Elektra A3 erupts

#1: Post by **Fullsack** » April 29th, 2013, 6:05 pm

During the warm-up, the red Level Control light came on, on my stored too long A3. The red light and accompanying pump noise lasted much longer than it ever had in the past, and terminated with a mini explosion that sprayed water all over the interior of the machine.
Anyone have an idea what happened and what to do to prevent this from occurring again?
Thanks

#2: Post by **allon** » April 29th, 2013, 6:15 pm

Autofill malfunction?
Sometimes can happen due to scale build up on the probe.
Or too pure water, if you feed it distilled.

What's the history of the machine?

April 29th, 2013, 6:36 pm

Purchased new, used little, stored for a year, fed only tap water filtered by a softener cartridge and a calcite carbon filter from Chris Coffee.

April 29th, 2013, 6:56 pm

Good call on the probe. The probe itself was clean, but the electrical connection, to it, wasn't fully seated. Thanks Allon.

#5: Post by HB » April 29th, 2013, 7:00 pm

Allon already got it, but here's what I would have (wrongly) guessed...

Fullsack wrote:...a mini explosion that sprayed water all over the interior of the machine.

Maybe the seal between the rotary pump dried out and ripped when the motor started up. Or, maybe the bypass valve stuck closed and the safety release valve failed, resulting in high enough pressure to rupture the tubing. I imagine that would produce quite a bang followed by a shower.

April 29th, 2013, 7:04 pm

Not sure you're wrong Dan. I haven't tested it since seating the connection. If it still has the issue, I'll have something else to check. Thanks.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:19 pm

I ran the water from dispenser for quite a while, the red Level Control light never came on. Finally, the boiler ran dry and only steam came from the valve. Bypass valve issue?

#8: Post by **theblizzard** » May 7th, 2013, 5:55 pm

Curious as to how happy you have been with the A3, Ive been dying to snag one for a while and have been unsuccessful.

#9: Post by **da gino** » May 7th, 2013, 8:51 pm

I love my T1 (the current closest equivalent) and have no desire to trade it for any machine at any price.

May 7th, 2013, 8:58 pm

I love the A3, have one at home and work. It's unfortunate, they discontinued the model, but it will only increase the value.