in a manner similar to how I'd clean a coffee maker. This ensures that there will be no off taste to the cubes and you'll have a pristine interior. I fill the water reservoir below the water fill line with 1 quart of white distilled vinegar and 1 quart of potable water.

Do not fill above the water level max. The line is clearly marked on the inside of this machine. When cleaning the ratio of vinegar is 1:1. This "formula" worked quite well for me in my other machine and is the capacity of 2.0 quarts. Don't fill all the way, but under the line. Mind you, you don't have to clean this every other week, but once every couple of months or so if you're using the machine frequently. Just my take because I like clean as opposed to crud and want this machine to last.

Sample provided for review.