A Manitowoc model number is a short code you can read left to right. Take IYP0500A-261: I is the prefix on Indigo NXT models, Y means half dice cubes, P means R290 refrigerant, 0500 is the nominal production class, A means self-contained air cooled, and -261 means 208-230 volt, 60 Hz, single phase power. Below, each position is decoded from Manitowoc’s own manuals and spec sheets, and we flag the letters we could not confirm.
How to read a Manitowoc model number, position by position
Manitowoc’s NEO undercounter manual (part number 040009265, dated 02/25) includes a page titled “How To Read A Model Number.” It uses UYP0140A-161XB as its example and breaks it into the parts below. Indigo NXT spec sheets use the same cube, refrigerant and condenser letters in the same order, so the pattern carries over to the modular heads.
| Position | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1st letter: machine type | U | Undercounter (NEO). Indigo NXT models start with I. |
| 2nd letter: cube size | Y | R = Regular, D = Dice, Y = Half Dice |
| 3rd letter: refrigerant | P | P = R290, F = R404A, T = R410A |
| Four digits | 0140 | Nominal production |
| Letter after digits | A | A = self-contained air cooled, W = self-contained water cooled |
| Dash and three digits | 161 | Voltage, hertz and phase |
| Trailing letters | XB | Options and power cord |
One caveat: every Indigo NXT model we checked starts with I, but we did not find a Manitowoc page that defines the I the way the manual defines U.
Manitowoc ice cube types: the second letter
The cube letter is the one most buyers care about. Manitowoc’s iP0500 spec sheet lists these sizes:
- D, Dice: 7/8 x 7/8 x 7/8 inch. Many sellers, including our own listings, call this “full dice” or “full size cube.”
- Y, Half Dice: 3/8 x 1 1/8 x 7/8 inch, a thinner cube.
- R, Regular: 1 1/8 x 1 1/8 x 7/8 inch, the largest of the three.
For how each shape behaves in a glass, a blender or a dispenser, see our half dice vs full dice ice guide.
Refrigerant letter: P, F and T
The NEO manual decodes P as R290, F as R404A and T as R410A. The current Indigo NXT iP0450 and iP0500 spec sheets both list R290 for their P models. A 2018 Manitowoc sheet for the iF0600 (models IDF0600 and IYF0600) lists R-404A, which matches the F code. We did not find an Indigo NXT document confirming the refrigerant for T models such as the 48 inch IDT1500A, so check the spec sheet on the specific unit before you plan service or line sets.
Capacity digits are nominal, not exact
The manual calls the four digits “nominal production.” Real output depends on air and water temperature. On the iP0500 sheet, the IDP0500A makes 515 lb per 24 hours at 70 degree air and 50 degree water, and 421 lb at 90 degree air and 70 degree water. Size from the rated numbers, not the model name. Our ice machine sizing guide walks through that math.
Condenser letter: A, W, N and C
The NEO manual lists A (self-contained air cooled) and W (self-contained water cooled). Indigo NXT adds two more. The iF0600 spec sheet groups its N models under “Remote-cooled,” with a separate remote condenser and line set ordered on their own. Manitowoc’s QuietQube price list shows C models, such as IYF0600C-161 and IBT1020C-161, with “Remote” cooling, and notes that only Manitowoc CVD condensing units are approved with QuietQube and IB machines. For the tradeoffs between these setups, read air cooled vs water cooled ice machines.
Voltage suffixes and option letters
Manitowoc’s Indigo control board replacement instructions say the voltage code “is required at the end of the model number” and give this table. The NEO manual adds a few more.
- -161: 115/60/1
- -261: 208-230/60/1
- -263: 208-230/60/3
- -251: 230/50/1 (export)
- -463: 460/60/3
- NEO manual also lists: -271 (200/50-60/1), -273 (200/50-60/3) and -453 (380-415/50/3)
After the voltage, the NEO manual decodes option letters: X for LuminIce, A for alternate compressor, HP for a high pressure water regulating valve, and a power cord code. Blank means junction box, Z is a cord without plug, B is a NEMA plug for the USA, and F, G and I are plugs for the EU, UK and Australia. A licensed electrician and your local code have the final word on the circuit for any of these voltages.
Manitowoc IDP vs IYP: what actually changes
IDP and IYP differ by one letter, and that letter is only the cube. On the iP0500 sheet, the IDP0500A and IYP0500A share the same 30 inch cabinet, the same R290 refrigerant and nearly the same output: 515 lb for dice and 516 lb for half dice at 70/50. In our catalog, the IDP0500A-261 and IYP0500A-261 are listed at the same price, about $4,487 at the time of writing. The IRP0500A-261 regular cube version is listed at $4,595. So the IDP vs IYP choice comes down to what you serve, not budget or footprint. Our Manitowoc ice machine review covers the Indigo NXT and NEO families in more depth.
Real Manitowoc listings, decoded
Prices and production come from our product listings and can change. Where the title leaves out a code, we say so.
| Model (listing) | Decoded | Cube | Production (listing) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDP0500A-261 | Indigo NXT, R290, air cooled, 208-230/60/1 | Dice | 515 lb | $4,487 |
| IYP0500A-261 | Indigo NXT, R290, air cooled, 208-230/60/1 | Half dice | 516 lb | $4,487 |
| IRP0500A-261 | Indigo NXT, R290, air cooled, 208-230/60/1 | Regular | 509 lb | $4,595 |
| IDP0420W-161 | Indigo NXT 22 inch, R290, water cooled, 115/60/1 | Dice | 442 lb | $4,356 |
| IYP0450W-161 | Indigo NXT, R290, water cooled, 115/60/1 | Half dice | 464 lb | $4,266 |
| UYP0190A-161BX | NEO undercounter, R290, air cooled, 115/60/1, NEMA plug, LuminIce, 90 lb bin | Half dice | 200 lb | $3,332 |
| UDP0240W-161B | NEO undercounter, R290, water cooled, 115/60/1, NEMA plug, 90 lb bin | Dice | 240 lb | $3,573 |
| IYF0600C | Indigo NXT, F refrigerant code, QuietQube remote; voltage not in title | Half dice | 642 lb | $4,913 |
| IDT1500A | Indigo NXT 48 inch, T refrigerant code, air cooled; listing says 208-230V, 3 phase | Dice | 1,830 lb | $9,024 |
The QuietQube IYF0600C needs a condensing unit sold separately, so its price is not the full system cost, and Manitowoc’s QuietQube price list rates it at 600 lb rather than the 642 lb our listing shows, so trust the current spec sheet. Some heads also appear twice in our catalog, alone and with a bin, at different prices, so call to confirm the package.
Letters we could not confirm
Manitowoc also sells nugget, flake and countertop machines with prefixes such as RNP, RNF, RFF, UFP and CNP. Our listings describe the RNP0620W and RNF1100W as nugget machines, the RFF1300A as flake and the CNP0201A as a countertop nugget dispenser. We did not find a Manitowoc decoding table for those families, so we will not guess what each letter stands for. The same goes for the B in QuietQube IB models (listed for beverage dispensers) and the S prefix on 48 inch S Series units. If a letter matters to your install, the model’s own spec sheet is the authority.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Manitowoc model number tell me?
Machine type, cube size, refrigerant, nominal production, condenser type, voltage and options, in that order, per Manitowoc’s NEO manual.
What is the difference between Manitowoc IDP vs IYP?
Only the cube. IDP makes dice cubes (7/8 inch) and IYP makes half dice cubes. On the iP0500 sheet the two have the same cabinet and nearly identical output, and our listings price the -261 versions the same.
What are the Manitowoc ice cube types?
For cube machines, Manitowoc uses D for dice, Y for half dice and R for regular. Nugget and flake machines are separate product lines.
What does -161 or -261 mean on a Manitowoc?
-161 is 115 volt, 60 Hz, single phase. -261 is 208-230 volt, 60 Hz, single phase. -263 is the three phase version of 208-230 volt.
Get help matching a model number
If you have a model number from an old machine, a quote or a spec sheet, we can help match it to a current listing in our Manitowoc collection. Call 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship with free freight shipping, and orders below that ship for a $200 flat rate. Review our return and refund policy before you order.
