I recently took my Vetrano off the FloJet that had been feeding it and plumbed it in to my softened/filtered home water system. Besides an EverPure filter to reduce scale/sediment, I plumbed in a Watts 263A adjustable pressure regulator and gauge (between the filter and machine). I also have the machine on a timer to automatically turn it on/off in the morning.

I know at least one other HB member has used this regulator unit (and many others have regulators in place) and I need a little advice. When the machine is completely off, the gauge is showing 45psi. When the machine comes on and pulls a little water, the gauge drops immediately to 30psi and then slowly crawls back to 45. When I pull a shot the pressure drops again to 30 and slowly recovers upward.

So the question is, in the interest of prolonging seal life, should I adjust off pressure to 30psi (I know that when I do so, any water pull drops line pressure VERY low until it recovers) or leave it where it is, knowing that when the solenoid is open no more than 30psi will be pushed into the machine?

Thanks for any advice!

Good question!

I have a similar model but mine isn't a 3-way. I believe its the 1/4 26AB. I'm leaving it at the higher pressure and letting it swing down during a pull. The same as you. From what my plumber told me the first thing to go is the spring inside the regulator, not the seal. He said that I should only get a couple of years use before the spring wears out.

Are you using an external water softener an how long has your Everpure cartridge been used? Mine are clogging every couple of months from the softening system and the cartridges are to expensive to replace at this rate.

Actually it was the Vetrano seals I was talking about. The Watts unit seems to be built like a tank so I'm not so worried about that (though thanks for the word about the springs...I'll have to ask around about that).

I've only had the EverPure for a few days, and our water is fed off a whole-house softening system. I guess I'll find out in the next few months about the expected longevity of the filter cartridge...

Balthazar_B wrote:So the question is, in the interest of prolonging seal life, should I adjust off pressure to 30psi (I know that when I do so, any water pull drops line pressure VERY low until it recovers) or leave it where it is, knowing that when the solenoid is open no more than 30psi will be pushed into the machine?

The gauge registering a momentary drop wouldn't concern me as long as the flow rate is well above the pump's needs. Sorry for asking, but the order is mains > filter > pressure regulator > gauge > espresso machine, right? If the filter is slowing the flow too much, you could add an accumulator (essentially a tank with pressurized bladder) to stabilize the inlet pressure to your Vetrano's rotary pump.

Adjust it to be what ever you want it to be (30 psi) when there is flow in the line. It is normal for it to creep upwards to the "unregulated" pressure when there is zero flow. That would be a very tough job for any regulator dealing with an incompressible fluid (water) to keep it at 30 psi whereas it is not a problem for a typical air pressure regulator because they usually have a built-in bleed which creates a flow.

Set your machine pump's relief valve with a blind basket such that it is 0.2 to 0.3 bar above your desired brew brew pressure. You could also set your Watts regulator to the 30 psi at the same time.

Nice setup,

Skol,

Eric S.