I've just had a fun afternoon fitting a pressure gauge to my Silvia. There are a set of photographs on my flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/robives/sets/72157612560672607/

Looks sharp! Where did you source the 't' and other fittings? And is that braided line from the pump to the OPV now stock? Mine came with some sort of semi-rigid teflon (I think).

Jack

Thanks!
The parts are from:
Trent Instruments (pressure gauge -http://www.trentinstruments.co.uk );
Megaflex (tee; PTFE tape - http://www.megaflex.co.uk); and
Chris Coffee (capillary tube - http://www.chriscoffee.com)
My Silvia came with the braided hose already installed.

Details of the parts specifications are on my brother's flickr site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71244771@N00/3296216472/in/photostream/

i was curious - how do you like the preinfusion functionality? can you tell any difference in ease-of-use (less channeling?) or taste vs. no preinfusion?

atao wrote:i was curious - how do you like the preinfusion functionality? can you tell any difference in ease-of-use (less channeling?) or taste vs. no preinfusion?

I also have installed the Auber PID with preinfusion and as of now I tend not to use it. The 3-way valve opens when the PID makes a brief pause before the main infusion and a classic "whoosh" can be heard, making me think that I gain less from preinfusion than I may lose with that backflush... In fact, with the two blends I have used since I have the PID (only two months), I get better crema results without preinfusion than with it.

Regarding channeling, I don't see a clear difference but I'm still new to espresso and without a naked portafilter it is hard to tell.

So the Auber preinfusion (opening the 3-way valve during the brief pause) doesn't really compare to the mechanical preinfusion of a E-61 group. Still, I am pleased with my PID choice (timer and steam temp control).

Nicely done. Both of those Flikr streams were very detailed and informative.

Did you have any other choices for where to place the pressure gauge other than the back, right side, or was that the only place it could go?

A smaller gauge (mine is 50mm) would fit on the front of the machine. My brother (who is obviously very lazy) has left his gauge hidden inside the machine! He may well get a new smaller gauge to mount on the front at some point.
But I think he's secretly hankering after an Alex Duetto

i was curious - how do you like the preinfusion functionality? can you tell any difference in ease-of-use (less channeling?) or taste vs. no preinfusion?

I'm very pleased with the PID. I don't have a PID without preinfuser to compare with but it works fine for me. Good crema, no channeling. I used to hand pre-infuse with the switch before I installed the PID. Installing the PID has given me much steadier temperature and a more consistently good coffee.

The 3-way valve opens when the PID makes a brief pause before the main infusion and a classic "whoosh" can be heard,

The info I got from Auber was the 3 way valve is open during the whole preinfusion phase and closes at the start of the brew phase.
Or have I got it wrong.
EDIT. I have reread my reference and the 3 way valve is open during the delay phase sorry for misinformation.