Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer Plus: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

The Space Pi Plus (dual-spool DB-04) is a 160 W heated dryer that holds two spools in one shared 45-70°C chamber and can feed two printers without removing the rolls. The dominant owner complaint is E4 heating shutdowns, and the shared single temperature plus the 70°C ceiling rule out nylon and polycarbonate filaments that need 80-90°C. Electricity works out to about $13.31 per year at 8 hours of drying per week (160 W nameplate, assumed $0.20/kWh); B&H lists the dryer at $95.99 (October 2026), above the $75-or-less good-buy threshold.

Common problems and fixes

Feed resistance from the small rollers — owners report excessive pull force that degrades extrusion and spool drag that causes underextrusion; confirm both spools rotate freely under the printer’s pull force before leaving a long print unattended. [9][10]
PTFE tube slides into the chamber — the included tube can slide down and bind the spool, stopping feed mid-print; use a retaining connector or a secure, non-damaging restraint. [4]
Fan noise and broken displays — owners report whining fans, including one Plus owner looking for a physically fitting replacement, and a broken display on a new unit. [8][16]
One shared temperature and a 70°C ceiling — PLA beside a high-heat engineering filament cannot get its own setpoint, and Creality itself recommends 80-90°C for many PA and PA-CF materials, above what this chamber reaches. [1][2][15]

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

Illustrative electricity calculation, not a measured bill: at the 160 W nameplate draw, 8 hours of drying per week for 52 weeks is 66.56 kWh per year, about $13.31 at an assumed $0.20/kWh tariff; at 16 hours per week it is 133.12 kWh and $26.62. Thermostat cycling may lower actual consumption. There is no mandatory subscription or proprietary cartridge; desiccant, tubing, fan and board repairs add irregular costs with no published schedule. [1][3]

When it is a good buy

B&H lists the original Plus at $95.99 (October 2026, in stock). [3]
Price thresholds: $75 or less is a good buy if you need two rolls and accept one shared temperature; $76-99 means compare alternatives and buyer protections first; above $100 the SUNLU FilaDryer S4 is the stronger capacity value. [3][8][12]
SUNLU FilaDryer S4 — four spools instead of two, listed from $116.99 at SUNLU’s store (October 2026); the better choice when expanding beyond two rolls or when the Plus costs over $100. [12]
Polymaker PolyDryer — dryer dock plus sealed storage boxes, $79.99 configuration on the official product page; the better choice for storing already-dried spools without reheating. [13]
Creality SpacePi X4L — four-spool, dual-chamber design rated to 75°C with separate chamber settings, seen at a $119 promotion; the better choice when two material groups need different heating at once. [1][17]
Creality’s US store lists the V2 Plus at $89.00; it is a different listing, not a verified original DB-04 price. [14]