I've got an idea for what I think is a simple, cheap, accessible, solution to the HX brew temp VS steam power problem.

Here's how it should be set up:

• Connect two nice wires and a heavy-duty toggle switch (or even better, a foot switch!) to the p-stat terminals (effectively making the p-stat function only when the switch is set to OFF). Keep this switch set to OFF.
• Set p-stat to something that's optimized for brewing (e.g. 0.5 bar).

And here's how it should work:

• I'd go to my idling machine and immediately brew.
• Turn the bypass switch to ON while I clean the basket or bring the milk.
• Steam then immediately turn the bypass switch to OFF when done.

No PID, no waste, no nothing! That's it!

I think it's crazy because it's simple and I haven't seen any Internet-talk about it. Should I go ahead with it? Comments?

A better idea is a 2nd pstat in parallel.
Guaranteed you'll blow the boiler over pressure release first time you forget to open the switch

But if you're going to that much trouble, a PID is not much, if any, more effort. Check out HX Heaven or 1½ Boiler

A better idea is a 2nd pstat in parallel.

GMTA. That's the first thing that came to my mind as well, and the dangers forgetfulness. With my ADD, I'd blow the roof of my kitchen on the first morning after I'd installed a switch!
Of course, with 14 litres, I might have to wait too long for steam....

cafeIKE wrote:A better idea is a 2nd pstat in parallel.
Guaranteed you'll blow the boiler over pressure release first time you forget to open the switch

But if you're going to that much trouble, a PID is not much, if any, more effort.

Psyd wrote:That's the first thing that came to my mind as well, and the dangers forgetfulness. With my ADD, I'd blow the roof of my kitchen on the first morning after I'd installed a switch!

I knew I should've written "foot switch" in bold the first time, but no I'll not edit my original post

Cost, minimalism and setup convenience (to most of us) is what this p-stat-bypass is all about. A 2nd pstat or a PID is much more complicated and costly.

Hmmm, so you guys are saying it would actually work

Sure! And the dead-man should have a cover so nothing can get set on it. Think of a switch inside a 'shoe'.
For a two or three liter boiler, even something as large as five or six, sure, but I'm not sure I could get fourteen to steam temp between the time the pull is done and the crema goes flat...

Excellent! So, basically, it's all about the right switch

This page has a good selection.

You might want to ensure your machine has a over-temperature device in line with the heating element just in case of switch failure. Hate to have your kitchen become a Myth Busters special.


Mark

Hi there,

just out of curiosity, why would you want to do it? To get more steam set the boiler to around 1.1-1.3bar and simply flush a bit more water before the shot to bring the temperature down. Or if you really want to add another pressure stat, throw the existing one away, install two temp stats and add a steaming switch. But that will give you a normal single boiler machine covered in a HX case.

If you have a HX use it as a HX, it's quite good once you get the hang of it.

Regards,
dsc.

Tom, not all HXes are equal. I gather that machines with an E61 gives you a pretty stable brew temp after a flush. At 1 bar or so some machines, including mine, are just too wild for a shot or two. At 0.5 bar, mine is much more manageable, and steams small quantities decently. However, the solution I'm proposing gives some of us the option to "step on it" (literally ) when steaming bigger milk amounts.

Installing a PID or two stats is much more costly and involved than just adding a foot switch. I think I have a winner; not needed for many machines, but suitable for my machine and maybe similar ones.

Since no one is able to dissuade, suggest using a low voltage switch to trip a honking great relay.
Use an armoured cable and a flexible strain relief for the cable entrance.

[If your case is stainless, adding a 2nd pstat is the easiest, and probably cheapest, option by far.]