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Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Non-Timer Series 9 Tray Food Dehydrator

Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Non-Timer Series 9 Tray Food Dehydrator

The Excalibur 3900 is a large dehydrator in the upper range of the consumer market. Excalibur is a family-owned business operating for over 30 years and has a well-established reputation for quality and reliability. Many people consider the Excalibur 3900 a standard against which other larger dehydrators should be compared. With 9 large trays (each measuring approximately 15" x 15") the Excalibur 3900 has about 15 sq ft of dehydrating capacity, making it a good fit for families, people with active gardens, sportsmen, or people who dehydrate a lot of food on a regular basis.

The unit has a large 7" rear mounted fan and heating element, which blows air horizontally from the back to the front of the machine. This arrangement helps to provide an even dehydration process and eliminates the need to rotate trays because of the horizontal airflow. Also, because the trays are all removable, you can remove every other tray when needed to dry bulkier foods. Each of the 9 included trays comes with a mesh liner. The design of the 3900 is basic but functional. The external case and trays are made from light-blocking polycarbonate ABS plastic. The controls are mounted at the top-rear of the unit, which could be a bit inconvenient when the unit sits on a counter under cabinets. The Excalibur 3900 does not have a power switch or timer, but it does have an adjustable thermostat that ranges from 85º - 145ºF. The front door of the 3900 does not have a hinge but rather lifts off the unit entirely to provide completely open access to all trays.

Note on comparing the Excalibur 2900 - these units have identical form factors and performance specs. However, the 3900 has several upgraded components and an optional extended warranty:

  • Higher Cycle Life Thermostat
  • Higher Duty Rating
  • Heating Element
  • Heavy Duty Motor
  • Higher Grade Plastic Components
  • 10 Year Extended Warranty Available directly from the manufacturer
Consumer feedback: 

Customer feedback on the Excalibur 3900 is almost universally positive. Here is a sampling of the many positive comments:

I've used virtually every dehydrator on the market and even a few home-made versions. Trust me when I say that this dehydrator is the best you can get for the money.
Excellent!!! A great product from Excalibur, 100% recommended. It's easy to use, easy to clean, and great to dehydrate.
I now have 8 Excalibur dehydrators for my business and they work great. Simple and easy to use

Negative comments tend to be focused on the plain design, the size, or the fan noise. For example:

The only thing I do not like is the fan noise. It is not overly obtrusive, but it is "there" all the time. We are considering putting it in a less-used room of the house.
I wish it would look sleeker, not just a big, black plastic box.
Just want to warn other first-time purchasers, this appliance is quite loud
Bottom line: 

The Excalibur 3900 is a large capacity dehydrator with a proven design. It's not the quietest dehydrator around, but it's a workhorse dehydrator that gets the job done. We recommend the Excalibur 3900 to readers looking for an efficient dehydrator that can manage large batches of food.

Pricing
Retail price: 
$ 202.00
Current price: 
$ 189.45
Savings: 
$12.55
Savings %: 
6%
Rating
Rating: 
4.6
Review ct: 
871
Key Features
Key features: 
  • Large capacity - comes with 9 large trays for about 15 sq ft of dehydrating area
  • Polycarbonate Trays with Polyscreen inserts
  • Built In On/Off Switch
  • Adjustable thermostat, ranging from 85º - 145ºF
  • Heavy Duty 7" rear-mounted fan, 600 watts
  • Horizontal back-to-front airflow
  • Opaque plastic blocks light to preserve nutrients
  • Made in the U.S.A.
  • 1 Year Manufacturers Warranty, 10 Year Extended Warranty Available directly from the manufacturer for an additional $29.00
Pros and Cons
Pros: 
  • Large capacity (about 15 sq ft with all 9 trays)
  • Adjustable thermostat (85º - 145ºF)
  • Drying guide is printed next to temperature controls for easy reference
  • Large 7" fan with horizontal airflow provides even heating and makes it unnecessary to rotate trays
  • Available with a 10 year extended warranty
  • Proven, reliable brand and design
Cons: 
  • Compared to some of the newer premium consumer models, the design is somewhat basic
  • Controls are at the rear of the unit
  • Some users feel that the unit is too loud
Product details
Name: 
Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Non-Timer Series 9 Tray Food Dehydrator
Name short: 
Excalibur 3900
Brand: 
Country: 
USA
Model: 
3900
Type: 
Shelf
Tray size: 
15” x 15”
Tray area: 
1.7 sq ft
Trays (base): 
9
Trays (max): 
9
Dry area (base): 
15.0 sq ft
Dry area (max): 
15.0 sq ft
Timer: 
No
Power button: 
Yes
Wattage: 
600 Watts
Fan: 
Heavy Duty 7" fan
Air flow: 
Back to front horizontal-airflow distributed evenly on all the trays
Warranty: 
1 Year
Material: 
ABS Plastic
Colors: 
Black / White - All units come with a Black Door and Black Trays
Dimensions: 
17(W) x 19(D) x 12.5(H) inches
Temp range: 
85º - 145ºF
Weight: 
22 lbs.

Comments

Submitted by Leigh Thevenard (not verified) on
Could you please advise if there is an Excalibur stockist in New Zealand

Submitted by lisa on
Amazon lists New Zealand as one of the countries items can be shipped. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201074230&linkCode=xm2&tag=dehydrevie-20 Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks, Lisa

Submitted by Chris (not verified) on
Can you confirm the temperature range? You have written 85-145 degree but the Excalibur website says 105◦F to 165◦F.

Submitted by Mike (not verified) on
Had model 3900 for 18 months and then the blower motor burned out

Submitted by tom (not verified) on
fan motor blew same situation as above comment.

Submitted by Mary Anne (not verified) on
Once upon a time, one of the benefits of the Excalibur was the ability to replace broken parts. Years ago, my fan died, and I was able to order a replacement and install it myself. Recently, my thermostat broke. I can order a new one for $30, but the company is charging from $94 to $222 to ship me this $30 part. Yes, it's a great product. But why pay the premium if you can't extend its life by fixing broken parts? Better to go with cheaper option like Nesco, which will last as long and be cheaper to replace.

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