OK, so many of you will know that i cut my teeth on a lever machine when I first got started in the mid-1970s with making espresso (a brand-new Pavoni Europiccola for $299), and it was a huge mistake. Operator error. All my fault. But all this talk of lever machines on HB has gotten me thinking . . . and as if that weren't dangerous enough, I'm thinking not of an Elektra Micro Casa a Leva or a Ponte Vecchio (yet) but of a Caravel or a MicroCimbali . . . (don't ask).

Since I'm really trying to avoid running a new 220 line from the laundry room into the kitchen, my question is this: does it damage them to be run through a converter on 110v? If I got one, it wouldn't be my main (daily) machine, but is it worth doing at all if I don't run a 220v line???

TIA,
Jason

zin1953 wrote:Since I'm really trying to avoid running a new 220 line from the laundry room into the kitchen, my question is this: does it damage them to be run through a converter on 110v?

The Microcasa has only the 800W heating element and a power indicator lamp, so a 1000W step-up transformer should work nicely. Or you could convert it permanently; assuming the wiring and pressurestat are adequate, only the heating element and lamp would need replacing.

Below are a couple excerpts related to your question (I searched on "transformer").

New job, new continent...new espresso machine?

HB wrote:I was with you until this part, since I don't seek to make life more challenging without cause (The problem is on the handle side of the portafilter elaborates on this point at length). If you can afford it, upgrade now and enjoy life. If you can't afford it, spring for a step-down transformer and be happy. You could also wait until you get there and find a departing expat willing to sell their transformers cheap. I lived in France for four years and could have saved myself a bit of money that way. C'est la vie...

Keep in mind that it will be nearly impossible to sell your Silvia outside of the US. So if there is the slim chance you'll want to upgrade during your sejour, may as well do it now. You could probably sell your Silvia here and buy another used one "there" for a small transactional loss.

A transformer large enough for this application will be hefty, but not very expensive (new around $70 and less on eBay: 1500W+step-down+transformer).

Converting Olympia Cremina from 220v to 110v:

bobcraige wrote:You have several options here as mentioned. Using a transformer is certainly an option, but you will need one rated for at least 1000 watts which will be relatively big and heavy. You will not be able to use any small inexpensive low power electronic converters. Wiring an outlet for 220 is also a viable option. It is not a big problem to reconfigure a Cremina for 110 volts really just requiring a change of heating element. Since any used machine you purchase should be gone through anyway, it adds no extra work and just the cost of a new heating element on top of a full gasket set. I would suggest the far more significant question would be the condition of the machine. If the 220 volt machine is in really great shape, I would much rather have it and convert it than a not so nice 110 volt machine.

I have nothing to nag about Dan's reply - spot on, but a small addition to make.

(European grids run what you call 220V in most continental countries at 230V in a gradual process of raising the voltage to 240V (3 phase: 400V). This reduces Amps at the same energy transport, reducing heat and energy loss, plus with rising energy demand the same infrastructure can transport more Watts. If I am well informed the UK already runs at 240V).
What is important to see is US electricity grids run their alternating current at 60 cycles per second and European grids at 50 cycles per second.

So the catch is not the 220V-240V in my introduction here. As Dan/HB indicates, you can easily use a (mover's) transformer rated at the proper Amps (or Watts, or KVA).

The question is if your "220V" machine contains some smarter electronics with power conversion electronics in it that is a bit smarter. This could be a boiler water level brainbox or volumetric dosing or temperature control with some electronic display or a timer in a grinder.
If that were the case - and in the given example it is certainly not - then you needed to verify that the electronics can run on 60 cycles (c/s or Hz).
Why?
Some electronics is rated 50..60 c/s - no problem.
If the electronics is rated 50Hz, it's lifespan will reduce due to the higher energy content per time of the 60 cycles it would be fed with in the US.

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe

EDIT: P.S. left implicit above is the transformer does not change the c/s.

EDIT 2: the transformers referred to here, will generally have 1:2 coil ratio between primary and secondary. If you went to Europe for a longer time and shipped your 110V kit to Europe, you could bring it along and reverse it to turn 220V into 110V for your domestic appliances. With voltages probably varying from 110-125 in the US, on occasion you might end up on the highish voltage side for the 220V European appliance, but I would not seriously worry about that.

EDIT 3: I am not sure where the US will be going, voltage-wise. The reasoning for Europe to move to higher voltages is certainly valid in the US as well. In that light, pulling a 220V line in your house may be a good investment.

Thanks to both of you for the quick replies . . . and for pretty much talking me out of getting a Caravel or a MicroCimbali . . . with all the headaches I've had with my Olympia Caffarex , all I need is another "recycled" espresso machine. Think I'll stick to new models.

Jason, come back! Come Back! LOL - Dan & Peter are both correct, and they lay a very good theoretical basis for thinking about all this - quite clear explanations!

But, not 5 minutes ago we had the sweetest, most delicious ristretto from our 220V Caravel, run through a step up transformer that is hooked to the wall under the counter....

The Microcimbali you can get 110V (we have 2, and they work quite well too). The Caravel is a daily producer, the Microcimbalis are now & then users. The Microcimbalis make very good espresso, similar to the Faemina (also 110V, and a daily user by virtue of it's lovely Art Deco Chrome design). The downside to the Microcimbali is heating since the group is an integral part of the boiler, they get pretty hot on multiple shots, and multiple is a must in this house.

If you are looking for an esoteric, yet simple, home lever the Caravel is a very good candidate, readily available on ebay Italy. Our 1000W step up transformer was about $25.00, and performs nicely.

johhnyguitar wrote:Jason, come back! [...] not 5 minutes ago we had the sweetest, most delicious ristretto from our 220V Caravel, run through a step up transformer that is hooked to the wall under the counter....

So valid.
The reason I put all the theoretics in, was because the thread's title is in generic terms.
The machine at hand however is very simple, electrically (no electronics whatsoever).

If there are no electronics inside (boiler level & fill, volumetric dosing, timer, electronic temperature regulation) you could easily use the step-up transformer.
E.g. because the machine you want to add to the collection has no 110V version, or you can get your hands on a cheap 220V version in your market.

Your average lever machine does not have all those "complex" parts.
There will be a thermostat or pressurestat for boiler temperature regulation and it will be mechanic, just like a switch - no problem.
The heating element should not be a problem.
Then there might be a pump, but not likely in a lever machine. Looking at the Ulka website (most of the vibration pumps in espresso machines are Ulka, I believe), then it shows they do different versions for 220V@50Hz versus 220V@60Hz (Hz=c/s). If/how there would be an impact not running at the prescribed cycles per second, I don't know. Still, a pumpless lever machine cannot be a problem.

For completeness, and readers that may have a machine with more complexity, rotary pumps are an unknown to me, that is the electrical motor on it. If, that being an AC motor, it has some phase shifting (simple) electronic parts or phase dependent design properties (still relevant when running from a single phase feed!) then the motor might not function properly, or run faster on 60c/s than on 50c/s. I do not expect this to be a big deal, though.

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe

FWIW, Peacecup was using his 220v Caravel on 110v for a while with no problems. I assume it takes longer to warm up, but that isn't dangerous or anything

Henry

OK, OK, so maybe I will keep an eye out for a Caravel . . .

I received this friendly offline correction:

dan, in this thread you tell the o.p. that the microcimbali resistance is dccc watt. this may be correct for modern examples but the machine was made for ~xxx years with a dual resistance of m & ccc watt for a total of mccc watt. design is similar to older europiccola, faemina, mini-marcfi, etc. with two independently switched elements and an emission valve (no p-stat).

o.p. does not state if he is contemplating purchase of new or used example so it might be well to include this info in thread as it could could potentially affect choice/capacity of converter.