Hi everyone. I'm a long time lurker.

I recently acquired a Linea 2AV that was manufactured in 02 and has the Gicar brain. I've decided to run it off of a bottle and have heard that it can be configured to fire up the pump when it needs to refill the boiler. Is this a hard setting in the brain or is it something that I can change myself?

Thanks.

Hi Beto,

Running water to the machine from a bottle isn't a problem.
There is one issue though, the pump is designed to run with about 2.5-5(?)Bar on the inlet water. To my limited knowledge this might cause some stress to the pump long term, but isn't that much to worry about if you are using it in a home environment.

There is no "configuring" of the brain. The machine is equipped with an auto fill sensor which automatically kicks in when you are running low.
Just know that the pump might not give sufficient pressure without correct inlet pressure.

As for the flojet... This measures the brew pressure from boiler to group head, so no need to think about that.

Martian wrote:There is one issue though, the pump is designed to run with about 2.5-5(?)Bar on the inlet water. To my limited knowledge this might cause some stress to the pump long term, but isn't that much to worry about if you are using it in a home environment.

From what I've observed, all of the La Marzoccos used at the USBC or regional competitions were run from a bottle with only a check valve to prevent introducing air into the line. The Procon pump specification does not call for positive pressure (in fact, it allows for self-priming with up to six feet of vertical lift). Then again, I don't know what La Marzocco recommends, which is what ultimately matters. Can anyone confirm whether they specifically call for positive pressure, and if so, how much?


From Do most plumb-in machines require external pressure?
(ball-type check valve assures water flows only one direction)

Interesting, because I always run a rotary pump off the bottled water. I never use check valve because I think it might put strain to the pump while sucking from the bottle, which might reduce the lifetime of the pump?

I have to always monitor the level of water in the bottle. When changing bottle, I lift the hose when pump is not working and quickly put it in adjacent bottle. I will make sure to run the pump long until no air is left in the machine.

Considering my GS/3 can run on a tank, that's below the pump, I don't think they require any positive pressure. There are plenty of other rotaries on the market that can run off of tanks, too. Otherwise I'd think the machine manufacturer would have warranty issues with the pump manufacturer.

Beto wrote:Hi everyone. I'm a long time lurker.

I recently acquired a Linea 2AV that was manufactured in 02 and has the Gicar brain. I've decided to run it off of a bottle and have heard that it can be configured to fire up the pump when it needs to refill the boiler. Is this a hard setting in the brain or is it something that I can change myself?

Thanks.

Jeff:

Did you pick up the flojet? I didn't ask Casey if you came over or not. You can run a Linea without one. There's a switch on the brain that enables the pump on autofill. I forget precisely where on the circuit board the switch lies, but a call to Wankee coffee systems or a post on Coffeed will get you the answer i bet.

-Greg