Peppersass wrote:As I said in my OP, water probably came in via the screw holes.

I can't imagine the screw holes could pass a sufficient amount of water to reach the circuit board. Did one of the techs feel this was possible? I dismissed the idea when I looked at mine...it would be easy enough to fill the screw holes with water and see if it enters the box.

chasrimpo wrote:My OPV failed to seal properly about 6 months ago - fortunately without any flooding. I just did a vinegar soak and it's been fine since. At that time I purchased a new, improved OPV valve and have been holding on to it until the current one acts up again. However, the cost and hassle noted for a new CPU board has given me "religion". I guess I'd better replace that OPV valve as soon as I have the chance.

Maybe. I see from the photos that your OPV is enclosed in a bell-shaped compartment, like mine. When the OPV opens, the compartment fills with water, which exits through the nipple in the bottom, which is connected to a PVC tube that drains into the drain box. Seems to me that as long as the nipple and tube aren't blocked, a stuck-open OPV would simply drain harmlessly into the drain box. Isn't that what happened when your OPV failed?

I guess my opinion is that there's no hurry to replace the OPV. As long as the nipple and tube aren't blocked, you don't have to worry about a failure of the OPV, and replacing the OPV won't prevent the nipple and hose from getting clogged (which seems somewhat unlikely.)

That said, did the new OPV come with a new compartment that's different from the one you have?

I'm curious about this because when the new vacuum breaker was offered to me, I was also offered a new OPV with a bell-shaped compartment. I reported that my OPV is already encased in a bell-shaped compartment, just like yours. I was then told that I wouldn't need to replace the OPV, and that the PVC tube would make it easier to install the new-style vacuum breaker. Instead of having to drill another hole in the frame above the drain box, I could just connect the vacuum breaker hose to the OPV drain hose with a T-fitting, which will be sent with the new vacuum breaker.

Did you get just the part that goes in the compartment, or a new compartment, too?

chasrimpo wrote:Dick, you showed the labeled probe side GS/3 photo from GS3Cafe and noted that the steam boiler temperature probe is angled to the right instead of pointing straight down. Since that is my machine, do you recommend that I adjust that to point down or is it better to leave well enough alone?

I don't know what the correct position is. BillC's diagram shows it pointing down, and that's the way I've always set mine. If you've been happy with the amount of steam you have, then I wouldn't change it. If you feel like your steam is running out too soon, then you can try adjust the probe to be straight down. It's very easy to loosen the lock nut, reposition the probe and tighten the nut (just enough to immobilize the probe -- too much and you might damage the teflon sheath.)

My machine tends to refill whenever I use the hot water wand, even for relatively small amounts of water, so I've been thinking about angling the proble like yours so I get a little higher hot water level.

Whoops! I said OPV but I meant the vacuum breaker valve. It was just hissing slightly so I caught that before it got too bad.

chasrimpo wrote:Whoops! I said OPV but I meant the vacuum breaker valve. It was just hissing slightly so I caught that before it got too bad.

Oh! Totally different story. If you got a replacement vacuum breaker of the old style, I wouldn't rush to replace it, as long as the one you cleaned is operating properly. But if you got one of the new ones that drains into the drain box, I would install it forthwith.