GSI 1214S Portable Grain Dryer

The GSI 1214S is the entry point into the 1200S&H Series — a single-module portable grain dryer with two vane axial fans, two heaters, and a balanced 50/50 plenum split. With 381 bushels of holding capacity and Full Heat drying performance up to 730 BPH at 5-point moisture removal, the 1214S is designed for small to mid-size operations that want serious drying flexibility in a compact footprint, with a clear upgrade path to a larger multi-module dryer down the road.

The “S” designation is important: the 1214S is upgradable. Operators starting with a 1214S today can add modules later to convert the unit into a 2300 Series two-module dryer or a 3400 Series three-module dryer — without replacing the base. This makes the 1214S a strategic choice for growing farms that need solid drying capacity now but expect to scale up within the next several years.

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Series	1200S&H
Configuration	1 Module / 2 Stages
Fans	2 vane axial @ 12 HP, 28″
Heaters	2 @ 3.0 Mil. BTU/hr
Plenum Split	50/50
Grain Column	14″ × 14′
Total Holding Capacity	381 BU
Grain Column Holding Capacity	329 BU
Top Auger (Loading)	8″ flight, 5 HP — 3,800 BPH
Bottom Auger (Unloading)	8″ flight / 10″ tube, 5 HP
Meter Roll Drive	VFD, 1 HP — 1,960 BPH max
Fuel	LP or Natural Gas
Phase Options	Single Phase or Three Phase
Voltage	230V / 208V / 460V / 575V
Inverter (VFD) Available	Yes
Upgradable	Yes (S-Series)
Control System	Vision Controls (GSI Connect compatible)

Drying Capacity

All capacities below are wet bushels per hour, based on mature unfrozen #2 yellow shelled dent corn. Full Heat assumes grain is cooled in-bin after discharge; Dry & Cool numbers reflect grain that exits the dryer already cooled.

Mode	Moisture Removal	Capacity
Full Heat	30% to 15%	300 BPH
Full Heat	25% to 15%	450 BPH
Full Heat	20% to 15%	730 BPH
Dry & Cool (Continuous)	25% to 15%	185 BPH
Dry & Cool (Continuous)	20% to 15%	300 BPH
Dry & Cool (Staged Batch)	25% to 15%	260 BPH
Dry & Cool (Staged Batch)	20% to 15%	360 BPH

The 1214S delivers its peak throughput in Full Heat mode at 5-point removal, hitting 730 BPH on standard corn. At heavier 10-point removal (25% to 15%), Full Heat drops to 450 BPH — still more than double what a comparable single-fan dryer would manage on the same load.

For operators who need cooled grain straight out of the dryer, Staged Batch Dry & Cool is the preferred mode. It typically outpaces continuous Dry & Cool by 20–25% because of how the dry and cool cycles are sequenced internally.

Fan & Heater Configuration

The 1214S runs two vane axial fans at 12 HP each, with 28-inch fan housings. Each fan is paired with its own 3.0 Mil. BTU/hr heater and feeds a dedicated plenum. The 50/50 split means both the upper and lower halves of the grain column receive equal heat input — a key advantage over the standard 1200 Series, which uses a 67/33 split that biases heat toward the upper plenum.

For operators on single-phase power, the 1214S is one of the few 1200S&H models still offered with single-phase fan options (157–212 amps at 230V). Larger models in the series, like the 1226S/H, require three-phase service. This makes the 1214S a practical choice for farmsteads without three-phase service that still want dual-fan, dual-heater performance.

Three-phase configurations are available across all standard voltages (208V, 230V, 460V, 575V) and deliver lower amp draw at the same drying capacity.

Grain Column & Holding Capacity

The 1214S uses standard 14-inch wide grain columns measuring 14 feet long. Total holding capacity is 381 bushels, with 329 bushels held inside the active grain column itself — the remainder sits in the loading and discharge zones above and below.

The 14″ column width is GSI’s standard for the entire portable lineup and is optimized for corn-sized kernels. For drying canola or other small grains, the optional small grain screen with 0.055″ perforations is available, though it reduces corn drying capacity by approximately 20% when installed.

Loading, Unloading & Metering

Top auger (loading): 8-inch flight driven by a 5 HP motor, with a peak loading rate of 3,800 BPH. This means the 1214S can be filled in roughly 6 minutes from empty at full feed rate — important during peak harvest when truck cycle time matters.

Bottom auger (unloading): 8-inch flight in a 10-inch tube, also 5 HP. The unloading auger keeps pace with the dryer’s peak metering rate.

Meter roll drive: 1 HP VFD (variable frequency drive), with a maximum metering capacity of 1,960 BPH. The VFD allows the operator to fine-tune discharge speed based on real-time moisture readings, either manually or automatically through Vision Controls.

The combination of a VFD-driven meter roll and Vision Controls means the 1214S can target a specific exit moisture content and adjust unload speed dynamically as inlet moisture changes — a major efficiency gain over fixed-speed metering systems.

Operating Modes

The 1214S supports all four standard 1200S&H operating modes:

All Heat — Maximum throughput. Grain leaves the dryer hot and is cooled in-bin. Best for corn and rice operations with adequate in-bin cooling air. Peak capacity: 730 BPH at 5-point removal.

Continuous Dry & Cool — Full continuous flow with integrated cooling. Grain exits cooled and ready for direct binning. Slower than All Heat but eliminates in-bin cooling requirements.

Staged Batch Dry & Cool — Alternating dry/cool cycles inside the dryer. Faster than continuous Dry & Cool while still delivering pre-cooled grain. Especially useful for high-moisture corn or sensitive grains.

Continuous Flow — Steady-state production mode for lower moisture differentials.

This four-mode flexibility is one of the strongest practical advantages of the 1214S for operators who handle multiple grain types or variable harvest moistures across the season.

Transport & Installed Dimensions

The 1214S is engineered as a true portable dryer — it can be relocated between farmsteads or repositioned on-site as needed.

Dimension	Transport	Installed
Length	23′ 2″ (hitch to discharge auger)	21′ 2″
Width	8′	8′ 8″
Height	13′ 5″ (11′ 9″ shortest)	14′ 6″ (excl. foundation supports)
Approximate Weight	9,500 lbs	—

Installed width is slightly wider than transport width because of the fan housings extending beyond the column profile. Transport height is given with both standard and shortest configurations — the lower 11′ 9″ figure assumes the discharge auger is folded down for road transport under low bridges and power lines.

The 1214S’s 9,500 lb transport weight makes it one of the lightest dryers in the 1200S&H Series, requiring less tractor or truck capacity to move compared to larger models in the lineup.

Vision Controls

The 1214S ships standard with Vision Controls — GSI’s purpose-built color touchscreen control system for grain dryers. Vision handles:

• All four operating modes with dedicated mode-select interface
• Plenum temperature setpoints for both upper and lower heaters
• Moisture-targeting through automatic meter roll VFD adjustment
• Full system diagnostics and fault logging
• Multi-grain profiles for fast switching between corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and other crops

The Vision display can be mounted directly on the dryer or remoted into a shop or office with a hardwired connection. The remote option is particularly useful for operators who run the dryer continuously during harvest and want monitoring without walking to the unit.

GSI Connect Remote Management

The 1214S is GSI Connect compatible, enabling phone-based remote monitoring and control through the GSI Connect mobile app. Connect functionality includes:

• Real-time dryer status (running, idle, fault)
• Live plenum temperatures and grain moisture readings
• Remote setpoint adjustment
• Remote stop function
• Unload speed adjustment
• Performance logs and runtime alerts

GSI Connect is especially valuable for overnight drying runs or when the dryer is sited away from the main farmstead. It also provides historical performance data that can be used to optimize drying efficiency season over season.

Optional Equipment

Beyond the standard configuration, the 1214S supports several factory and dealer-installed options:

Static Moisture Sampler — Improves moisture reading accuracy by sampling only when grain is stationary. Includes debris guards to prevent fines from contaminating the sensor. Recommended for operators using moisture-targeting mode in Vision Controls.

Inverters (VFDs) — Available on all 1200S&H models including the 1214S. VFD upgrades allow finer control over fan and auger speeds, reducing energy consumption at partial loads.

Small Grain Screen — 0.055″ perforations for canola and other small grains. Reduces corn capacity by ~20% when installed.

Single-to-Three-Phase Converter — For operators wanting three-phase fan performance on a single-phase service.

Best Applications for the 1214S

The 1214S is the right choice for a specific operational profile. Understanding where it fits — and where it doesn’t — helps avoid costly sizing mistakes.

Best fit:

• Small to mid-size farms with 700 BPH or less of typical drying demand
• Operations with growth plans that may require a multi-module dryer in 5–10 years (S-Series upgrade path)
• Single-phase farmsteads that want dual-fan performance without three-phase service
• Operations primarily drying corn, with secondary use on soybeans, wheat, or rice
• Custom drying businesses needing a portable, flexible mid-capacity unit

Less suitable for:

• Operations consistently exceeding 800 BPH demand — step up to the 1218S or 1220S
• Large farms with no expansion plans — the 1214H equivalent doesn’t exist; for non-upgradable mid-capacity drying, look at the standard 1200 Series
• Pure small-grain operations where canola or wheat is the primary use — the 14″ column is corn-optimized

How the 1214S Compares to Adjacent Models

1214S vs 1218S: The 1218S adds a 4-foot longer grain column (18′ vs 14′) and increases Full Heat capacity from 730 to 860 BPH — about 18% more throughput in the same series footprint. Choose the 1218S if your typical drying volume regularly exceeds 700 BPH.

1214S vs standard 1214 (if available): The standard 1200 Series uses a 67/33 plenum split, while the 1214S uses 50/50. The 1214S delivers higher All Heat capacity and more uniform drying — but at a higher price point. The S-Series upgrade path is the deciding factor for most growing operations.

1214S vs 1108 (1100 Series): The 1108 is a single-fan, single-heater dryer at half the capacity. The 1214S is the better long-term investment for any operation expecting to grow or wanting mode flexibility (the 1100 Series has more limited operating modes).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the holding capacity of the GSI 1214S? The 1214S has a total holding capacity of 381 bushels, with 329 bushels in the active grain column.

What is the maximum drying capacity of the 1214S? At 5-point moisture removal (20% to 15%) in Full Heat mode, the 1214S delivers up to 730 BPH on standard corn.

Can the 1214S run on single-phase power? Yes. The 1214S is one of the few 1200S&H models still available in a single-phase configuration, with 230V single-phase fans drawing 157–212 amps.

Is the 1214S upgradable? Yes. As an S-Series dryer, the 1214S is engineered to accept additional modules later, allowing conversion to a two-module 2300 Series or three-module 3400 Series dryer without replacing the base unit.

What fuel does the 1214S use? The 1214S supports both liquid propane (LP) and natural gas (NG), selectable at order configuration.

What is the transport weight of the 1214S? Approximately 9,500 lbs, making it the lightest model in the 1200S&H Series.

Does the 1214S support remote monitoring? Yes. The 1214S ships with Vision Controls and is compatible with GSI Connect for full remote dryer management via the GSI Connect mobile app.

Can the 1214S dry canola or other small grains? Yes, with the optional small grain screen (0.055″ perforations). Capacity on corn is reduced by approximately 20% when the small grain screen is installed.

Related Models in the 1200S&H Series

• 1218S — Next step up, 490 BU holding, 860 BPH Full Heat
• 1220S / 1220H — 544 BU holding, breaks 900 BPH Full Heat threshold
• 1222S / 1222H — 599 BU holding, over 1,000 BPH Full Heat
• 1226S / 1226H — Series flagship, 708 BU holding, 1,330 BPH Full Heat

GSI 1214S Reviews & Ratings