Hey Anita owners! - Could you check something for me? Andreja and Vetrano owners can play too!

[quar]

Hi everyone,

I could use a favor from the Anita/Vetrano/Andreja Premium owners out there. Next time you are pulling shots, would you mind keeping a close eye on the brew pressure gauge and the sound of the pump and let me know if there are any changes in either when the element comes on during a shot? Specifically, I'm looking to see if anyone sees any pressure drop and change in pitch of the pump. I know it's not uncommon for 110V machines to experience a drop in pressure when the element comes on when pulling a shot, but I don't remember my Anita having that issue before. Now I'm noticing a minute change in pump pitch as well as a pressure drop of one tick mark when the element comes on. I might just be a little hyper-sensitive and have just noticed as I had it apart for repairs this weekend, but I would like to know if anyone else is seeing this.

Thanks,
Mike

[Nickel]

I have a Vetrano and I don't notice any change in pressure or pitch in the pump noise. The Vetrano has a rotary pump and the Anita a vibe pump, maybe that is the difference. If any change in pressure it should be in the boiler pressure rising as a result of the element being on.

Nick

[quar]

I have a Vetrano and I don't notice any change in pressure or pitch in the pump noise. The Vetrano has a rotary pump and the Anita a vibe pump, maybe that is the difference. If any change in pressure it should be in the boiler pressure rising as a result of the element being on.

Nick

Not sure if there would be a difference due to the Vetrano's rotary pump. However, it's not uncommon for 110V machines to experience a pressure drop when the element kicks on, due to the added load of powering the element and the pump at the same time. Some machines have it worse than others. I'm seeing a *very* minor change in brew pressure, but I don't recall ever seeing one before. However, I wasn't looking for it either. Today, I was. Long story short, I was descaling and doing some general maintenance and managed to overflow the boiler a little, due to my not noticing that I'd allowed the machine to lose pressure and the vac breaker was open. Probably didn't get more than a couple of tablespoons of water inside the machine, but I've read that corrosion can exacerbate the pressure drop. Looking for some peace of mind before I rip the the thing apart.....


Mike

[coffee_monkey]

Vibe pump is more sensative to power fluctuation than a rotary pump. With my 110V Rituale, the vibe pump pressure drops about 0.25 bars whenever the element comes on. While not a huge deal in its orginal config, with a PID, my brew pressure was pulsing at a frequency of 1 Hz. Replacing the pump w/ a rotary setup solves the problem.

[mybs]

I have the Anita and experience this same effect in slight drop in brew pressure of roughly 1/4 bar if the heating element comes up while brewing. This rarely happens so I've never really bothered with worrying about it too much. Seems like variation in all other factors during the process affects the flavor in the cup more than an occasional drop in pressure.

[SylvainMtl]

Can I ask about which corrosion (or where?) you are afraid?

I'm asking because the first time I played with the brew pressure, I twisted the silicon cable and it disengaged from the OVP (I know, stupid move), I got more than a few teaspoons of water at the bottom of the machine.

I'll check about the pressure drop tomorrow.

One more thing, until brew pressure builds up when the pump is running I get some kind of high pitched vibrating noise, I can't find the source of it, it dampens after the pressure gets to 9-10 bars. You guys experience the same thing?

Sylvain

[HB]

Probably didn't get more than a couple of tablespoons of water inside the machine, but I've read that corrosion can exacerbate the pressure drop. Looking for some peace of mind before I rip the the thing apart.....

Can I ask about which corrosion (or where?) you are afraid?

I'm asking because the first time I played with the brew pressure, I twisted the silicon cable and it disengaged from the OVP (I know, stupid move), I got more than a few teaspoons of water at the bottom of the machine.

If there's a dumb mistake to be made, I've made it at least once. Don't worry about a little water dripping into the casing. As long as you unplugged the machine ASAP and let it dry out thoroughly, the chances of any harm are minute.

I've heard the high-pitched whining on some machines - always on vibratory pump espresso machines - and heard a few theories about their origins. Sympathetic vibration of other components, solenoid chatter, expansion valve vibration... I don't recall reading any claim that the sounds means anything more serious than your ears' irritation. My own espresso machine, La Valentina, does it from time-to-time. Filed it under "things that make me go hmm-m".

[quar]

If there's a dumb mistake to be made, I've made it at least once. Don't worry about a little water dripping into the casing. As long as you unplugged the machine ASAP and let it dry out thoroughly, the chances of any harm are minute.

Fortunately, the GFCI outlet handled the unplugging for me. A few minutes with a hairdryer and paper towels sorted things back out. Just don't remember the pressure drop being there before, but then again, I wasn't looking for it. I figure one tick mark on the gauge is well within acceptable limits, especially since another owner has reported a drop as well.

Nothing nearly as bad as Jim's TEA before he upgraded it.

Mike

[SylvainMtl]

>> Filed it under "things that make me go hmm-m".

Yup, that's exactly what I'm saying when I hear this. Still I feel like it makes the machine feel cheaper somehow.

About the pump pressure drop, I didn't notice it. But I'm thinking that if I brew around 9.5bars and the OPV is active (puck resistance is greater than 9.5bar), I guess I wouldn't notice any pressure drop anyway.

[annp]

One more thing, until brew pressure builds up when the pump is running I get some kind of high pitched vibrating noise, I can't find the source of it, it dampens after the pressure gets to 9-10 bars. You guys experience the same thing?
Sylvain

Uh huh! I got it too. Not all the time - only if I'm making a number of shots and she's been on for a while.

I just remembered - I also hear this noise when I chemical back flush and I'm on one of many 15 second flushes.

Ann
I wondered about that noise