Dear all,

I'we been a viewer for some time but this is my first post, actually the first time I have ever had a reason to post here as most of the time my needs are fullfilled by viewing intelligent posts by others. This is a great website for beginners! I'we been browsing and searching through the forums and found manya helpful post but non that has made me snap with enlightenment and given a solution to the problem I'm having with my machine.

Let me get to the point. The love of my life, Ms. Dómhildur, is sick. I have a machine that is said to be a Vibiemme Domobar Lusso (pic below, I'we seen similar machines by other names like Inox/Violetta), I have never found anything substential about it so I have wondered if it is really a Vibiemme, but that is actually not the topic of discussion. Lately it has only been blowing steam through the shower head. I turn it on and let it heat for a while, at first it seems OK as water runs through but after a while, when the machine gets hotter, it's only steam that comes out. Browsing through old posts I at first thought it might be the heat controller of the machine, that it was stuck and the machine was getting way to hot hence the steam, but when I investigated with that in mind I'm not so sure. The machine seems to be cutting of the heating when it has gotten to that point, at least the sound of it is pretty clear - I don't have any measuring equipment at hand to test this.

Can you help me diagnose the problem and pitch in your thoughts? It would be much appreciated as I'd very much like to fix the machine myself.

P.s. sorry for the lack of correct espresso machine lingo, I'm new to this world but eager to learn. Just ask if further information is needed. Thanks for your time!

Meet Ms. Dómhildur:

Undress your sweetie and take some pics.

More than likely, your brew thermostat is tired . . . very tired (Prodigy TR/86). See this review for what your machine SHOULD look like INTERNALLY - http://www.home-barista.com/quickmill-alexia-review.html

Kind of shy to post pics of my sweetie undressed!

Here are pictures of the inside. So the solution would probably be a new thermostat? Wouldn't that be a perfect opportunity to PID the machine?

I would say that it is an opportunity to compare the costs of fixing the machine via those methods.

Keep in mind that this particular machine was NOT sold in the US so electrical info (for example - a wiring diagram) is essentially non-existent here. I assume you can locate a nearby repair shop willing to do the work. If you were going to do it yourself, you do need/should have some basic electrical meters and tools.

Take a pic of the boiler top and other side - where is the steam thermostat?

Thanks for your help and quick replies, much appreciated. There is a repair shop around but I hear stories of slow service and a long waiting time for parts but I will check on them next week. I have a friend who is handy with electricity (he has built PID controllers for various uses, from beer making to rocketry) and has all those meters and tools we would need, my idea was to get him to help me along.

Here are pictures from the other side, the top and of the pressure stat.

So Eric, you'd consider my best option would be to order a new thermostat like the Prodigy and replace the old one?

Rather than say "the best option", I would say an option is certainly to replace the existing thermostat with an identical Jaeger thermostat ASSUMING you and your electrical friend can be 100% (or close) certain that the existing thermostat is defective. I do agree that it is pointing heavily in that direction but, for example, have you tried turning the temperature adjustment "knob" fully counter-clockwise?

This thread has info on a Prodigy thermostat - Install a PID on my Vibiemme Junior DB? . There was/is some controversy on the thread size of both the temperature sensor and adaptor so I would not be too quick to change brands of thermostat. The Jaeger thermostat does look very similar but I notice that your sensor is screwed directly into the boiler.

The cost of the parts to PID an espresso machine is around $100; the cost for your friend - ? - perhaps a fine meal, a case of beer, whatever. But again, assuming that the existing thermostat is defective, the easiest solution is simply to replace the thermostat. You were happy before and you should be equally happy afterwards. However, if it were my machine, I would "tidy up" the existing wiring & apply a PID.

erics wrote:The Jaeger thermostat does look very similar but I notice that your sensor is screwed directly into the boiler.

My guess is that the nut on the top of the boiler is associated with a 6 mm thermowell, and that the sensor bulb for the thermostat just slides into the well.

Did you notice the spring system that holds a thermostat to the side of the boiler? That might be the overheat/safety thermostat.

Jim

erics wrote:have you tried turning the temperature adjustment "knob" fully counter-clockwise?

No, had not but tried it this evening and well, the machine did not over-heat. It stayed relatively lukewarm, I could put my hand under the water. I'we then turned it clockwise again but not as far as it was and it was only steam again. Since then I'we been trying to find some balance, turning it clockwise in small increments. Not sure if the solution was that the thermostat suddenly just went out of order, as the knob was certainly not turned.

One thing I noticed, when the machine is over-heating it's sound become very compressed, like it's trying real hard to get some water out. When it was cold or lukewarm I hear some high pitched sound coming out of it. Don't know if you can read something out of that.

While being stuck around the machine I decided to take the gasket out to have a look. It was black stained of old dirt coffee. Started thinking could this be related to lack of cleaning? I'we never taken the gasket of, just back flushed with a blind filter fairly regularly.

Send me an email at my address below my sig and I will send some info.

Yes, you need to take better care of your "sweetie" and yes, the thermostat adjustment knob is VERY sensitive - a little movement goes a long way and you need about 15 minutes between movements to sense the reaction. Did you not read the link I posted to the Vibiemme Domobar Junior DB ???