So today I acquired a used Faema Compact 2. It needs a little TLC, and maybe some parts changed, but the price was simply too good to pass up. Anyhow, in a few months I will probably be relocating to a house where I will have no issues doing some electrical work and putting in a 220 socket, but currently I live in an apartment... Is there anyway I can hook this thing up? I was thinking that I could just plug it into the same place where my stove is connected, but no dice. The plugs are different.


Espresso Machine



Dryer and Stove

(Sorry for the bad pics... BlackBerry camera)

What does the collected knowledge of the forum say?

Yes, you can plug the 220v machine into the outlet for the electric stove. The stove outlet is wired for what appears to be a 40amp plug. The machine probably is rated at 20amps which is what the plug appears to be. Simply go to a hardware store and buy the correct plug and replace the existing one. That circuit will be a dedicated circuit and have plenty of safety margin. You can look on the electric breaker panel and see what the actual breaker amp rating is by the little numbers on the toggle.
Bernie

So, just to confirm, this is what I need?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?ac...80-SP-L&lpage=none

If it is, how would I go about changing it? Is there a guide on how to do this somewhere?

Proceed very cautiously.

That plug looks like the Faema is expecting 2 hots and 1 ground. But the dryer plug looks to me like 2 hots and 1 neutral. Make sure you know how the outlet is wired. You do not want to connect the Faema's ground lug to a neutral (and especially not to a hot).

I can't offer any advice on how to do this, just on how not to

Jim

I'm kind of frightened that you are planning on running a 240V line yourself (if that's what you meant) in your new house and yet aren't sure on how to change a plug. No offense meant; we all have to start somewhere, but just be careful!

Ben Z. wrote:I'm kind of frightened that you are planning on running a 240V line yourself (if that's what you meant) in your new house and yet aren't sure on how to change a plug. No offense meant; we all have to start somewhere, but just be careful!

What I meant was, I would be having one put in by someone who knows what they are doing. I am trying to avoid any electrical work if possible as I truly know nothing about it. But my current situation does not allow me to modify the electrical work here so I was just curious if there are any ways to get the machine to work without doing this.

What about a step-up transformer?

Vater5B wrote:What about a step-up transformer?

That would only help if you have a circuit with the proper amperage; see Moved in apartment without 220v power for espresso machine for discussion.

Vater5B wrote:So, just to confirm, this is what I need?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?ac...80-SP-L&lpage=none

If it is, how would I go about changing it? Is there a guide on how to do this somewhere?

That would be the one. However, JimG is correct that you need to know if your wiring is the old neutral/ground type or newer isolated neutral/ground. Here is a link: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Electr...tral-vs-ground.htm

It would be well worth the $ to have a qualified electrician come out to the apartment or house and look at your breaker box. If he can't explain the difference find someone who can. Its one of those deals where I can understand it when someone explains it, but I have a hard time explaining it myself.
Bernie

Vater5B wrote:What I meant was, I would be having one put in by someone who knows what they are doing.

Smart. This is an easy job for someone fitting that description

Since this is temporary, maybe a reasonable approach would be to build a short, heavy extension cord that has the correct plug to fit the wall outlet, and the correct jack to accept your Faema plug. That would prevent you from having to change the plug again when you move.

Jim

Vater5B wrote:So today I acquired a used Faema Compact 2. It needs a little TLC, and maybe some parts changed, but the price was simply too good to pass up. Anyhow, in a few months I will probably be relocating to a house where I will have no issues doing some electrical work and putting in a 220 socket, but currently I live in an apartment... Is there anyway I can hook this thing up? I was thinking that I could just plug it into the same place where my stove is connected, but no dice. The plugs are different.

<image>
Espresso Machine


<image>
Dryer and Stove

(Sorry for the bad pics... BlackBerry camera)

What does the collected knowledge of the forum say?

I apologize, I was mistaken when I posted this message. I always install receptacles with the ground plug facing up, and when I looked at the prongs in this photo, it looks like it was a 20A plug. I was too quick on my post, afraid someone was going to miswire this.

Jamie