the setup is clear.

ps. i got the t type washer thermocouple.

http://auberins.com/index.php?mai...nfo&products_id=16


I read the PDF...and well..i'm just a little lost in terms of what to do with the PID after the install.

like really lost.

i attached this..from the pdf.






ps. i didnt' see other setups using fuses..but they suggest one for the ssr. Do you agree?

I've never had issues with power surges in my house.

cheers

Don't know if this helps but i got this pdf from another Gaggia PID Application blogger.

It's a similar unit has alot more explanatory steps.

what do you think?

4. Initialization Parameter Setting (power and any type of input device required)

a. Temporarily connect power and thermocouple to unit - see Section 8.

b. Press (SET) to enter the setting mode, then enter code "0089" and press (SET) again.

c. The first parameter, "Inty" will appear on screen. Press (SET) and scroll through the various sensor types by pressing (v) or (^) until the one you want appears. Press (SET) to select that particular sensor.

d. Press (^) to see the next parameter, "Outy" and then press (SET). Press (v) or (^) to scroll through the choices (0, 1, or 2) and press (SET) when the one you want is shown.

e. Press (^) to see the next parameter, "Caty" and then press (SET). Press (v) or (^) to scroll through the choices (0, 1, or 2) and press (SET) when the one you want is shown.

f. Continue the same process for the remaining three parameters.

a. To activate auto-tuning, press and hold (>) until "AT" indicator blinks, which indicates auto-tuning is in progress. Activate auto-tuning when the machine to be controlled is at or 10% below setpoint temperature (SV). When auto-tuning finishes, the "AT" indicator light turns off. Now newly calculated PID parameters are stored in memory and will be used by the controller.
b. To EXIT during the auto-tuning process, press and hold (>) until "AT" indicator turns off. The previously entered PID parameters values are used by the controller.

i just hooked up the power and thermocouple.

im watching the temps. which make no sense.

i see a negative sign beside alm2 and the numbers go from 1 to 20

i know it doesn't matter but i set the sv variable to 203F just to see if i could do it.

At this point...i think i just want to use it too see what the temps are in the boiler

and forget about programming it.

If this is even possible i have no idea cause i can't figure it out.

I'm going to buy a rancilio silvia in about 6mths and have someone put a pid on

for me. For now i just want to see the temps inside the boiler and i will just surf

as usual for the proper temps.

but how to do that..is the question.

sigh

jggall01 wrote:I think you will have more success mounting a washer t/c probe if you scrap the existing button thermostat, and then use a short, matching machine screw in its place to secure the washer. Otherwise, I think you'll find that a washer probe is not flat enough to be "clamped" below the tstat.

that was exactly the problem I had some weeks ago; the t-stat was just a tad to short for reaching the screw thread with the washer placed under it..

jggall01 wrote:Anybody know what the size/threading is on the Gaggia thermostat stud?

it's M4 (4mm) - at least in my gaggia classic

After installation I tried to follow greg scace's instructions - but with a temperature drop of roughly 8 dec C (=16 degF) during an 60ml shot, it's seems to me that the critical setting of the parameters have to be chosen much less aggressive than for a more stable silvia.

for me the ultimate cure in pid tuning instructions was the link posted by cafeIKE: http://www.omega.com/temperature/Z/pdf/z115-117.pdf

erics wrote:Test/"calibrate" your thermocouple in a pot of vigorously boiling water.

If going to this trouble, be sure you know the altitude and barometeric pressure, and adjust boiling point as necessary.
Pure water removes another variable.

cafeIKE wrote:If going to this trouble, be sure you know the altitude and barometeric pressure, and adjust boiling point as necessary.

actually the boiling pressure of pure water is determined by pressure alone (which in turn varies with altitude and meteorological conditions); just go to a weather page for your region for finding out the current local pressure and then feed this calculator with it (units are: kPa (1kPa=0.01bar) or mmHg).